I am a mere mortal. Just a man. So I guess, Push, don’t take this too seriously. Whatever. But stop splitting your projects, Pusha T. Stop it. You have to! You did this last time, and the meal before the main course ended up being better than the main course. In 2013 you released Wrath Of Caine. There is not one bad song on that mixtape. That mini-album. Whatever you want to call it, that thing was amazing. It was everything we wanted from Push. It was coke rap pushed to its artistic heights. It felt like you were the guy Jay said had to talk to him from four fiends away. You felt dangerous. Remember lines like, “No Soundscan for a bricklayer / Square nigga you a brick hater?” We need that on a retail album. That ferocity, that shirking of the music industry rap formula made songs like “Blocka” and “Millions” incredible, and it set everyone up for a project that was quintessential Push. You were riding around Jamaica with Complex and the setting sun streaming in through tinted windows. You were squarely in your pocket. You were doing what you do best. The media push around that was truly blessed. But, don’t do that again.
I totally understand that I’m not an A&R, but, Pusha T, your albums have tended to suffer from the curse of Jay Z’s “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.” Just one or two pop records can elevate an album into the crossover heavens or kill the project completely. Especially in rap. And that’s what seemed to happen on what should have been your breakout, star-making record: My Name Is My Name. Don’t get me wrong, that was a good record. But it missed greatness by two or three records that were ill advised. There, sandwiched in between gems like “Numbers On The Boards” and your killer record with Kendrick Lamar “Nosetalgia” was what seemed like fluff with “40 Acres” featuring The Dream and “No Regrets” featuring Jeezy and Kevin Cossum. The songs were good, but they felt out-of-place on an album that Wrath Of Caine made us feel would be squarely in Push’s wheelhouse for people who he’d consider his core demo. People who want to hear you rap your ass off. The people who hold you in extremely high regard as an emcee.
I say emcee with real weight, here. So many people are ambivalent about the actual art of putting words together, but not King Push. We just want the best possible project. So what we read when we headed to Noisey wasn’t necessarily good news:
“… I feel like I had the producers doing things that they weren’t usually known for, a little out of their wheelhouse. I wanted to give the fans that body of work. That’s the music I love, and that’s the music that my fans love from me. Instead of having those moments throughout King Push, let’s just separate the game.”
If that means that songs like “Untouchable” will be on Darkest Before Dawn and not on King Push then we’d like to interject: We object! We know Kanye’s got heavy work on King Push. And we know that Pharrell is on there doing his damned thing and we’re excited. You can blame 4Chan for that. But to see the rumored December 18 release not be King Push and, instead, be a project that splits your bucks, again, is concerning. Honestly, if the album was “Untouchable,” “Nosetalgia,” “Millions,” and “Blocka” you’d already have a classic on your hands. So, Pusha T, I just want the cohesive, all-in album from you that we know you can give, but to do that we need you to stop splitting up your releases.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Its official, hiphopdx rates “trap” albums better. Wrath Of Caine had good raps but it was “trap” all over. My Name Is My Name was way better.
Got a point with vol 1 reference but he is signed to a major n they expect a single that is radio ready to be behind any album. He’s probably hedging his bets since he’s had no buzz this yr n needs some attention from fans for a project. Hence the typical mixtape b4 the album routine. I agree with ur sentiment don’t split an album for a mixtape but I think he needs something out to garner attention. If he could drop a dope single then he won’t need the tape. Gotta be more catchy then his current single tho to get a buzz.
Dear HiphopDX,
This album is called ”King Push: Darkest Before Dawn… The Prelude.
This means that OF COURSE KANYE HAS WORK ON THIS, like Pharrell might have too. It’s obvious he made a lot of great music and decided it was best to split it into 2 KING PUSH albums. My Name is My Name lacked the good crossover singles, of course, but does that mean the man has to switch up the way he makes his albums? I don’t think so, they could be brilliant ones next time around.
I don’t know, fam. He made it seem as though he was going to be experimental on the new album, which is cool, of course, but splitting your music is a surefire way to have to place filler on your actual retail project.
Right! with all due respect I think the writer got it wrong with this one. “MNMN” was a ill album which I thought was better than “Wrath of Caine”.
Any R&B features and it’s a disappointment. A Chris brown feature & it’s a disaster.
Are you retarded? Sweet Serenade was on of the best songs on MNIMN..
damn it is not often i say this but i completely agree with Andre Grant. it is just like when j.cole came out with friday night lights and sideline story suffered as a result.
I’ve never agreed with Andre Grant on anything… until this moment. Bravissimo.
Wrath of Caine was not better than MNIMN. Road Runner sucked with Troy Ave having the worst hook on the whole tape. “Trust You” and “Only You Can Tell” were tracks I always skipped. And “Revolution” was pretty weak for a Neptunes track. That’s nearly half of Wrath of Caine I could do without. The rest was awesome.
I disagree. I think he is trying to make a complete project. Not a little bit of everything. Probably will be like Fat Joes dark side series. Besides I like those dark albums with a grimey foundation. Probably what I spin the most in the gym.
F a crossover record. You guys want him on taylor Swift tracks?
Clipse is my favorite group of all time, and I think Pusha is a great rapper. That being said, I cannot sit here and say that Untouchable is a good song. There isn’t a hook, the beat has strange drum patterns, etc. Play any song off of hell hath no fury right after you listen to untouchable, and you will see just how far apart the quality is. Pusha T needs those neptunes beats again. There was not a better combo out there.
He actually mentions this in his recent interview for HOT97. He acknowledged how MNIMN had those sort of milder radio records. But he reassured that King Push is gonna be straight rap fucking flames that we all love him for. For “his fans” to quote him. Untouchable is fucking hard so I think he’s gonna follow through nicely