ON WAX: SMELLS LIKE HIP HOP SPIRIT, INFRARED, DUPPY, TESTING, AND PERCS

…WAS TESTING THE RIGHT TEST?

On May 25th, after three long years of leaving fans wanting more, A$AP Rocky released his third album, Testing. This new album strays from older sounds that made Rocky so iconic, and introduces an unfamiliar territory for Rocky fans. The end truth is, as you listen to the last track, that it doesn’t stick. Rocky released a project that was good, but it’s not able to hold up to the three year anticipation from his last project. There are some high marks on the album as Rocky finds himself having features without actually having actual features. Where you would expect verses from other people listed on the tracks, you really only get a glimpse of their voice and full-on Rocky. The truth about this album may be better than the album itself, and that truth is that Rocky is finding himself and wanting to exceed any limitations above him. While it fails to excuse the wait for the album, it does lock eyes on what is to come next.

THE ALBUM NO ONE SAW COMING FROM KING PUSH

After an almost two-and-a-half-year wait, Pusha T has dropped his new album. Daytona, initially to be King Push, was finally released on May 25^th. The album was teased during a Kanye West twitterstorm, alongside the announcement that Kanye would be producing the whole album. The album is only seven tracks at 21 minutes, and feels more like a mini-album then a full-length one. Regardless, Pusha doesn’t need much to show he’s one of the greatest of the craft. Between Kanye’s production and Pusha’s lyrical abilities, the seven track album is a near flawless masterpiece, and there doesn’t seem to be a dull moment on the project. If Daytona is an indication of what’s to come this year, let it be said that G.O.O.D. music is taking over.

DJ MUSTARD’S BANGER

DJ Mustard returns with a star-studded class for the West Coast flavored single, “Big Banks.” The track features YG, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Nicki Minaj. The beat is much to Mustard’s style, heavy 808s with a catchy instrumental melody. With such a cast, the song has an excellent chance to be bangin in the clubs this summer.

COLE INTERVIEWS LIL PUMP

There shouldn’t be any surprise that there is a disconnect between the generations in hip-hop when J. Cole dropped “1985;” the problem was less with the track, but those that felt that they were the target of the track. That person was Lil Pump, one of the youngest and hottest rappers in the game at the moment. He is the exact polar opposite to a J.Cole. Once he took offense, there wasn’t anything off limits. Crowds were shouting “Fuck J.Cole,” he was also saying it, and even Smokepurpp was saying it. What was interesting was that J. Cole did what you’d expect a grown man to do and did not retaliate, but instead showed support for the rapper. For most fans it was simple: either Cole or Pump. A few saw the middle ground where Cole was trying to paint, however, it looks like a peek of it has come to light in an interview where the two speak to one another.

DENZEL CURRY RISES

Carol City’s best, Denzel Curry dropped a new single titled “Percs.” The song is to appear on the highly anticipated Taboo, Curry’s follow-up to his 2016 project Imperial and his 2017 EP 13. The track ventures into Curry’s familiar territory of aggressive trap, but adds some new sonic elements. Denzel discusses his status in the rap game and the state of the game itself. He feels as if he birthed a lot of modern hip-hop, which is true, given him and the collective he came up with, RVIDXR CLVN, pioneered the current Florida Soundcloud rap scene. Taboo is expected to drop soon.

FROM INFRARED TO DUPPY: SMELLS LIKE HIP-HOP SPIRIT

YES! YES! YES! While I usually wouldn’t promote beef, the truth is beef is healthy for hip-hop. The very foundations are built on that competitive spirit of whose the better Emcee. Now, Drake is in route to releasing his next album, Scorpion. Yeah, the “Nice For What” and “God’s Plan” are hits, but they don’t really get you pumped if you want to hear Drake rap. What gets Drake to rap? Beef. When Pusha T’s “DAYTONA” released, there wasn’t anyone who could stop talking about “Infrared,” a track that aimed for hip-hop’s self-proclaimed “Top 2 but not 2,” Drake. While usually Drake will wait to throw a light jab, we got a full set of combos as the 6-God responded with “Duppy Freestyle.” Drake holds no bars, and much like in the situation with recently released from jail rapper, Meek Mill, when he dissed Drake, no one was prepared for the response they got. Now we are in the waiting game as we wait to see if Pusha T really is that competition that Drake has been running from.

Until next time, it’s On Wax.

-Dyllan E. & Hiram