TAG: album

Mar20

K. Sparks & G.C. – A Day In The Life (Review)

K. Sparks & G.C.

A Day In The Life

Released by HiPNOTT Records


With XXL unveiling their "Top Ten Freshmen" in hip-hop earlier this month, there have been many smiles, many frowns and many "shoulda-beens." Not to jump on the bandwagon--okay, that actually is EXACTLY what is going on here, but please pay attention--K. Sparks is definitely worthy of being a freshman next year (should XXL choose not to change the line-up after this review, of course). With A Day In The Life, this New York artist teams up with producer G.C. to give listeners just that: an album that illustrates a day in the life of the/an aspiring MC. Most of the time, people cringe whenever the word "conceptual" and "album" are put together (kinda like "romance" and "novel," right?) but Sparks actually does a great job.

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Feb02

Coolzey – The Honey (Review)

Coolzey

The Honey

Released by Public School Records


Sure, 1976 Iowa does not really sound like the type of place that would yield underground greatness in the hip-hop scene, but then again, what else would Coolzey have done to pass his time? Though nobody really knows, luckily, nobody really has to. The Honey at a glance seems like another good’ole fashioned ten song hip-hop album. Upon further inspection, it becomes quite clear that there is a little bit more going on.

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Jan26

Voices Voices – Origins (Review)

Voices Voices

Origins

Released by Manimal Records


Listening to Voices Voices is like being back in the womb; it’s warm yet occasionally haunting and there are voices present, but sometimes they just cannot be deciphered. However, if the womb thing were literal, then listeners could hardly be held accountable (seeing as how they have yet to learn anything about language, Teletubbies or not being submerged in embryonic fluid). Well, what is known about these two Los Angeles-based sirens is this: they do not have a Wikipedia page (yet), they heavily volunteered helping out with the “No on Prop 8” campaign, Prefuse 73 lent a huge hand as far as the production on the EP and (not surprisingly) they are on to something with this music stuff.

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Nov26

Syntaks – Ylajali (Review)

Syntaks

Ylajali

Released by GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL


Why is music so powerful? Sure it's there when there is the movie to score, the party to throw or the afternoon to savor, but why is it worth obsessing over? Well, for many of us, music can and will evoke emotional responses more strongly than nearly anything else. It strikes something obscure within us; something near-imaginary. But the feelings it stirs are the most real thing in the world. This is why Syntaks Ylajali is such a great album. Now consisting of Jacob Skott and Anna Cecilia, the ...

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Nov12

Wale – Back Into Go Mode

It is not very often that an emerging artist is traditional enough to swiftly gain support but unique enough to be in a class of their own. Then again, it takes a special something to land on our 150th issue cover before even having an album out. For people in the know, Wale is far from a “new” artist. Delivering rock-solid mixtapes and now a phenomenal debut album to the masses, this D.C. champion has been someone to pay attention to for a while now. We caught up with the URB favorite to talk Attention Deficit, touring with Jay-Z and Africa.


URB: First and foremost, the album is very very good. You should be very proud…
Wale: Thank you so much man. I appreciate it.


Yeah, it’s great. I mean, I’ve been a fan of you since the 100 Miles and Runnin’ mixtape. …

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Nov11

Wale – Attention Deficit (Review)

Wale

Attention Deficit

Released by Interscope/Allido Records


With so many young faces emerging in the landscape of hip-hop right now—whether they be under a veteran’s wing or “cookin’ up dat piff” in their momma’s basement—it is extremely easy for both listeners and musical hopefuls to become inundated. Over the years however, it seems that a schism between new and old has emerged: too many new artists develop a style based on a successful artist instead of cultivating their own sound. While a very unfortunate thing to see, especially in a genre where there is “no biting ...

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