Music

Top 5 Hip Hop Releases: March

by Chayne Japal

Each month, tons of new music from many taste-spanning genres is released into a fast-consuming, unforgiving market; it can be tough to get a handle on what’s new before it’s on to the next. In an attempt to highlight the standout releases, at the end of each month, AUX staff re-cap the month in Punk, Metal, Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, and Pop with the top five releases in each. Consider it your cheat sheet for year-end lists.

Top 5 Hip-Hop Releases:
March

Big K.R.I.T. – 4Eva N A Day

At the turn of the decade, this promising New School stormed the gates of the hip hop industry and took control. All of a sudden, they’ve become seasoned vets. This release is basically Big K.R.I.T.’s third album. As much as it’s a free “mixtape”, the thought and effort Krit puts into these projects has them sounding like reputable albums. 2011’s Return Of 4Eva, though still great, didn’t match K.R.I.T. Wuz Here from the year before. This year, with a major label release expected, Krit dropped this gem out of nowhere and it’s a complete masterpiece. He’s matured into a complete artist, somehow his beats are better and rhymes maintain the engaging brilliance they’ve always had. The only worry here is that Krit might be peaking here on yet another free album without a chance to cash in. Key track: “Handwriting” displays the self-awareness that makes Krit able to create this remarkable music. Download

WZRD – WZRD

This Kid Cudi “side-project” sits a bit too closely to his standing catalogue for the new pretentious vowel-less name to be justified. Aside from that, WZRD serves as a necessary cathartic group of songs from Cudi and his longtime producer, fellow Clevelander Dot Da Genius. The main difference about this album is that Kid Cudi doesn’t rap on this record, he sings throughout, much like Kanye West did on 808s & Heartbreak just that Cudi doesn’t need auto-tune for his vocals to be passable. Truth is, Kid Cudi has a great voice and he displays that he can not only carry a tune but carry an entire record without reverting to his raps. While there are, possibly unintentional, similarities between WZRD and bands like TV On The Radio, Cudi and Dot’s previous work together carries over to create an interesting new flavour as they venture into this genre. Their amiable awkward balance of catchy and quirky has brought them surprise success before and this accessible batch of tunes might have done it again. Key tracks: “Teleport 2 Me, Jamie” and “Upper Room”, the most Kid Cudi sounding tracks on the record.

Wiz Khalifa – Taylor Allderdice

Wiz Khalifa has always been a pretty unapologetic guy. His current situation hasn’t changed that. He’s still the hard working, weed smoking guy he was two years ago just with a lot more money in his pocket and a bad bitch on his arm. His current lifestyle is manifested here, just like it was on the decisive Kush & Orange Juice, and with that comes a fair amount more boasting about his recent economic spoils. It makes for a less relatable listen than his last mixtape. With Kush & OJ, two dime bags and a glass of Simply Orange™ would take any of the willing to Wiz’s astroplane. Allderdice just isn’t happening unless you’re part of the 1%. Luckily, the hooks are still there and he still knows how to pick a beat. Key track: This all happened so fast, but “Rowland” featuring Smoke DZA could be considered “classic Wiz”. Download

Lil B – God’s Father
	Based is how you feel inside. Key track: N/A Download

B.J. The Chicago Kid – Pineapple Now-Laters

This is the dude that sings the silky choruses on Top Dawg Ent. albums. He’s been a part of projects by each of the four Black Hippy members, Jay Rock, Ab-soul, Kendrick Lamar, and Schoolboy Q, where he’s made enough of an impression to garner some buzz for Pineapple Now-Laters. This collection of nostalgic hip-hop soul numbers is a refreshing departure from the PBR&B sound we’ve come to expect from any relevant singing black guy. Key tracks: The two Lamar cuts “His Pain II” and “The World Is A Ghetto”, and the inspiring Will Smith sound bites on “Dream II”.

Surprises, disappointments and tracks/albums to watch for next month

Surprise of the month: The resurgence of Odd Future

By the end of 2011, OFWGKTA had lost much of the hype they had generated in the first half of the year. A general thought was that Tyler and the gang might have grabbed our attention with a series of well timed gimmicks and their rowdiness maybe with a splash of talent involved. Now, as much of the pandemonium has settled, Hodgy’s impeccable EP (download here) and the new posse compilation suggests that these guys won’t go away simply because they’re actually good. No crazy Fallon performance or gross videos just great music. Go ahead, believe the hype.

Disappointments: Ja Rule – Pain Is Love 2

By Ja Rule’s standards this album is pretty OK but the issue here is the stupidity of the album sequel. If the project wasn’t set out to be a series in the first place, how is this even justified? It also doesn’t help when the albums are more than a decade apart. Bat Out Of Hell 2. My Life 2. Blueprint 2. Basically, if you want to make a shitty album, take your best album and make it into a sequel. Lack of satisfaction guaranteed.

Out next month: Nicki vs Azealia CAAAAAT FIGHT! (In reality, they’re not fighting. They’re both releasing albums)