This is the best rap album to drop in years. It has God-tier production, hard hitting bars, and savage flows. That's all it takes.
Raps
Pusha T (and his brother) spent his youth selling cocaine. He then made a rap career with that as subject material. You'd think that would get boring with time, yet every album he drops gets better and better. There's no Kendrick-level lyricism here, but it's all hard and meticulously crafted. Here's some of my favorites:
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The wrist singin' autotune
The dope game destroyed my youth
Now Kim Jones Dior my suits
My boys in the hood is mixed with the menaces
The cane is sugar and cut by Dominicans
Open the box, it's like ten Christmases
My folks in the box is serving life sentences
I live in a world that never leaves witnesses
Just so you remember who you dealin' with
Calling my bluff, gon' answer, "Hello"
Service with a smile when I hand out halos
Shotclock shooters, when I point 'em, they go
Now everybody asking "What happened?" They know
Tell me what I missed
New designer drugs and emotions I don't get
I don't Hellcat, still paddle when I shift
Vietnam flashbacks, I get triggered by a sniff
Today's top fives only strengthenin' my myth
Belong on Rushmore just from chiselin' a brick
Still fightin' demons, see, that curse is now my gift
Secrets die with me, that's as deep as the abyss, that is no coincidence
^this one is from Push's brother
"You can't come get this work until it's dry. I made this album while the streets were closed during the pandemic. Made entirely with the greatest producers of all time - Pharrell and Ye. ONLY I can get the best out of these guys. ENJOY!!" - Pusha T
Frankly after listening to this I can't argue with what he says about Pharrell and Kanye. A lot of the tracks on this album are simply genius. Here's 4 songs which I think are worth checking out:
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Brambleton - Prod. by Pharrell
The album opener. Hard, interesting beat. Some haunting vocals come in throughout the track. Very small thing which adds a lot.
Rock N Roll (feat Kid Cudi and Kanye West) - Prod. by Kanye
Classic Kanye chipmunk soul sample (of Beyonce!). Also potentially the last Kanye and Cudi song we will ever hear
Call My Bluff - Prod. by Pharrell
Incredibly menacing beat that sounds like something out of Eraserhead.
I Pray For You (feat Labrinth and Malice) - Prod. by Kanye
Album closer. The production is incredibly beautiful, it's grandiose and makes me feel like I'm going to heaven. Literally had to stop the track and take a walk I was so excited on first listen.
The production perfectly encapsulates what the album is: taking well established themes and ideas and still churning something powerful and unique out of them. Personally I think it sets a new standard.
Overview
This album is like a shot in the arm for rap. For years now the charts have been flooded with artists who can hardly keep you engaged across an entire album. This is not that. This is the product of 3 years of meticulous hard work, involving 3 of the greatest talents in the industry at the moment. With Kendrick and Chance dropping in the following month, this is shaping up to be one of the best years rap has ever seen. I highly suggest you check out this album if you found any of this interesting. As someone who likes hard, energetic music, I couldn't be happier.
