Mayday! never meanders on their latest release, Take Me To Your Leader. They never waste space rambling ad nauseam about their grandiose talent or how they’re out of this world or on another planet or any of those other astronomically overused metaphors. They never toss trivialities seemingly just trying to rhyme; just trying to be cool. Quite the opposite, really. TMTYL was designed with more in mind than just crafting an entertaining collection of songs. It’s an album loaded with conviction. It’s an album that actually means something.
The Miami-based, six-man band unleashes 19 tracks of manifold sound beds shifting easily from subdued to frenetic. Rap/Rock hybrids often wither from the weight of too much rock and not good enough raps (or vice versa). Somehow, Mayday! evades both. Plex Luthor, Gianni Ca$h, L.T. Hopkins, and Nonymous command a range of swing step rhythms and thumping bass lines at will, while Bernz and Wrekonize drop truth bombs like Tracy Morgan. “Everything’s for sale but you never really own it / I used to have it all now I’m rolling with these roaches,” goes the hook on “Roaches,” aptly harnessing the spirit of the America that credit killed.
TMTYL rollicks in these types of reality raps. Where “Highs & Lows” (featuring Ace Hood) tackles escape through addiction (“Feel like I’m safer blowing smoke than giving a fuck”), the Murs-assisted “Hardcore Bitches” – with its guitar riffs and marching bass – rallies like a battle cry for ride or die chicks. “Due In June” is told from the perspective of an unborn fetus wishing to be aborted. “June” finds that same fetus, 11 tracks later, after it’s changed its mind, now pleading to be born. Who else dares to include songs like these?
The rumbling “Last Days” (featuring Krizz Kaliko) captures the conflicting archetypes of a society brainwashed by hubris and Hublots yet surrounded by record unemployment and dwindling civil liberties. “These are the last days / Drink up get blasted / We know it’s over so we sport the highest fashion,” chants BernBiz on the hook. “…We celebrating ‘cause the end is finally happening.”
Both Bernz and Wrekonize do a stellar job of loading TMTYL with visceral quotables and unexpected rhyme schemes. Take Bernz’s scathing verse on “Everything’s Everything,” for example. “America’s gonna eat its young,” he raps. “Drive thru / Deep fried, bitch, that’s what you want / Like I don’t feel them cause they shit don’t bump / They underestimate that army I been steady raising up. See I just learned / My heroes are a bunch of punks.” The content is weighty, yet always catchy, always flowing over undeniably danceable backdrops. It’s like an hour and ten minute long counter intelligence program basking in tragic revelry, strategically targeting both Occupy Wall Street and Top 40 radio. Literally, there’s something here for everyone without compromising anything.
Other than a couple of mundane offerings (title track, “Take Me To Your Leader;” “Badlands” featuring Tech N9ne, ironically [no fault to Tech’s dwamtastic stanza]), TMTYL is exceptional. It’s thought provoking, extremely well written, relentlessly challenging propaganda swallowers at every turn – a rarity in an industry resembling an overcrowded kiddy pool where everyone is giddily swimming in piss. “This is the people’s message, now,” rips Wrekonize towards the end of “Everything’s Everything.” Thankfully someone is speaking up.
This shit was underrated af. Best project of the year thus far. 4.5/5. Will round to a 5 because of the drowziness people have on it.
i heard about this record, its been highly praised, gonna give it a listen.
Really big surprise LP
4’s alright but I reckon this is definitely a 5. Badlands and TMTYL are mundane? Maybe not as thought provoking as Due in June but they’re a lot more intellectual than the average YMCMB release. Still a mind blowing album and probably the best release on Strange Music bar a couple of Tech N9ne albums.
I think it should’ve been given a 4.5, I think it’s arguably the best debut on Strange ever. A lot of REAL music full of creativity, substance and entertainment. A lot of my friends who I didn’t expect to like this album did, something for everyone.
same here. couldn’t believe some of the homies who were really feeling this one.
love the album!! all the songs are great, but the ones i love are due in june, tnt, hardcore bitches, last days, june, take me to your leader, everything’s everything, fuck they are good!!
5 stars easy. these guys need to be recognized ASAP! beautiful music that makes you think.
This was a great review. I do believe TMTYL deserved at least a 4.5 if not a 5, if not solely based on the fact that this is the most thought provoking and socially important Hip Hop release of the year (Granted I haven’t heard Gift of Gab’s latest so my mind could possibly change). However, other than that I think this is the best review I’ve read on this album so far. This line in particular really summed it up for me: ” Its thought provoking, extremely well written, relentlessly challenging propaganda swallowers at every turn – a rarity in an industry resembling an overcrowded kiddy pool where everyone is giddily swimming in piss.” Truth.
Straaaaangeeeeee Musicc
My new favorite album
Heartfelt, real music that just raised the bar back to where it should’ve been.
Hands down one of the best albums to come out in the past 10 years.
Definatley best album of the year so far, Mayday! I’d Definatley on top of their shit
Love the album
album of the year so far no doubt
Listened to nothing else but this for a week straight. It’s such a great cd and it keeps you listening.
come on dx this deserved a 4.5 at minimum , this is a absolute classic
there isn’t a single bad song on this cd
Best Album
You can tell these dudes put a lot into this album. The talk about real things going on this world while perfectly blending rock/rap music. Who does that? No other rappers have a chance doing living up to this rock/rap release. Ex. Lil Wayne’s Rebirth cd sucked bad. It had one good song w Eminem
Best Album so far this year… these guys go hard.
Great album, love every song. Strange Music is taking over!!!!
best album of the year so far!
Easily a 4.5 if not a 5 HipHopDX
Album of the year. also comes with Klusterfuk which makes it even better.
great album
Not gonna rate the cd as I haven’t listened to it, but I haven’t found an interest in Mayday’s music thus far… Good luck to em
Not gonna rate the cd as I haven’t listened to it, but I haven’t found an interest in Mayday’s music thus far.. Good luck to em
Not gonna rate the cd as I haven’t listened to it, but I haven’t found an interest in Mayday’s music thus far, good luck to em
a real album, can’t wait to see them live!
so friggin dope
Mayday has some dope producers on deck
Plex and Gianni are the only two producers for mayday
These guys are just too dope.
utter amazement
Just Amazing
work of art
No 4.5? Without looking at the rating and reading the review you would think it had easily got a 4.5. I don’t know if anyone else gets this but after your first listen you think bernz gets overshadowed by wrekonize completely but the more you listen to the album, the more you appreciate bernz.
i agree, thought bernz was weak at first but they harmonize really well together
same here. Bern is deceptively nice.
Well I thought I was the only one but it’s nice to see others agree with me. Wrek is still my favourite but bernz is great too.
They gave that ectra half a point to Nicki’s album…. for the ad space
yep tech knows his shiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttt
4.5 but il up to a 5
One of my favorite releases thus far
Can play straight through
This is too nice… Thank god Tech has the best ear in music cuz idk who the fuck heard their demo and passed them up. Musics incredible, lyrics are solid and actually fucking thought provoking. Great addition to the Strange roster…
Can we get a vote for a MAYDAY, Tech, Lynch and Kali collabo? A whole album possibly? Maybe if we get enough ppl someone at Strange will get on this…
Uhh they already did that last year in case u didnt know… It was called welcome to strangeland and it was really dope
I meant on one track retard…
straaaange!!!
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!
Best albums so far this year by far. wish there was more music like this
Insane album, haven’t heard anything this complete in years
This has been playing in my car since I got the album.
beautiful.. you guys should check out “stuck on an island” too, its very good
This is album is audio gold
I swear if they don’t win something for this album……
Strange music 2012 is going to be Grammy material for sure
There isn’t a bad song on this album. Production quality is sky high, and the lyrical content is superb.
Perfect
Album is genius.. so glad these guys are traveling and sharing their craft… MAYDAY! ALL DAY LONGING!
MENTAL
music-art
5
aoty
SO GOOOOOOOD
look at that user raating!!! amzing album
x
this album was tight, one of my favorite albums released over the past few years.
I met these guys at a tech n9ne show and theyre real cool dudes. Told them their album was amazing and that I would spread their music. They deserve to be recognized because man did they make a good album 5/5
This album is pretty much a 5, and deserves its user rating.
yayyy
MAYDAY! ALL DAY!!!!!!!
this album is straight fire !!
Awesome!
Give me some semblance of a break (comment section).
TMTYL IS UNTOUCHABLE
Album of the year so far. Granted, not loads have been released but still.
Album of The Year.
this is one sexy album 😛
really appreciating the music through beats audio 😀
Ohh what a good album, don’t like june though hehehe 😛
this mayday album is cray
follow me @thusanthM (strictly no mans) 😀
YOLO
Due in June is my favourite track now…beautiful track and along with June very thought provoking.
Great album!!!
10/10. simply amazing. this is the most complete hip hop album in years.. i bought it because of the reviews on here and everyone is right, this is a MASTERPIECE PEOPLE!
best album of the year. for sure.
good look tech on signing these dudes.. they are the future. album of the year.
this is tha shit.
It’s cool and all, but y’all are GASSED out.
unreAL
every tracks on this album is straight fire ! even the signing track like june and due to june , they fit perfectly in this album , best album I have heard from a while !
Last Minute Trip!
Greatest Album I’ve Heard In A Long Time.
Might be my new favorite band 🙂
i love how they make their own beats…there all sick not to mention and have real instruments
This shit is raw, way more chill and easier to get into than that new rap Odd Future (Tyler the Creator) crap.
sick as shittt
not hating but im not feeling this album badlands and rouchess r good songs but the rest just bore me
MAYDAY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
such a brilliant album.
rating drop like shit
Wow…
good
This is such a great album!
I forgot to vote.
When I first heard rap/rock I was thinking they guys probably jacked Hollywood Undead & Linkin Park. I’m seriously glad I took the time to check these guys out, they’re dope as fuck
*First heard they did rap/rock
Sick. For those who don’t understand it keep listening…there are many lyrics that take awhile to comprehend. Deep.
Gooood shit
I’m getting really picky with my music and these dudes sound are exactly what I’ve been waiting to hear
5*
Absolutely amazing.
Album of the year
Super dope.
Jeah
2 dope
sick album
An amazing album. Hip-Hop with alternative rock and other genres. Such a great buy.
incredible album from start to finish!!
Good work. Solid album.
Sick
Best album I’ve bought in ages.
Best album in the past 3 years.
Amazing album – every song goes hard!
gotta cop this
Maybe The Company Man didn’t know that Organized Konfusion did the unborn fetus concept, one that wants to be born/one that does’t, back on the Equinox album in 1997.
“Invetro”.
wrekonize worships pharoah so it probably inspired it
Most smooth album you’ll fine. Perfect blend. I love where hip hop is going now. Each listen, lyrics get better. 5/5 easy
The best album released this year. I never have to skip a song. Wrekonize and Bernz add the perfect lyrics to the beats provided by the rest of the band. I wish all albums were this good. Would give it a 6 out of 5.
This is straight up pseudo hip hop for white people. WACK
Shut your dumbass up
Either you like it or not, race has zero to do with it moron
This year already had a few excellent albums coming out like Control System, HnC, First Serve, 4evanaday, Theesatisfaction…
But this is the album of the year so far imo
4
Still think DX should have gave this at least a 4.5.
Great album, but had to rate 4 as in my opinion, Control System is a perfect 5 and i couldnt rate them the same
On of the best LP’s from Strange Music!!!!! This one will def be a classic.
Kickass album
5/5 just listen…don’t sleep on this guys
trash
Best rap album ever made.
awesome
5
still good today
Mayday’s CD has great lyrical substance mixed with great music.
An incredible body of work. Lyrical ability mixed with substance and amazing beats. Mayday quickly became one of my all time favorite groups with this
5/5
not my thing i guess, i liked them more when they were not signed
5
Obvious 5 HHDX
hella dope!
This album blew my mind. 5/5
3,5 stars
Best album out there right now as a whole, can listen front to back anytime of the day
the instant classic
GOAT
not for me.
Not for me either.
.
awesome record as expected
dope
Great album. Due in June and June are amazing songs
5