The Rap Music Plug Podcast

#69 - Nas - King‘s Disease II REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

Beginning of Episode (0:49).

Making hip-hop music well into your 40s and 50s is an astonishing feat to accomplish on its face, especially within a genre where many of the greats have sadly passed away. Legends in Black Thought, Jay-Z and Nas are not only still breathing... but are still making music at the forefront of the hip-hop scene.

With Nas, his technical ability is still mostly intact, but with most or all of Nas records post-It Was Written... there has always been something off.

The common gripe with his music is his beat selection, but I think that's a lazy argument. Nas has picked good enough production for the most part, just not to the level that his rapping ability has demanded.

For me, I think what has kept Nas' modern output at arm's length was his music's social commentary, and the inconsistencies between that and his personal life, and my personal socio-political opinions.

The core issue I have with King's Disease II, and most of Nas' later releases is that Nas merges black excellence/liberation ideas with what I call “mimosa rap”... where the end-point of all of this struggle is the accumulation of obscene levels of material wealth.

Nas makes all of this content sound super decadent and well painted lyrically, but it lacks the depth that I am looking for.

At some points, Nas does offer some solid commentary on issues in his community related to poverty, violence, etc. But then seems to make these disjointed jumps that connect his career and rise to glory, as the righteous end-result that all people in his community should have the opportunity to achieve as well.

In reality, we all know this is not true and is a gross simplification of how the world works.

But more importantly, what Nas paints on the other side of this journey to success, is just a bunch of material wealth of brunches and island getaways that lack self-awareness in the fact that he's participating greatly in the same system that is keeping his people down.

This all makes this brand of social commentary not resonate with me all that much.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "Nas is Good"

Stream King's Disease II here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6CM5qhYBvpgYNek5kYwuOJ?dl_branch=1&si=jAPZLalOT76CB0nOTn6J_w 

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#68 - Pink Siifu - GUMBO‘! REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

Skip intro (0:49).

What’s wild about my feelings on GUMBO'!... is that it's the kind of album that I don’t typically like.

Yes, surely the individual parts of this are all things I love. I love soul and jazz infused hip-hop, and thoughtful lyricism.

However, more than most people, I really value cohesiveness, a sense of structure… and this album is absolutely all over the place.

But somehow some way, Pink Siifu made it all flow like water.

Whether it be through mixing choices, the transitions, skits, sequencing, Siifu managed to include autotuned melodic trap, vocal jazz, neo-soul, jazz rap and noisy rambunctious bangers all on the same album.

And through it all, Siifu is as wavy and free-form as ever from a rapping-perspective.

On paper, GUMBO'! should be a mess, but Pink Siifu really pulled off the impossible. He successfully fit a square peg in a round hole countless times.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "SMILE (wit yo Gold)"

Stream/Buy GUMBO'! here: https://ronee.bandcamp.com/album/gumbo 

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#67 - Isaiah Rashad - The House is Burning REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

Skip intro (0:49).

The title of this album initially suggested to me that this would be a very urgent and emotionally visceral album. Instead, Isaiah Rashad is like that character in the burning house meme.

Isaiah is genuinely so calm and relaxed on this album, while being enveloped in significant turmoil that is going on in his personal life.

I'm really happy for Zay. It seems like he's genuinely in such a better place mentally...

However, I feel like my issues with THIB can be summed up by that meme. I feel like we hear "this is fine" from Isaiah without the necessary reasoning that explains why.

I think Rashad was attempting to illustrate the peace he has now achieved after these years of turmoil, through a catchy and wavy rapping style. 

Unfortunately, I don't think he gets this done because I feel like there's an entire chapter of Rashad's recent years that is more or less missing, or roughly sketched at the most on THIB.

He doesn't give me enough pieces of that trauma... in order for me to understand the context surrounding this tough road he's been on, and fully connect with the music.

To top it off, generally, I don't find he's lyrically specific enough to glean a lot of feelings from this album.

This is especially disappointing considering how tumultuous his life has been recently. I feel like there was a lot of stories, and personal anecdotes he could've gotten into, but we don't get much of it.

He certainly brings a level of emotion and intimacy in his vocals that I do like, but it's not nearly evocative enough to affect me to a significant degree.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "Headshots (4r Da Locals)"

Stream The House is Burning here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6TQ8nqw43uUOWu7Yqp58ko?si=Rag_Mz8rSlqOxDZgS6WGeg&dl_branch=1 

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#66 - BLOODBLIXING INTERVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

Skip intro (0:49).

It's been a minute since I've had an interview for you guys. But after a summer of falling back, and getting things in the background taking care of, this Fall expect to see a bunch of great artists join the show.

Starting with Ep. 66, hailing from New York, I have with me an unbelievably dope rapper, producer, who is probably the most played artist of the year for me, alongside my man Kincee BabyFace Pearlis.

His name is BLOODBLIXING.

The meaning of Blix's name name (2:11).

His thought's on the underground movement that he is a part of (4:13).

Backstory behind the Mach-Hommy influence (6:32).

Blix on why it's important to pay homage (12:25).

The first R&B GANGSTA EDITION w/ WHOBEJAZZZ (21:07).

His unique rapping style (27:09).

Working w/ 2 Dolla Will and recording BUTTE BEER (34:24).

The GANGSTA EDITION series (38:19).

The essential BLOODBLIXING releases (42:18).

What's upcoming for Blix (47:47).

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#65 - Iceberg Theory & August Fanon - Horned Monk REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)

In sharp contrast to the usual religious subject matter you hear in music, Iceberg Theory's perspective on this topic is NOT dogmatic. It's not a simplistic perspective that says "God will save us", or "God is perfect".

Ice either, uses these religious themes as cool motifs and poetic devices for his rhymes, or, is exploring the fundamental foundation of belief, and the complexity and contradictions that arise from this perspective. These thoughts are especially notable in light of the recent release of DONDA by Kanye West.

Having just listened to the DONDA album (2nd listening party version to be clear) prior to recording this review, it allowed me to see Horned Monk with a different lens, and develop a deeper appreciation for how it approaches the topic of religion.

Horned Monk deeply wows me lyrically, with production from August Fanon that never ceases to impress.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "(Untitled)"

Stream/Buy Horned Monk here: https://icetheoryrap.bandcamp.com/album/horned-monk  

Interview with Iceberg Theory here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/28-iceberg-theory-interview/id1527457780?i=1000506626322  

Review of Iceberg Theory & August Fanon's Dispatches from the Kali Yuga here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/25-navy-blue-iceberg-theory-august-fanon-fatboi-sharif/id1527457780?i=1000504296233 

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#64 - Vince Staples - Vince Staples REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)

What has always gravitated me to Vince Staples, is that he is frank.

Vince is so frank in the way he paints his life in Long Beach, describing harrowing street experiences with a cold bluntness that has defined his music to-date.

These blunt observations were often layered over loud abrasive production, or lively west-coast instrumentals that emphasized Vince's charisma and ability to ride the beat in a very catchy way.

With Vince's latest self-titled effort though, the usual formulas in a Vince release have been adjusted.

... And for that reason, VINCE STAPLES was easily one of the most unmemorable first listens of a highly anticipated album that I can remember.

I think the very lowkey nature of the album took a lot of getting used to, but eventually I can say that I think this approach brought something new out of Vince lyrically that I did like, yet limited an existing strong trait of his as well.

With Kenny Beats, I think this move to subtly took his typical vibrant energy and trapped it in a box.

The subtle grooves, melodies and samples only uncovered themselves on many listens… taking trips is great, lil fade has a really dope synth loop that I thought was super fresh

What I think Vince loses from this more subtle approach is that the highly animated delivery from Vince that I always have loved, which is now restrained and less present.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "ARE YOU WITH THAT?"

Stream Vince Staples here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2suR5CCbtL2Wq8ShFo8rFr?si=u5uH7aXVTR-kEbWLwqglrw&dl_branch=1  

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#63 - MIKE - "Disco!" REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)

When I think of MIKE, the words that come to mind are sincerity and honesty.

In absolutely every album MIKE has released, he poured his heart out.

On "Disco!", MIKE certainly leans into his soulful nature once again, but without getting overly consumed by it.

In the past, MIKE would really exude the depression that he was experiencing at the time, and it's not like there's anything wrong with that from a music perspective.

However, it's nice to see him continue the progression we saw on weight of the world, where he seems more at peace with where he is in life.

I see tears of joy and weight of the world as MIKE processing the death of his mother and coming to grips with the pressure and residual effects that this unfortunate event inflicted on his mind.

Whereas "Disco!" feels like MIKE beginning a new chapter in his life, reflecting on the past without LIVING in the past... which can only come from acceptance.

It doesn't mean he isn't still dealing with similar struggles, but now he is doing so with a stronger sense of presence and assuredness that is palpable.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "ghoulish"

Stream/Buy "Disco!" here: https://mikelikesrap.bandcamp.com/album/disco 

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#62 - Tyler, The Creator - CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)

On the surface, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST sounds like Tyler flexing about how great his life is, with specific moments that reference a failed love he had with some girl.

But in reality, this album mirrors a famous poem by Charles Baudelaire in many ways, but takes it a step further and comes to a conclusion that is both realistic and interesting.

Tyler's primary subject matter on this LP is flexing his successes, and his wealth. But deeper than that, there is a real pride he displays in how he has navigated his way in the music industry, standing for what he believed in amidst a lot of hate and a journey to self-discovery related to his sexuality and identity.

Tyler sounds content and FREE.

This all serves to set the context for the one missing piece that is remaining in his life, which seemingly would upset this peaceful mind-state that he is otherwise painting in his rhymes... and that is a girl.

A girl he is trying to court to complete this decadent life Tyler now leads. This is precisely where the album's layers begin to unfold...

RMPP Preferred Cut: "WILSHIRE"

Stream CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST here: https://open.spotify.com/album/45ba6QAtNrdv6Ke4MFOKk9 

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#61 - YOD - TIME REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)

On TIME, Your Old Droog shows he can paint lyrical pictures very well. However, the picture paints here is sometimes kind of dull in my humble opinion.

What Droog is talking about on TIME is a far cry from the much deeper exploration that occurred related to his relationship with his Jewish and Ukrainian identity on Jewelry and Dump YOD.

On those albums we saw YOD get personal... something he does do here as well, but in a way more captivating way that struck me on an emotional level.

But I'd also say that the bars on this album are not on the same level of Tha YOD Fahim, Jewelry, and especially Dump YOD, which was one of the best albums of 2020, with one of the craziest rapping performances I've heard in a long time.

All of these gripes are not even addressing the elephant in the room with this album... at least in the room where I personally am listening to this album.

This elephant for me is the production.

Rarely do these beats leave an impression on me, which is a shame because Droog usually selects great beats to rap over.

The listless nature of many of these beats, compounded with the less than always interesting lyrical content from Droog... makes TIME an album that sees Droog come back to Earth, after an impressive hot streak spanning all the way back to 2019.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "The Magic Watch"

Buy/Stream TIME here: https://yourolddroog.bandcamp.com/album/time 

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#60 - Skyzoo - All the Brilliant Things REVIEW

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)

New York's Finest, Skyzoo, has returned with his latest studio album, All the Brilliant Things, just as Ottawa's Finest, The Rap Music Plug, has returned to continue taking the podcast game by storm. It feels great to be back!

The way the lyrical themes play out on this album, is ultimately why I appreciate All the Brilliant Things so much more on multiple listens.

Unlike In Celebration of Us, which focused on his new experiences with Fatherhood, and how life was growing up alongside his honourable father, All the Brilliant Things differs in Skyzoo's focus.

This time around his lens is more outward, focusing on how his hometown has changed over the years mainly due to gentrification, walking you through memory lane recounting various stories and life experiences.

Sky also spends much of this album discussing his place in the game, and his contributions to hip-hop. Obviously Skyzoo has been, and still is braggadocious about his skill and accomplishments. However, on All the Brilliant Things, what I'm referring to is a grounded and celebratory view on what his rap career has meant to the art form, and what his career has indirectly meant for young men from his home... serving as an inspiration for those that grew up alongside him.

I obviously recognized Skyzoo's lyricism to be great since day 1. But on this album, I find the themes are exceptionally put together and push this album over the top.

Couple that with exquisite jazz-infused instrumentals, and we have another great rap album in 2021.

RMPP Preferred Cut: "Rich Rhetoric"

Buy/Stream All the Brilliant Things here: https://mmg-skyzoo.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-brilliant-things 

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For artist development/writing services, DM me @rohview on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at qlctv.podcast@gmail.com 

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