Once again
40 saves another Drake album. On April 29th, Drake came out with his
new album “Views”. The 20 songs filled album has two sides to it.
The first
being what you would usually expect from drake lyrically. Like his last couple albums; he’s reminiscing
about another girl that broke his heart or that he grew apart from. The only thing that is different is that the
production style is impeccable.
40 is great
at what he does. He has absolutely
mastered music in a way that would make a deaf person audibly capable. He is possibly the Beethoven of our generation;
composing works of art that can force a person to tune in and appreciate the
note-by-note assembly making hits like “9”, “You With Me?”, “One Dance” and
many more.
Drake did
drop some pretty hard bars though. “I
lost my way. I’m searching for these words; to say to you”. Or when he said, “Always
saw you for what you could have been. Ever since you met me. Like when Chrysler
made that one car that look just like the Bentley. I always saw you for what
you could have been… And it’s all because you chose a side. You’re supposed to be put your pride aside
and ride for me”. But, with 20 songs in an album it’s inevitable that there
would be some well written lyrics.
All together
40 stole the show. Drake did his job as
an artist; like in “Childs Play”. It’s
just that I expected more from Drake. Especially
since Kanye said that Drake is the face of Hip-Hop right now. He did develop some great music though. I’m
not saying that I won’t be listening to it all summer because I will. I’m just questioning if the album would have
been as good as it is if 40 wasn’t in the picture.
Also, if
you’ve listened to the album and you didn’t like it; listen to it again. Let it grow on you because the sound is a
little different than todays common Rap.
On April 22, Brian “Birdman” Williams stormed into the Power 103 Breakfast Club radio studio ready to fight. He stepped into the studio office with his entourage, threw his glasses on the table and said, “Stop Playing with my name”.
Birdman has been the target of jokes ever since he had the first fall out with the most popular artist he managed, Lil Wayne. His beef with the Breakfast Club radio DJ’s which includes Charlamangne the God, DJ Envy and Angela Yee began after these three hosts began throwing barbs his way for the financial mistreatments of a number of current and former artists associated with Cash Money Records which Birdman co-owns and manages. But most importantly his personal relationship with Lil Wayne has been a public topic of discussion on the Breakfast Club show which Birdman has been disapproving of lately. Accused of being involved as the aggressor of a shooting which targeted Lil Wayne at Club Compound in Atlanta, the Breakfast Club have brought up this specific incident on their show many times which gave Birdman the fuel to confront the radio hosts.
So after Birdman’s extravagant entrance and 2 minute tirade on being respected, DJ Envy opened up the show. Charlamagne the God started blurting out, “He dun cursed us out”.
And wait until you see the look on Bird Man’s face. Livid is literally an understatement.
Charlamangne the God and Birdman continue to go back and fourth until Bird Man abruptly gets up and leaves with his crew. The Breakfast Club hosts joke around for a little bit and then they cut their show short due to Birdman’s absence as the interviewee for their morning episode.
If I were Charlamagne I would have said, “Bye Felicia” as he walked out the door. But Charlamagne does have to start playing it a little safer; unless he wants to get cracked in the face again.
There’s millions of men in America that can say that their wives have caught them cheating. There’s only one man in America that can say that his wife made an entire album about their husband cheating on them and, on top of it, made the album in to a film. Sorry Jay-Z, but we don’t feel bad for you.
Tidal released Beyoncé’s new album video, “LEMONADE”; a twelve-song music video compilation revealing Beyoncé’s thoughts on her marriage. If you haven’t heard it yet, the entire album is Beyoncé just talking about how much she hates Jay-z for cheating on her when she has been by his side and started a family with him.
In “Hold Up” she talks about how she’s tired of him lying and giving her excuses. She doesn’t care if she seems crazy and frankly she’s tired of his shit. Then she continues to talk about how all the women that he’s been cheating on her with don’t love him like she does. She starts bashing car windows in with a wooden baseball bat, smile on her face, insinuating that she’s going to fuck up any woman that gets in the way of her happiness.
It transitions to a Sasha Fierce esk vibe in the song “Sorry” as she sings, “I ain’t thinkin’ bout you. I ain’t thinkin’ bout. Middle fingers up. Put ‘em hands high. Wave it in his face. Tell ‘em boy bye”. She even says that she “regret[s] putting that ring on”.
She still knows that she’s Queen B and at the end of the day she makes her own money and she’s a boss. She doesn’t need him to carry her. She made herself into what she is and she’s going to continue to be a boss with or without him.
As it continues, she mentions Jay-Z’s infidelity isn’t a secret. Her own dad knew that Jay was sketch. And who would know better than B’s own dad. He cheated on her mother so he should be able to spot out another deceitful man.
Towards the end she explains how they have become very distant and that the fights continue. Almost like she’s exhausted but still loves him. In “Freedom” she shows the light at the end of the tunnel emphasizing that she’s a winner and that she wont let anyone including her husband take freedom from her.
Finally, in “All Night” she says that she will be there through the good and the bad. So basically she’s not going to get a divorce.
“LEMONADE” ends with “Formation” to pick the vibe back up. The album video is a cross between “Django Unchained” meets Hip-Hop and R&B meets Nicole Kidman in “Eyes Wide Shut” meets Gwen Stefani’s lyrics in No Doubt’s album; “Tragic Kingdom”. All together, this album experience is going to change Hip-Hop and music all together. The film, a little over an hour is filled with anger, truth and love both visually and audibly stimulating. If you don’t have the Tidal App you should purchase it just to watch this video.
