Bring back that '00s R&B! This alternative R&B sound that everyone is doing doesn't work very well here. Not much is catchy and there is a lack of build-up or variance in the songs. I also haven't heard anything from Mario that says he can do it to a level that makes him stand out from the crowd.
Best Tracks: Crowns and Diamonds
There are some really good songs here. I've always respected and liked Talib as a rapper but have never absolutely loved a whole project. Its short duration helps it, but this is one of the most consistent projects from front to back from him. Nothing matches his best, like some of the tracks from Eardrum, but it's all likeable and of high quality with some excellent rapping, from Talib and the featuring artists, with some nice soulful beats. 3.5-4/5
Best Tracks: State of Grace, Violations, Rare Portraits, New Leaders
This is like a few albums I've listed to of late. A decent consistent listen but it's lacking any amazing tunes. There are a plethora of better '94 hip hop albums. 3-2.5 / 5
Best Tracks: Fantastic Voyage, U Know Hoo!, It Takes a Thief (LP Mix), I Remember
The production varies from being fairly minimal to lush like beats. As a rapper, I'm not in love with her. At times she is a bit 'mumbly' with the production overshadowing her, this is probably most seen on 'Welcome to My World'. She doesn't sound like the most natural rapper, particularly when she spits fast. I don't hate this but there's nothing I really like either. It does sound unique in parts though, particularly considering it's an '01 album.
Best Tracks: Keith 'n' Me, What Is It?
The production is laid back throughout the whole EP that suits Lupe's flow nicely. On one song we get the history of modelling, on another, the existence of dinosaurs, (when have you heard, "Megalosauroidea" or "Sauropodomorpha" in a song?), and on another, we get a long boring outro and sound bites about shoes. There seems to be some metaphorical comparison between the structure of shoes and race and existentialism on it. I commend Lupe for being different and I'd rather it than recycled lyrics about suicide doors and how he fucked my bitch but some of the content isn't very interesting. As always there is some originality in the lyrics, his delivery is matched by few and the production is decent but I don't feel like there is anything I'll be going back to from this. As a side-note, at the end of the EP when Lupe says, "Stay in the house!" it gave me flash backs of the Tupac Dave Chappelle skit. 'I Will!" Something about the way he says it.
Best Tracks: seldoM
