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(originally published 10 may 2022)

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#003 melodic blue - baby keem | album review | show notes

Introduction (00:00:05): Hi, welcome back to another episode. On this episode, I'll be reviewing Baby Keem's album "The Melodic Blue." It came out in September 2021. When it first came out, I didn't really show it much love. I only listened to one song, the single with Kendrick Lamar, "Family Ties," as I was more focused on Kendrick Lamar's anticipated drop.

Overview (00:00:38): I decided to revisit the album earlier this year, and it sounds better than I expected. Initially, I only gave it a brief listen because I was expecting Kendrick Lamar to drop. Now, I'm going to go through the album again, review all the songs, share my favorite and least favorite tracks, and rate it out of 10.

Album Background (00:01:10): I haven't listened to much Baby Keem before this album, except for his feature on Kanye's "Praise God" from "Donda." This album gave me a better understanding of his music style.

Song Reviews

Trademark USA (00:01:49): One of my favorite songs and a great opener. The beat is amazing and the energy is consistent. The production is top-notch, and Baby Keem's style is refreshing. It's not the generic style we're used to, and it has some influence from Kendrick Lamar.

Pink Panties (00:03:59): This song has an African-like medieval vibe in the core of the beats. Baby Keem changes his style in every song, not limiting himself to one genre. It's a unique and refreshing track.

Scapegoats (00:04:45): Baby Keem doesn't say much in this song, mostly talking about girls and money. The highlight is the ending, where a lady talks about wanting to go inside his mind, giving it an interlude feel.

Range Brothers (feat. Kendrick Lamar) (00:05:11): One of my favorite songs on the album. Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar have great chemistry and their flows are very compatible. It's rare to see Kendrick Lamar on two songs on the same album, but their relationship made it possible. Baby Keem's energy and Kendrick Lamar's lyrical depth make it a standout track.

Issues (00:08:00): This song starts with Baby Keem reflecting on his life and memories. It's a more emotional track, asking if everyone is made equal and facing demons. It's a good song but not my favorite.

Gorgeous (00:08:49): One of my favorite songs on the album, though it has the lowest streams. The beats and chorus are very good, and it has a melodic vibe that stands out.

South Africa (00:09:39): A catchy song with repetitive lyrics. It’s a melodic performance that showcases Baby Keem’s style.

Lost Souls (00:10:12): This song has two versions. I prefer the version without the feature, as the feature ruins it for me. Baby Keem talks about how many girls around him are lost souls, despite looking fine on the outside.

First Order of Business (00:13:14): A more fast-paced song where Baby Keem talks about his success and how he's grateful for it. It's a good track with catchy lyrics.

Vent (00:25:01): I didn't expect a feature on this song, but Kendrick Lamar appears again. It's a high-energy track with a lot of impact.

16 (00:27:15): The final song on the album, giving reflective vibes. Baby Keem talks about not telling anyone about your tragedy and drowning your pain in expensive fabrics. It's a fitting end to the album.

Conclusion (00:27:50): "The Melodic Blue" is a very good album. It may not have much lyrical content, but it's all about the melody and how it makes you feel. I'd rate it an 8 out of 10. Baby Keem has shown his potential, and I'm excited to see what he does next. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to get a notification when the next one drops. Thank you for listening.

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The Off-Season_Final.wav

(originally published Tuesday, ‎10 ‎May ‎2022)

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#002 the off-season - j.cole album review | show notes

Introduction (00:00:03): Hey, welcome back to another episode of “relisten”. Today, I'll be reviewing J. Cole's latest album, "The Off-Season."

Overview (00:00:09): "The Off-Season" was fire when it came out. I wanted to listen to it multiple times in excitement. You know, when you're excited about an album, your mind is not in a clear place yet. So you just have to let it settle down. Even if it's a bad album, this was not a bad album—nothing close to a bad album. J. Cole is someone I really like; I've listened to him for years.

Album Background (00:00:35): This album was released on May 14, 2021. It's his sixth studio album and had some crazy features on it: 21 Savage, 2 Chainz, Bas, and others. So let's get right into it.

Song Reviews

95 South (00:00:52): The first song on the album gave me goosebumps. The intro was crazy. The production quality was amazing. On "95 South," J. Cole was just clearing all these doubters and haters. He's talking about how he's been minding his business, but if beef comes around, he could just put a name on your head and you're Luigi's brother now. The violence he's talking about, the life in the South, it's real.

Amari (00:02:42): This song's production is by Timbaland, and it's arguably top five on the album. J. Cole's flow and attention to detail are on point. The way he uses the beat is impressive. At first, I thought it wouldn't be interesting, but then the beat dropped, and it blew my mind.

My Life (feat. 21 Savage) (00:05:04): When the album first came out, the features were unannounced, so it was a surprise to see 21 Savage. The samples used in this song are great. J. Cole talks about his life, his block, and how he's minding his business. 21 Savage's verse adds a lot to the track, making it one of the standout songs.

Applying Pressure (00:09:10): Honestly, this is my least favorite song on the album. It's not a bad song, but I wasn't really feeling the style he went for. However, J. Cole drops some wisdom here, talking about not envying millionaires and focusing on yourself.

Pride Is the Devil (feat. Lil Baby) (00:12:13): This song talks about how pride can lead to negative actions. J. Cole reflects on his own experiences with pride. Lil Baby's feature was a surprise but blended well with the track, making it one of the highlights of the album.

Let Go My Hand (00:14:36): This song is deep, but it's not my favorite. J. Cole talks about finding an instrumental on his phone while on vacation and turning it into this track. It's a good song, but it doesn't connect with me as much as others on the album.

Interlude (00:16:10): This track was released earlier as a preview. The samples are great, and J. Cole's flow is unreal. He talks about being at the top of the game and preparing for anything that comes his way.

Close (00:19:34): This song is very underrated. It has the lowest streams on the album, but it's one of the best. J. Cole talks about not wanting to be an "almost" and doing everything to get things done completely.

Hunger on Hillside (00:21:55): This song is easily in the top three of the album. J. Cole talks about staying hungry and never getting comfortable. He emphasizes the importance of always pushing yourself and not settling for less.

Conclusion (00:24:18): "The Off-Season" is a very good album. I'd rate it a solid 9 out of 10. It's an elite-level hip-hop album, and I'm excited to see what J. Cole does next. Thanks for listening to this episode. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and catch you in the next episode. Bye!

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The Lost Boy_Final-‎10 ‎May ‎2022.wav

(originally published may 2022)

-the below show notes are ai generated from the full transcript available here, might contain obvious (or not so obvious) errors-

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#001 the lost boy - cordae album review | show notes

Introduction (00:00:06): The first album I'll be reviewing on the album review segment of this podcast will be Cordae.

Name Clarification (00:00:12): Or is it YBN Cordae? Oh, it doesn't even go by YBN anymore. It's just Cordae now. (00:00:19): Or is it Cordae? I don't even know how to pronounce it. Cordae. That's how I'm going to pronounce it.

Overview (00:00:23): I'll be looking at this first album while we're still waiting for his latest album. (00:00:28): As I said, I'm going to review "The Lost Boy" album first. I'm going to talk about my favorite songs, my least favorite songs, and maybe just give my thoughts on all the songs, then rate it out of 10.

Album Background (00:00:53): Brief history on the album: Cordae dropped the album back in July 2019. (00:01:01): What really made me listen to this album was the first song I heard from it, "Broke As Fuck." I think it was the video or something. That's how I got into the album.

Song Reviews

* Wintertime (00:01:12): The first song on the album. It's on my daily playlist. Cordae tells a short story and opens up about his addiction to Xanax during high school. The line "addicted to zans to calm anxiety down" stands out, as it highlights how he couldn't share his problems back then.

* Have Mercy (00:02:16): The second song of the album. A crazy song with a great beat. Cordae talks about using up his three favors and asking God for mercy because he keeps repeating his mistakes. This song also addresses his faith and struggles.

* Bad Idea (feat. Chance the Rapper) (00:05:00): A peaceful song. Cordae and Chance reflect on their childhoods and struggles. Despite criticism, Chance the Rapper delivers a great performance on this track.

* Thanksgiving (00:09:09): A special song discussing Thanksgiving vibes and family gatherings. Cordae talks about overthinking and his songs having depth.

* RNP (feat. Anderson .Paak) (00:10:41): An old-school sounding song with Anderson .Paak. Although I wasn't a fan of the intro, the song is good, and Cordae showcases his versatility in hip-hop.

* Broke As Fuck (00:12:19): My favorite song on the album. Cordae reflects on his past and how people doubted him. The beat is excellent, and the song has a great switch in tone, highlighting his growth and success.

* Thousand Words (00:16:09): A poetic song discussing the false reality of social media and how people present a fake life online.

* Way Back Home (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) (00:18:06): An underrated song about life changes and adjusting to a new way of living. Cordae emphasizes being true to oneself.

* Grandma’s House (Skit) (00:19:18): A touching skit where Cordae talks about his grandmother, who played a significant role in his upbringing.

* Been Around (00:20:18): Another favorite song. Cordae reflects on his past, his family's struggles, and how he has made it now.

* Nightmares Are Real (feat. Pusha T) (00:21:52): A song about his past struggles and how his grandmother's death affected him. Pusha T delivers a solid performance.

* Family Matters (00:22:34): Cordae opens up about his family's hardships, including aunts with difficult lives and a young brother.

* We Gon Make It (feat. Meek Mill) (00:23:28): A song about overcoming struggles and chasing dreams. Meek Mill adds a strong verse about his past challenges.

* Lost and Found (00:24:18): The final song where Cordae flexes and talks about his success, referencing XXXTentacion and Will Smith.

Conclusion (00:25:23): "The Lost Boy" is a very good album, showcasing Cordae's versatility and depth. I'd rate it a 7.5 to 8 out of 10. Many good songs on this album were overlooked. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review if you liked this episode, and watch out for the next one. Bye.

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