Slime Flu 2 by Vado
Vado is swiftly becoming a vocal focal point for Harlem, and his latest mixtape Slime Flu 2 proves to be a welcome installment to his ever-growing collection of no-holds-barred rap. Built around head-nodding production that graciously caters to the streets, records like “Keep It Goin’” and “NY Ride” find him endorsing the grind, while “I See You (Black People)” details a more reflective Vado. Then there’s “Slime Anthem,” which perfectly encapsulates what Cam’ron saw in the Lennox Ave-representative. Over blaring horns and steady drums, Vado verbally assaults the track like he’s back on the corner earning his stripes. His ear for beats is still a work in progress (“Louis V Bag,” “U Know What It Is”), and a scant variety of subject matter may stave off new listeners that are more accustomed to the idiosyncrasies of radio. If Slime Flu 2 is any indication of what Vado has in store though, Cam’ron should have no worries about his protégé’s future.
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Friend Of The People by Lupe Fiasco
To be frank, Lupe Fiasco’sFriend Of The People is not far off from Lasers. Snappy commentary on post-modernization and its residual effects (“WWJD He’d Prolly LOL Like WTF!!!” to “Words I Never Said”)? Check. Inspirational track that the youth can latch onto (“The End Of The World” to “The Show Goes On”)? Check. Production that’s better suited for LMFAO (“SNDCLSH In Vegas” To “I Don’t Wanna Care Right Now”)? Check. In fact, whereas his 2009 Thanksgiving special Enemy Of The State was underlined by current contemporary cuts of the time, Friend Of The People pulls from a handful of alternative sources (Justice, Nero, etc.). However, the conviction behind his words and delivery (check “Super Cold” and “Lightwork”
) are such that you can move through the dubstep and house sound scapes with ease. Throw in a few ultra-dense lyrical performances with quotables for days (“SLR,” “Double Burger With Cheese”) and what we have here is arguably his best project since 2007. Is Lupe back? Let’s hope Atlantic got the memo.
Listen to Friend Of the People by Lupe Fiasco
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E.P.I.C. (Every Play Is Crucial) by B.o.B.
B.o.B.’s chameleon-like approach to music is not a new skill set that we haven’t heard before, yet his execution in doing so is one that few can replicate. True to form, E.P.I.C. (Every Play Is Crucial) fits right into this boundless arena. A majority of the tracks feature guest spots, with anyone from Mos Def to Roscoe Dash joining Bobby Ray on his audacious expedition. In every instance, B.o.B. uses this varietal palate of voices to his strength, with standout tracks being “Boom Bap,”“Strange Clouds” and “5 On The Kush.” Similar to his debut albumThe Adventures Of Bobby Ray(more specifically “Magic”), B.o.B.’s creativity and likewise curiosity allows for a few cuts that may cross the line pop-wise (“Friday Night Star,” “Wrong”), however the overall quality on E.P.I.C. shouldn’t be discounted. Ambiguity never sounded so convincing.
