Album/Mixtape Reviews

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Bruno Mars- Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Album Review)

By now if you don't know who this man is you've been living under a rock.Well okay he's not that famous yet, but still in the last couple of months he's been making quite a name for himself.Before he broke off on his own solo career he's written many songs for artists and been featured on a #1 hit or two lending out his ability to write an amazing hook.IF he still doesn't ring a bell to you then you probably heard about him getting busted for cocaine possession last week in Las Vegas.But what's a little celebrity if not for the scandals? Can we even call him that yet? Well if his debut album has anything to say about it, then you'll be sure to hear him for years to come. The album kicks off on a somber ballad entitled "Grenade" (No Jersey Shore relation people).The track basically describes a one-sided relationship where Bruno would do anything for the girl of his dreams, even if he has to sacrifice his life for her.Though in return she would never do the same for him , and she could careless about him.I like this song for many reasons, one it shows a different side of Bruno , and two because it shows the showcases how much depth as a songwriter he really is. "Just The Way You Are" is the first single off the album and I'm sure you've either heard this many times on your radio station or perhaps sung by a female you go out are messing around with.This is the type of pop song you'd expect to hear from Bruno as it carters straight to the females giving them self-esteem by addressing no matter how a female looks she's beautiful and amazing.Thanks Bruno for setting the standard so high for us guys to compete with those words! "Our First Time" kick drives his sex drive as Mars serenades the female of his choice as he lays down the magic stick for the first time.At times this song reminds me of an old -school Micheal Jackson jam but you know it's about a legal girl instead of a little boy (Just joking guys!). I'm really liking the different switches between topics instead of just staying on one topic to long (I'm talking to you Trey Songz!).The listener wants to hear a emotional rollercoaster , not get bored of the same subject, atleast spread it out! The next song on the album is called " Runaway Baby" , and if you heard one runaway song you've heard them all! Basically this returns to an up-beat type of song and will it could be catchy at times the topic is just played out right now and comes off as corny."The Lazy Song"  is exactly like the title would suggest, it's poorly written and is screaming for the radio to play it. The stoners and white girls may like this song, but other then that what the fuck where you thinking making that song Bruno? "Marry You" continues the last songs formula in the sense it was poorly written.So your telling me you're bored and just for the hell of it you want to marry some girl? How about the next time your bored you write a better song! "Talking To The Moon" thankful redeems Bruno's credibility as he crafts a beautiful masterpiece with this song.The story in the song deals with Bruno missing an old love and he sits and talks to the moon hoping where ever the old love is , she is out somewhere doing the same talking back to him. Deep stuff Bruno! I can see that song on Facebook statuses for months to come! "Liquor Store Blues" is my kind of song! It's basically how much life sucks so he just gets drunk so life doesn't seem so shitty.If you need anymore reason to listen to this song it features Damian Marley! "Count On Me" started off blah and picks up nicely as the song progresses to the end. The final song for the album is none other then "The Other Side" which features appearances by B.o.B. and Cee-Lo. In my opinion he played it safe by putting that song at the end , but the gamble paid off because that song is dope. So how does this album prove for Mr.Mars? Basically it shows he's more then just a good hook and he has the ability to make amazing songs for himself.Other times it shows him falter and still searching for his direction as an artist.He still has plenty of room to grown and find himself, after all this is his first album.To me the good out weighs the bad in this album and there are more then enough songs to keep everyone happy . 3. 5 shots out of 5 Grenade:

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Talking To The Moon:

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9

Rick Ross-Teflon Don (Album Review)

Better late than never they say! Without further ado I bring you the review to the most talked about album of the summer! (It was even a trending topic on Twitter).I must confess something since Rick Ross came on the scene I always hated him.I never gave him a shot for his first single and the only reason I use to listen to "Hustlin" is to listen to the verse by Jay-Z.Then with the release of his second album I also ignored it until I actually heard it (not by choice) when my friend was bumpin' it in the car on the way to a restaurant.I quickly feel in love with a certain number of tracks and "Maybach Music" was my anthem for the summer.Flashback to last year and I went back into the not caring about Rick Ross even though I did download "Deeper Than Rap" I felt it wasn't as good as "Trilla".However "Magnificent" and "Valley Of Death" were my shit!Then here we are this year and he's about to drop another album and I quickly write it off again since my favorite rapper had just dropped his new album.I wasn't feeling his first single (at first) and I just thought it wouldn't be that good.Boy was I wrong! When I started to listen to the leaks off his album I thought he could make something amazing.His skills improved drastically and the beats he was choosing were sick.But enough with the history and onto the review! The album kicks off with a banger "I'm Not A Star" where contrary to the title of the song Ross spits some of the best bars of his career.Accompanied by the beat J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League served him,from the jump this album gets you hyped.I'll be honest when I first saw the track "Free Mason" with Jay-Z and John Legend I thought it was going to be a classic.It didn't meet my expectations but that's not to say the song is bad at all.Ross has this track on lock and John Legend provides a solid hook (singing background) and bridge.My problem with this song is Jay-Z's verse,throughout his whole career he's rapped about Illuminati and on this track he backs out and says he's not in it.His verse however isn't bad, it's really good just very disappointing to what he was talking about."Tears Of Joy" shows one of the deeper sides to Ross and you can have this song on repeat for hours and not get tired of it (well maybe the 1 minute intro in the beginning).Ross brings his A-game on this track and Cee-Lo sings his soul away on the hook. Another year another All-Star Maybach Music line-up.This time on "Maybach Music III" T.I. , Jadakiss and Erykah Badu are the guest on this version of the song.As with all the Maybach Music tracks the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League serve up a ridiculous beat (especially when Rick Ross verse starts).This track is a highlight for just the beat alone,but the verses are also on point in the track too (the first Maybach Music is still my favorite for now)."Live Fast Die Young" finds Kayne West going back to his College Dropout days and making his best beat in a long time and a very familiar cocky verse to make his fans happy he's not singing in auto-tune still!However with most of the album the guest is forced to play backseat to Rick Ross who out staged him own self in this song.I know there's better songs on the album but this is definitely my favorite one and a big summer anthem they just need to shoot a video for it."Super High" is the first single off the album and Ne-Yo plays the hook maker on this track.Like I said before I wasn't really feeling this track when I first heard it,but when I heard it recently I was mad at myself for not fucking with this song way sooner. "No.1" features Trey Songz and Diddy and for me I can't really stand this track but it could grow on me but for now I think it's the worst track on the album. The next two tracks on the album happened to be on his mixtape he released before the album and both beats sound very similar."MC Hammer" has a guest appearance from Gucci Mane while "B.M.F." features Styles P, and I'll just say you either love these tracks or you can't fuck with them.For me I loved both those tracks and yes I just said I loved a track with Gucci Mane in it so if you know me, you know it must be good!"Aston Martin Music" again finds a different side of Rick Ross as he's assisted by Chrisette Michelle and Drake on this track.This track is strictly for the ladies (What do you expect Drake is on the track?) and it could be another huge hit if the BAWSE decides to make it into a single.This is about one of the only tracks Rick Ross gets outrapped/sung at the same time courtesy of Drake."All The Money In The World" is the deepest track on the album where Rick Ross pours his heart out about the people he finds more valuable than money.Raphael Saadiq is the guest of choice on this track and he sings the hook and bridge that let Ross explore the more important things in life.Never thought Rick Ross would make a track like that, I personally love when rappers show a mature side to themselves and show growth as an artist. So I have to admit this time around Rick Ross was right about his album.It's not a classic but it's damn near close to it.When I listen to this album it makes me feel good and reminds me of the summertime and like more rich then when I started listening to the album (if that makes sense to you).Whatever he sells on this album he deserves it so much and this is the BEST album he's ever made.4.5 shots out of 5.

39

The Kid Blaze-TC Is Not Enough (Album Review)

Last we heard from Kid Blaze he was getting all 808's & Heartbreak on us and made an albums for all the girls he loved/lost/fucked over/got fucked over by/and anything inbetween.Now that he got all off his chest he picks up where he left off before "Oceans Of Stars".TC Is Not Enough finds KB back in his familiar subject territory  which consists of fucking bitches,getting high,and how much flier he is then you.But is that enough to get a 5/5? Let the review begin. The album kicks off with that lion that roars at the beginning of movies (because TC Is Not Enough is based off the James Bond movie,get it?).KB reintroduces himself and is excited for the world to listen to his 5th that's right 5th album!"Farewell Tree City" is the 1st officially track on the album and it kicks it off with a bang.From the beat to the lyrics to the catchy hook, it's feel good music that you just can't knock."Grey Goose & EZ Widers" is an ode to getting fucked up and with an infectious beat attached to this track I wouldn't mind getting fucked up to this song."King Blaze" is a big fuck you to all the haters and just off these three tracks alone you can tell he got better from his earlier projects."There I Go" plays as a day in the life of KB and I must say I'm loving all the beats he's picked to rap over thus far.He also says some witty things to do that beat justice."Horror Film" "Co-Stars" (get it? it's like a movie instead of album)anyway it co-stars Jae Swaggs and Skeemz.To be honest I totally forget these guys weren't signed once I heard this track. "MMM Delicious" reminds me of a track Asher Roth would do, it's a pretty funny track I don't know if he was going for that or not but the hook along made me laugh."Wavy Season" kicks off with a dope ass beat and lyrics to a company how SICK that beat is."Pledge Of Allegiance" is all about how much of a goon he is and he is for flipping the American Boy hook."Psychedelic" has KB channeling his inner Wiz Khalifia and serves up a track Wiz himself would be proud of."Sick Live" is a shit talking track about how fly he is.The beat is sick and the lyrics are on point."Fix Your Face" Co-Starring Jae Swaggs is another feel good track dedicated to all the haters."Mork & Mindy" again finds KB channeling his inner Wiz Khalifa and he switches up his flow to a more slower laid back flow.Deafcon also makes an appearance on this track and adds some nice lines to it."Superstar" Co-Stars Deafcon and Lil B all dealing with how much life would be easier if they achieved the status of fame.Very heartful track guys."June 21st" is about the beginning of summer and while the lyrics really don't match the title of the song he goes off in the track."Bueno" is one of the sickest track on the album but the auto-tune is a little off on the hook. "Soulmates 2" is dedicated to a special lady in the eyes of KB and the lyrics are dope and pretty funny a real laid back track and Deafcon gets his R&B on and does the hook."Lets DoOo It" is more proof that there's way better artist to get on beats than Waka Flocka (I won't even highlight his name or tag it)."...The Rain Continues" is the follow up to a track on one of KB's previous album.This is the first time he gets deep on the album and he should really do more tracks like these he's a good storyteller."Greetings" Co-Stars A&L and Deafcon and they all bring their A game on this track but the most stand-out verse on that track is Deafcon.He ripped the beats to shreds and damn I don't what else to say to what he did to that track!"You See My Swag?!" is about you guessed it swag!KB ditches his tradition flow and goes all Twista on the track.Tony E also does his thing on the track as well."The Clouds (Outro)" ends the album off the way it started and that's with feel good music. So what makes and album a 5 out of 5? Well lyrics for one thing,having dope beats is a must,and an album that I can sit through all the tracks and not skip.Is TC Is Not Enough a 5 out of 5? Let's see he has dope lyrics (may not be the best lyrics ever but dope and he's a talented songwriter.Beats? The beats were sick and I loved every single one of them.Would I sit down and listen to this album again? Yes so there you have it folks the second album to get 5 shots out of 5. Download Here: Usershare

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A&L-Begginner's Luck (Mixtape Review)

By now most of you are probably split into two different emotions.One emotion is who the hell is A&L and why are they giving this guy this much shine?The other emotion is for the people who actually heard of him (He's currently in the semi-finals of our Untapped Talent Tournament).After one quick listen you'll see how much potential A&L has as an artist in the game.Being the first artist under the clothing company IVKINGS,he has a lot of weight on his shoulders.Also dropping a mixtape after rapping for about 6 months adds on to the weighing pressure of delivering a quality mixtape.Anybody can just wake up one day and decide to rap, hell I can make a mixtape right now.Would it be good?Probably not,but the game is so flooded with terrible artists it's refreshing to hear someone with skills. The mixtape kicks off with the titled track which serves as a backstory to all the trials and tribulations which led him to this point.It's the perfect way to open up the mixtape and gets people unfamiliar with his work a glimpse of his skills and a doorway into his mind."Road Kill" is the next track which doesn't really have any real concept to it other then show he can spit.Anybody who can spit over the Ciara "Ride" beat and can be taken seriously is cool in my book."Your Wrong (Remix)" is a quick 2 minute track where he basically just tells the world fuck off I'm going to make it.And if he keeps writing songs like that he can definitely make that statement."Yeah Right!" is like Mr.Me Too and Dumb It Down combined.If your familiar with those tracks then you'd know it's about clowning on people bragging about things they've never experienced in life.Which would be about 85% of the rappers out there. "The Competition" hits you with catchy punchlines off the back and it doesn't end till well the end of the track.This is one of my personal favorite tracks on the mixtape."Demanding" is like a watered down verison to the last track while the punchlines weren't as on point as the last song it wasn't necessarily bad it just wasn't as good as the last track. "Tryna Make It" reflects on the desire of A&L trying to make it in the rap game.This track made up for the last one and it's probably one of the most bumpable tracks on the mixtape. "R.O.O.T.S. Freestyle" again shows glimpses into the mind of A&L while before he can really get personally the track ends."Hero" puts his claim as the best rapper around but he just doesn't want the world to think he's a hero."Fallen Stars Create" is pretty much the dopest track up to this point.It's well thought out and deep basically he just spits some real shit on this track."Over Freestyle" is just another person who hops on this beat that does better than Drake did.Seriously if he just had the hook, it'd sell 431k first week (Or something like that)."No Outro" is the best track on the album and A&L says some of the best stuff on the tape, only to have Deafcon take the beat and fuck it in it's ass.I had to shut off my Ipod after Deafcon killed the track. Beginner's Luck is a very solid mixtape but everything has it's flaws.My only real compliant to this mixtape is it doesn't stray away from the topic of how nicer he is than most rappers.It's only his first mixtape and he has so much time to grow you can't knock him for that though.6 months rapping and he's ahead of most people rapping for years.Is it only Beginner's Luck or will he continue to kill tracks? Only time will tell! 4 shots out of 5 (Oh and you can download this mixtape off this site!) Download Link: Here

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Eminem-Recovery (Album Review)

To start this off let me get this out of the way yes Eminem is my favorite rapper and I think he's the best to ever pick up a mic,but I won't be biased at all I'll call it as fair as can be.With that being said everything hearing Relapse I didn't have high hopes for this album,and all the verses he did after Relapse I didn't really enjoy either.Sure he had flow,but he seemed to have lost his fire and wasn't the same old Em.That all changed when he released his freestyle over the "Over and Beamer,Benz,Or Bentley" beat.Marshall was at tip top form and was using metaphors that you couldn't catch all the first  time.Now that the album released can it live up to the classic first three albums or will it turn out to be just another Encore or Relapse? Let's start the review! The album starts out with the track "Cold Wind Blows" and wow! The beat and lyrics are so nuts, this is the Eminem people love he rips this track and it's the perfect way to open up the album because it gets you hype to hear what else he has in store! Basically the track is all about how he returned back to the beast Eminem, (Welcome back Marshall!).The next track "Talkin' 2 Myself" features Kobe (he did hook on the Fabolous album) this track deals with Eminem feeling jealousy of the rappers that blow up in the place of his absence and feeling due to the loss of Proof and his drug addiction.This track is special because it has Eminemopening up and giving his fans a glimpse of what he was going through will he was down and out."On Fire" deals with Marshall lashing out to critics.Again his lyrics are on point, but I wasn't really feeling the beat and I can already tell that it's a track that I won't really listen to over and over again. "Won't Back Down" features a apperance from Pink and it's the second song to leak off the album.The first time I heard this track I wasn't feeling it,but if you listen to it over and over again he rips this track.I can understand why some people won't feel this track it's more rockish than rap. "W.T.P." stands "White Trash Party" the track starts off bad but once it hits the hook and goes to the second verse he redeems himself."Going Through Changes" channels in the serious side of Marshall Mathers,and he does what he does best and that's rap with his heart on his sleeve.This track will probably go down as one of the best tracks Eminem ever did and that's saying something."Not Afraid" is the first single off the album and it deals with the trials and tribulations of Marshall finding his path to sobriety.The metaphors are sick and I was so happy that he made this his first single instead of something stupid. "Seduction" deals with a unfaithful girl and it's a track you wouldn't expect Eminem to do.I liked the beat the lyrics are alright and the hook is dope.So basically it's a hit or miss song depending on what you like."No Love" features Lil Waynein their third collaboration they did together.I must say Lil Wayne went in on his verse and I had thought at first he outrapped Eminem,but after a second listen I don't know what I was thinking to say Lil Wayne outrapped Eminem.This song is probably the best one they've done together so far."Space Bound" deals with and dysfunctional relationship that Eminem doesn't want to end.I love Eminem love songs cause I can relate to all the crazy shit he says in them! "Cinderella Man" is the first real song I didn't like at all and it gets the skip button! "25 to Life" is like "Space Bound" content wise but the twist is he's referring to Hip-Hop as a girl who's breaking his heart.If you liked "Space Bound" you'll definitely like this track."So Bad" changes up the content a little bit and is this album's verison of "Superman".This track is alright but what's up with all this girl songs slim! "Almost Famous" is like Eminem just read what I wrote and it deals with Eminem before he was famous trying to get into rap all the way to how he became famous.He goes in on this track and it reminds me of the first track he did on this album."Love The Way You Lie" has Eminem joined by the lovelyRihanna.Marshall agains makes a track that caters to the women but on each track he expresses something different that makes all the songs unique and out of the three tracks about love this is the best one.I smell another #1 hit with that record! "You're Never Over" is the best track on the album.On Relapse I was expecting a track dedicated to Proof and now on Recovery my wishes were fulfilled.This track is so deep,kudos to Marshall for making this song and R.I.P Proof. "Untitled" is the last track on the album (Boo!) and he should have switched this track position with the track for the Proof one.It's a good track but it would've made more sense to end it with the other track. So in the end will all Eminem fans be satisfied? Probably not they're the hardest fans to please,but I think Recovery is the best Eminem album since The Eminem Show.I wish he would've trimmed down the track listing a bit and focused more on personal songs then girl songs.Reguardless this album is sick and is worth a listen to and about 1 million more listens to after that! I can't wait for the next project Eminem does (if he does one) after this one! 4 shots out of 5 Going Through Changes:

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No Love (Feat.Lil Wayne):

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5

Travie McCoy-Lazarus (Album Review)

The first time I ever heard of Travie McCoy was in 2006 when he released his album with Gym Class Heroes called "As Cruel As School Children Can Be".Since then I've been a big fan of his and I think he's a talented songwriter.As a rapper his lyrics are kind've basic but he gets his point across and he can actually sing really good which is a plus.Being the most famous member of the band it was only natural that he came out with a solo album of his own.Can he hold his own without his band? Or should he go running back to his band? Keep reading on to find out. The album opens with the track "After Midnight (It'll Burn)" which has Gym Class Heroes/radio love written all over it.Travie plays it safe and delivers a solid radio hit (if he ever decided to release it) where he doesn't stray to far from the typical formula of singing/rapping.Fans of Gym Class Heroes will be very pleased with this song,but I'm sure his own personal fans would want some growth from Travis.Ask and you shall receive "Akidagain" finds Travis reminiscing on a simpler time when he was a little kid and how he wants to visit the past again.The hook is really catchy and the lyrics are on point as well and very relatable.The next song on the album is his first single "Billionaire" which features a Bruno Mars hook.This song came out after the #1 single "Nothin' On You" which also featured Bruno Mars and it looks like Bruno Marsis the man to go to with hooks.The song itself finds Travis wishing he was a billionaire (don't we all,Travie!) and although the song screams play me on the radio that doesn't mean it's a bad thing.I wish more songs like that were on the radio then I'd actually listen to it! "Critical" shows off Travis' ability to sing and I'm guessing the album might be split into singing/rapping.The song also features Tim William,where they find themselves on the brink of the edge and just wanting to feel alive again."Don't Pretend" is about a story of a girl cheating on him (Katy Perry?)who doesn't want the relationship to end but won't quit cheating on him,then dumps him and starts a relationship with that guy.Travie brings his A-Game lyrics on this track and it's the best track reviewed so far.Colin Munroe is also on the track's hook."Dr.Feel Good" is a step back from the last song and it features a hook by Cee-Lo Green.The song isn't bad but he stepped back into the radio-friendly tracks after he was doing so good not to fall back into that trap. "The Manual" features T-Pain & Young Cash and this song is terrible just hit the skip button and forget you ever heard this song."Need You" is about you guessed it a girl who he has trouble with opening up to but doesn't want her to leave because he needs her.Travie leaves the rapping behind and goes back to singing and I actually really enjoyed this song."Superbad" reminds me of "Don't Pretend" not cause of the content but the lyrics are darker and more rock than rap.This is the second best track on the album and I wish he pushes this track as single because it's a big fuck you to the world.The last song on the album is "We'll Be Alright" and it's the second single on the album and again I wish he didn't put this song on the album. In the middle of reviewing this album I realized that my songs were out of order (damn downloading site) but it doesn't change how I feel about the songs.I'll have the real track-listing at the end of the review.Overall I feel like this album wasn't bad but I think it felt more like leftovers he didn't dare put on a Gym Class Heroes album.If you love Gym Class Heroesthen you'll love this album.For the rest of the public it's a solid listen to it and you won't really regret listening to it.I'm still waiting on his mixtape "Forgetting Katy Perry" until then 3 shots out of 5. Don't Pretend:

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Need You:

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Real Track-listing: (Thanks Wikipedia!)

1.	"Dr. Feel Good" (featuring Cee-Lo Green)	The Smeezingtons	3:54
2.	"Superbad (11:34)"	DJ Frank E & Wes Borland	3:12
3.	"Billionaire" (featuring Bruno Mars)	The Smeezingtons	3:30
4.	"Need You"	Lucas Secon	3:23
5.	"Critical" (featuring Tim William)	Andrew "Drew" Correa	3:16
6.	"Akidagain"	Infamous	3:41
7.	"We'll Be Alright"	The Smeezingtons & The Stereotypes	3:17
8.	"The Manual" (featuring T-Pain & Young Cash)	Hannon Lane	4:09
9.	"After Midnight (It'll Burn)"	Josh Abraham & Oligee	3:46
10.	"Don't Pretend" (featuring Colin Munroe & Travis Barker)