Album Review: "The Cant Resurrection" by A.M. Breakups

1. Chapter 1
The Cant Resurrection starts off with a looming, detective drama-esque instrumental with heavy piano riffs and haunting synths. A funky guitar and consistent tambourine jingle adds another layer, and in some ways, a different side to the beat, as if it had an alternate personality. The atmosphere and depth of this beat is a prime example of AM Breakups’ ability to hold his own without any vocals at all on a track.

2. Reference; Utica, NY 1951
In what is sonically a natural progression from track 1, “Reference” continues the theme of bi-polar instrumentation. The somber piano battles the upbeat, chopped up drum loop for the entirety of this beat while ambient cries streak across the backdrop.

3. Amphetamine ft. Teddy Faley
This beat gives me the feeling of being at the secret back room of a Shanghai opium den. Oh yes. Volume-wise, Teddy’s vocals take a slight backseat to AM’s instrumentation which can be expected from a producer’s album. Breakups definitely has the producing skill to get away with it, but the meticulous engineer in me wishes Teddy’s vox were up a decibel or two.
Faley’s strong suit is clearly his expansive range of emotion in his delivery. With a flow purely poetic and almost spoken word-like, Teddy proves you don’t need to overcomplicate your rhymes in order to have lyrical depth. Also, his engineering style in itself is used as a tool to further the meaning in his words. “I bought a drink for every person in that bar, but said I wasn’t going nowhere, and I wasn’t going nowhere far”. My favorite line in this track is: “There’s no point in a staring contest won by anyone not paying mind”.

4. Dreams ft. V8 & Eleven
“Dreams” starts off in an instant with the ramblings of V8 which can be perceived as either complete insanity or pure, uncut genius depending on the listener. One major gripe I have with V8’s flow is that he spits incredibly fast, which would be fine if his lyrics weren’t so galactically abstract. Most of his verse sounds like pure gibberish at first listen, and it doesn’t help that his vocals are a couple decibels too low. However, you can’t deny his unique delivery and content. He’s clearly talking about SOMETHING, and convincingly too, it just may be too much for the normal mind to process.
The chorus is easier to hear, but just as difficult to understand completely. “…Bounce off of metal and stick to glue/ Imagine me for you and you for me, so happy together”. There’s no doubt it is catchy though. The mixing on this track is exceptional. I’m a fan of the sped up vocals, echoes, and other effects. Eleven comes in strong with some catchy phrases like “colossal collisions” and “spinal drip, spinal graphs, hieroglyphs”. As someone with already bad hearing, I don’t like having to pump the volume so high to figure out what these guys are saying. The beat is simply too high. I’m the first to scream for complexity in hip-hop, but this song becomes a chore to truly understand. But with a trippy, bassy beat and solid flows like these, you can fully enjoy it if you aren’t thinking too hard.

5. Quaker Interlude (God Strong Optimis)
This is an awesome interlude. It’s warped, pitched-down drawl floats you along into a particular vibration. It’s soothing, thumbs up.

6. Forms ft. Billy Woods
This track continues the cheery feel, sounding very familiar until at about minute one it’s messing with your head. AM completely shatters any assumed predictability in hip-hop production and makes it sound good. There are “off beat” segments and expected structure is thrown out the window… and it’s enthralling. Billy Woods is heavily in tune with AM’s style as you can see right away. “We used to rhyme up in the building like Good Times, hard times”. Great content and delivery. The end of the song has a great closing melody leading into outro… gongs? Whatever it is, it sounds good.

7. Dukes Up! Ft. DJ Dylemma
Fresh cuts from Dylemma and a spacey-somber beat from AM. This is good smoking music. I’m not sure where the audio clip is from at the end, but I’m guessing either Lost or BBC’s Survivors? Hmn.

8. Blackout (Another Trip Pt. 2)
Trippy synth action starts off and leads into a multi-layered drum array. Smooth guitar riffs bring in an oldschool vibe that leans nicely into the left speaker.

9. When Yr Eyes Are Closed
This one’s a ghoulish instrumental with some classic samples. Pretty straightforward.

10. Chapter 2 ft. Billy Woods & Eleven
Here is a more bombastic beat from AM with loads of different sounds hitting you from all angles. Despite its jazzy core, it definitely provides its fair share of hype, especially with Woods’ verse supporting it. Eleven approaches this joint with a more laidback flow, giving you two different tones from both lyricists.

11. Hearts
Such a great instrumental. The creepy melody and off-kilter drumwork make this a hypnotizing affair. Sparse audio samples accentuate the drums at parts.

12. Machine Gun Etiquette ft. Teddy Faley
Faley lends his spoken-word-like bravado and progressive engineering in full effect for this track. His indirect wording makes the track meaty and highly replayable. “My standstill iller than ya superman dance”. The music breaks into a weird convo… then in the effect-centric breakdown common in Faley’s music. The rhyme scheme at the end is unique and catchy.

13. Streets
Spooky and triumphant, this beat is in two different places like many of AM’s other beats on this project. It’s as if two different entities are at play here that work together to form one unifying sound. The track then twists into an outer limits mixed with mechanical dystopia type madness. Steady horns lead us through the middle of this beat as a lengthy bridge to a re-funkified continuation of the main melody. Now lustrious female vocals encompass what has become the soundtrack to a melancholy circus. The outro pulsates and vibrates interjectedly with pitched-way-the-fuck-down vox.

14. Stick To Downrockin’ ft. Bedtime9
Funky and dirty is this track, as AM dominates with a steady groove throughout half the song till a point comes where the song ODs on Robitussin. Everything slows down to a crawl and Bedtime comes in with subdued vox that trudge along with the beat. His vocals were definitely on the low side, but he spits lethargically enough so his lyrics can be made out.

15. Noah
Is a somber tune with lively drums… Paradox? That’s what AM is all about.

16. Third Neon Out ft. The Model Citizen & Eleven
Mod spits first on this classic boom bap assemblage of sounds. Mod’s vocab is on point and his content gives you a unique perspective. Rhyme scheme is tight. Eleven does a good job on the chorus, makes it catchy.

17. Perfect Science
This isn’t a beat as much as it is a sonic segue of melody.

18. Low Bombing ft. V8 & Shortrock
“You’re not invited, neither am I; same plots”. This is how this song starts, and is a fitting precursor to the conceptual and metaphorical expansiveness that follows. His stream of conscious-style flow is unheard of elsewhere. “Chickle little, I fiddle, and collect my viddles… ya goin’ home”. “Standing still, colonizing my libido into a plexis of per diem. My fantasy to get you outta here. When are we gonna leave, cuz here comes the vultures”. Yeah, not everyone will understand this. This is for people who can think outside the box. Shortrock’s contributions help make this a vortex of apparently alien thought and sound.


Strengths:
+ Progressive instrumentation and content
+ Multi-layered beats make for complexity which, in turn, provide extensive replayability
+ All-Star cast of emcees
+ Considerable amount of tracks make this a "bang for your buck" purchase.

Weaknesses:
- Mixing/Volume inconsistencies. Vocals were too low on a couple tracks.
- Overly abstract lyricism in some parts.

Compatibility/Appeal Rating:
Underground: 95%
Mainstream: 5%

Favorite Song: Hearts

Face Value: 9/10


CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "THE CANT RESURRECTION" for only $9.99


CONTACT INFO
http://ambreakups.bandcamp.com
http://twitter.com/ambreakups
Official Facebook Fan Page

Album Review: "Untitled 'Til This Day" by Rebels Music Empire (R.Me)

1. Intro-BBQ
Starts off with a strong spoken word intro. Skit comes in, interesting. “She’s pregnant… Pregnant again”, haha. Other than that, not much else to this intro.

2. Back to Business
The beat is a head-boppin’ piano jam.
1st – Nice flow and delivery. Pronunciation could be better. Some decent multi-syllabic rhymes. Chorus is pretty decent, not much microphone presence on it though. It should pop a little more than that.
2nd – Mic presence lacking somewhat. I’m not sure if it’s really the vocal engineering or how he’s spitting. “Achoo” line was alright.
3rd – Vocals are too low. Nice rhyme scheme.

3. Please Smoke Weed B4 Rapping
The beat is bananas. 1st – Great energy and delivery. Fairly simple punchlines. Chorus is decent, fits well with the beat well though.
2nd – Nice vocal effects. “Cat/kittens” weak.
3rd – Feelin’ the energy. The vocal mixing sounds weird though, too much echoing. “Flow/swimming” ok flip on a played metaphor.
4th – Dope beatswitch for the drinker of the bunch. Voice fits the beat well and sets a mellow tone precisely.

4. Run Dem
Eerie start flips into a part wild west, part Caribbean type beat. 1st – Vocals are low. Solid storytelling.
2nd – Detailed imagery. Good vocal effects. The chorus is well-fitting of the beat and very catchy. Repetitive, but it works.
3rd – “Not miss a beat like metronome” too simple.

5. Follow Da Lead
Another club-ready beat that is an appealing blend of dancehall and hip-hop. The chorus is very repetitive but works for this type of song.
1st – “Harder than jawbreakers” too basic. Nice delivery, but presence is too hushed.
2nd – Pronunciation could be better and/or vocals are too low. Dope rhyme scheme and delivery.
3rd – Pronunciation and vocal clarity is an issue here as well. Breath control needs some work.

6. Ric Flair
Cool intro that leads into a jumpin’ beat. 1st – Solid, mainstreamish delivery. The chorus is catchy and clever.
2nd – A couple pronunciation slips. Good flow. 3rd – Nice mic presence in this track, sound like it was mixed differently than on previous tracks. Tight multi-syllabic rhymes.

7. The Gritty Rhyme Syndrome
Intriguing intro. 1st – “Blink of a lazy eye” nice. Rhyme scheme on-point.
2nd – “Long stick like Donatello” haha. “Jello”, predictable. This beat is somewhat odd. The piano melody is distracting at first, but you get used to it, then the chorus has a synth melody that is completely unexpected. The chorus itself is alright.
3rd – Tight energy with a slight LL-type flow. Rashid comes with a versatile flow on the bottom half of the verse.
A bridge with a more cymbal-sounding melody takes over, but is filled with repetitive chants.

8. Carrie Fever
1st – “Thighs begin” nice. Efficient lyrical progression. Chorus is ok, but sets a commercial tone for the track. The beat is smooth but uptempo.
2nd – Pungent delivery. 3rd – Slight lisp, but doesn’t detract much from the track. Very mainstream-focused track on an underground-type beat.

9. Hypnosis
1st – Some distortion in vocals. Basic lyrics. Chorus is dope, digging the singing.
2nd - “Cypher decipher” nice. Solid flow. 3rd – Straightforward lines that don’t show much poetic imagination.
4th – Tight multi-syllabic rhyme structure.

10. Oxygen
Pretty decent, synthy beat. 1st – Vocals are low. The chorus sounds dope, but the vocals are too muted there as well.
2nd - “Like a gallery” ok. “Waves” reaching a little on that metaphor.
3rd – Can’t understand a lot of what’s going on here due to the vocals being so low.

11. Light A Cigarette
1st – Good delivery. Chorus is catchy, but cloud 9 is cliché, especially in this point of the album after multiple similar references. Also, I can’t say I support cigarette advertising.
2nd – “Like a record when it plays” mediocre.
3rd – Sick flow.

12. Africa
Very hype beat. 1st – feeling the Jamaican-style delivery. “Flip me that money/spatula” played. 2nd – Solid rhyme scheme. The short chorus is ok.
3rd – Nice content. “We all got abducted”. 4th – “tiger as a pet” hehe. 5th – Tight delivery.

13. Skit-Pussy
Chuckle-worthy skit.

14. Tables Turn
Story concept feeding straight off of the skit. 1st – Nice flow. “Punched me in the brain” too simple. Vocal effect/delivery is annoying on the chorus.
2nd – Tight delivery. Vocals could have been mixed better and made louder.
3rd – Rhyme scheme is on-point.

15. Eulogy
1st – Tight multi-syllabics. Flow is consistent and solid. Chorus is charismatic and energetic.
2nd – No mic presence and very low on energy. A few competetent multisyllabic rhymes.
3rd – Basic rhyme scheme. No standout lines.
4th – Appropriate energy and delivery. Pronunciation slips.


Strengths
+ Awesome beat selection.
+ Song topics, flows, and deliveries fit the beats well.
+ Strong delivery and thematic cohesion between members.
+ Nice use of skits.


Weaknesses
- Vocal mixing was definitely a huge stain on the project. Much of the lyrics were inaudible and incoherent.
- Pronunciation was a factor, although this may have had something to do with the awful mixing.
- Lyrics were not at all complex.


Compatibility/Appeal Rating:
Underground: 30%
Mainstream: 70%


Favorite Song: Run Dem


Face Value: 7.8/10



CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS ALBUM FOR ONLY $5!!!



CONTACT INFO
http://TWITTER.COM/REBELSMUSIC
REBELSMUSICEMPIRE@GMAIL.COM
http://www.REBELSMUSICEMPIRE.COM

Introduction

This is my independent hip-hop review blog. The purpose of this blog is to help indie artists elevate and develop their skills by giving a completely objective, and sometimes harsh, review of submitted albums and mixtapes. While no one can be completely objective, I'll try as hard as I can to give a detailed critique based on my idea of what hip-hop is. Not only will I analyze your hard work for your own benefit, but it will also benefit me to bring forth to my conscious mind what I, and others, look for in a good hip-hop album or mixtape.

Please do notice that I have yet to mention the word "rap". I feel rap and hip-hop are two completely different things. What you hear on the radio is mostly rap. Commercialized, derivative, unimaginative, and "POPPY" rhyming. These songs usually lack introspection and are completely superficial. I do not endorse this. If you submit something like this to me, then I will have to put my bias into consideration. Having said that, I do recognize the place for that kind of music and it is what's making money for people these days. This is why when I review your work, I will also judge whether I think it's more appealing to The Underground or The Mainstream (ex. 55% Underground, 45% Mainstream). Could a 100% mainstream album earn a 9/10? Sure, of course. Anything is possible, and I fully believe that when it comes to life in general.

Will anyone ever get a 10/10? Possible. Is it probable? Nope. A 10/10 score will not be considered perfect since nothing can be perfect when it comes to music since everyone has their own tastes. A 10/10, which likely will never be awarded, would be something akin to "Capital Punishment" by Big Pun, "The Score" by the Fugees, or "All Eyez On Me" by Tupac. An album that, from production to lyrics, is the making of a classic. Scores will be broken down to each tenth of a point, making it as precise as possible without sounding pretentious (Ha!). So there is no confusion, here are what the numbers represent.


11: Perfect - "The Unicorn". Doesn't Exist.

10: Classic - "The Immortal". A rare gem that is few and far apart. In ten years, you could listen to this piece and still find relevance. It simply defies time.

9: Outstanding - "The Daaag". Impressive, amazing.. Whatever you wanna call it, this piece brings hip-hop to a new level with originality, depth, and catchiness. Only a few minor issues keep this from being a complete classic, but they're barely detectable. Although, it's possible there are SOME tracks on there which, in themselves, ARE indeed classics.

8: Great - "The Dope". Exceeding the standard of hip-hop today. This work has the right elements, save for a few somewhat perceptible blemishes. Maybe you shouldn't have done that one track about shoelaces. You're close to the top echelon. Just a few more steps and you're there!

7: Good - "The Trooper". This work is a mixed bag. There may be quite a few good parts to this piece, but there were also enough not-so-good parts to drag it down from dopeness. There's still a lot of potential, though.

6: Decent - "The Straggler". This album or mixtape shows a lot of effort and passion, but comes up short in many categories. Some facets aren't quite as listenable as others. There's still some good in there, but you may have to listen carefully to find them.

5: Mediocre - "The Lost Soul". There are major issues with this one. At this point, I'll be trying very hard to find something good to say about this piece. I will also likely get mean and vengeful on your ass and tear this thing apart for making me listen to the whole thing. But at least you'll know exactly what you need to save your hip-hop career. On the other hand, some may really like this joint. It may fall into a small niche I'm not privy to like "Electro-Pig Squeal-Death Rap".

4: Deficient - "The Cliffhanger". This is the moment in your life where you need to seriously ask yourself if the music business is right for you. Will you fight to pull yourself up out of the muck or will you fall 1000 feet to your sloppy death? The entirety of this piece is hardly listenable.

3: Bad - "The Torture Device". EVERYTHING about this goes against all that is good in the world. This is what interrogators use on captive terror suspects for quick answers. Yes, you could use this piece of work as a WEAPON. You shouldn't even be allowed to listen to OTHER people "rap".

Anything under that would just be an exercise in comedy. In any case, I aim to be highly selective in who's work I choose to review since the review process takes up a lot of my time.. and I'm NOT getting paid for this. Be very very surprised if I review anything under a 6.. They likely bribed me! Remember, my reviews are not written for promotional purposes, but are mainly for the MC's own elevation. Expect harsh reviews with no punches held. Throughout the years, I've learned that brutal critique is the BEST way for an MC to elevate his game. Welcome to Face Value.