On the first verse of “On That Jack,” Wrekonize of ¡Mayday! more or less lays out the excellent predicament that he and his group members share, with the following:
“But I’m not even sure which genre we claim / Too many styles for my own good, got mama to blame / I like Rock ‘N’ Roll, Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, and Rhythm / They can’t tell where we live, so um / Fuck the critics…”
¡Mayday! truly is difficult to categorize. Are they Rock? Are they Rap? Are they Pop? Are they all in one? Similar questions linger throughout their latest Strange Music effort, Believers. Still, what is very clear is that the group is a cohesive unit with a following that has allowed them to maintain independence, gaining notable co-signs from the likes of Tech N9ne and Lil Wayne. Believers is both a nod to fans who have been down and a nudge at naysayers the group hopes to convert. And it works as a successful endeavor on both counts.
¡Mayday!’s genre-bending bodes well on many occasions. “Shots Fired,” “HighRide” and the Irv Da Phenom-assisted “My Life,” for instance, are fine examples of Pop sensibilities in the group’s polished, melodic, upbeat, catchy-as-hell hooks. While still keeping those qualities intact, “Tear Shit Down” and “Marathon Man,” for example, showcase a great Rock influence in the crew’s musical style. And through most of the record, these Pop and Rock tendencies don’t necessarily overshadow ¡Mayday!’s Hip Hop roots. But peep “On That Jack” or “Shortcuts And Dead Ends” for more of May’s Rap work, and you’re quickly reminded that this is a Strange Music release with strong Hip Hop ties.
On that end, Bernz and Wrekonize hold their own throughout Believers’ twist and turns. Their raps, often peppered with internal rhymes and thoughtful patterns, are rarely compromised—something many genre-bending groups have struggled with in the past. This allows Believers to keep the Hip Hop flag firmly planted as the duo work together to craft their verses about several topics, avoiding monotony in flows or concepts. On “Shots Fired,” they’re a rapid-delivery version of Styles P and Jadakiss, trading bars while seemingly never taking breaths. When introspective, Bernz and Wrek truly bring the record home. This is clear whether speaking about rising from suicidal “dead ends” (“Shortcuts And Dead Ends”) or repurposing Drake lyrics to match the circumstances of their origin (“Started from the bottom and we only heard the doors slam”) on “My Life.” The pair also prove their worth matching verses with Strange Music’s most celebrated, Tech N9ne, on “Last One Standing,” proving that the pair can stand with some of the culture’s most acclaimed without losing a step.
Believers is another notch in Strange Music’s belt, one that explains why ¡Mayday! has become such a highly touted group. It’s an example of how a mash-up of genres can be executed well, without watering down all of the Hip Hop ingredients. It isn’t a straight-up Hip Hop record, but then again, as mentioned, it’s really hard to categorize it. Instead, it stands as a strong showing, even if done with an outside-the-box approach you can’t label. Now if genre-bending ain’t for you, this album may not be either. However, if a mind is open to different styles and various influences, then even naysayers may turn into Believers.
most innovative rap out there right now
One of the best albums of the year. The boys never disappoint
Mayday! Killed it !! Strange music stand up!!!!
This album is so good. I can’t wait to buy it tomorrow!
MAYDAY! is the shit i’m a huge fan of Strange Music they bring in talented artists such as Mayday who put a lot of blood sweat and tears into their music and its dope fresh! Lots of props to MAYDAY!
MayDay! never lets the fans down and that is fact. They make music that truly saves you. If you dont know who they are or anything about strange music come along for a hell of a ride and make sure you’re ready. It will make you laugh and cry and feel things you have never felt before.
I love their beats ! MAYDAY! did good job on this album.
Finally fresh music with powerfull beats !
It’s a damn shame HipHopDX gave Kanye a 4.5 and Mayday a 4. These guys are dropping the album of the year while he’s still waiting on his fucking croissants.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Sick.
Mayday back with more excellent music, what’s new?
Mayday ftw!!!!!!!!!!!
INCREDIBLE ALBUM! ^S^
Yeah!!!! This is Victory!!!! 5
i love how this album is on its own, its not a continuation of their last LP instead it has its completely own sound and feel. A fantastic body of work. In my opinion its a bit more melodious and textured than their previous work, which i think is great.
I’m loving what I’ve bin hearing…Mayday kills it
Big Love from Germans biggest Mayday Fan
Who is the douche that didn’t give this a 5?
https://www.youtube.com/user/techn9nestrange1 listen full album here!!!!!
Cmon, thus shit at least a 4.5
DOPE!
Just casting vote, no thoughts yet
WONDERFUL album! Been a #BLVR since the guys signed with Strange!
Lol DX are some fake ass dick riding morons. 4 x for a perfect album? I’m guessing u need an average mainstream turd with a hit to get 5. Wack.
Genre bending only gets u a 4??? But genre complacent gets 5 and 4.5’s? Shows how dumb they truly are. Couldn’t understand the raw art and confused there little brains.
I mean come Styles P and Jada? Is the best comparison?????? BS! There very average. wrek and Bernz are like R.A and Chino Xl of there music. Lol
Not fucking Two busters.
There was literally not one negative thing said in this review for one, so bitching about the rating is pointless. You’ve obviously never listened to Styles or Jada, because they are legends in the rap game, and far from average. You are the epitome of a fucktard, and one of the main reasons why a lot of people don’t like independent/underground music. Please do everyone a favor and forget how to breathe.
That my point nothing bad said about the album, creative original, super heavy content, new age stuff only gets u a 4????? Lol what kind of backwards logic is it where Kanye’s horrible album gets a higher rating than this master peace?
I’ve heard Jada and Styles P verses before, lol there not rapping about anything other than your standard BS. Meanwhile Wrek and Bernz going back and worth with every topic under the worlds watch.
Styles and Jada lol your funny.
No people dont like Inde Underground music because its real rap, hip hop and has real substance. Also not puppet music. So if someone is to weak willed to like the truth, thats not on me but on them.
No, THAT’S why people don’t like Tech and indie music. Puppet music? Lol, what is anybody who listens to underground music doing any differently than people who don’t? Not a damn thing except acting like hipster dickheads. And Im sure if someone asked Bernz or Wrek they’d be honored to even be put in the same sentence as Styles and Jada
They dont like real hip hop just that hip pop music.
Umm anyone who listens to Inde music sees the true hip hop roots. Then they hear R.A., Dead Prez, Immortal Tech, Aqualeo, which leads to breaking away from the brain washing.
If u seriously think the messages between inde artists and fake artists is the same, ur IQ is much to low to be working a computer.
Lol oh i super hope and doubt they would be honored. Those are some Ace Hood level of mediocrity.
friend was telln me bout it but n it aint bad but this definitely for white ppl, imma pass
Um, ok, take your ass on to a Wayne album review then
White people??? Its fing music!!!! Not to mention real rap music is being supported by white people majority. Not to mention Mayday is like one of the biggest melting pots of diversity there is. What a simple minded moron
shit is ass
U better mean ur IQ level.
It certainly isn’t a good album, Aaron.
This is another solid effort by iMayday!
I don’t know what to say. Maybe, MY MIND IS FUCKING BLOWN!! No that still doesnt give this album enough credit…I didn’t think they could top their last release, “Take Me To Your Leader”, and yet…this Album does that and so much more. MAYDAY has outdone themselves. Theres no stopping them. I cant wait to see what they come up with next…
I love the diversity this album brings. Just something about the sound of Bernz and Wrek on a track always makes me enjoy it. Great CD.
MAYDAY gets better and better. Last year’s album was their best work yet. It was so good I thought it would be really hard to beat but somehow they did it. New album is the shit. Get it people, don’t sleep.
You have a listening disorder if you think Believers is better than Take Me To Your Leader
A lot of diversity on the album. Not sure if it is as good as their debut album but it’s damn good.
Not their debut.
Awesome CD
This is just amazing how almost every of strange music’s album is fire
They have a great quality control. What’s the point of releasing bad music?
AOTY
Strange Music rules !!!
Just great music… that’s all their is to say about this album and band.
just a solid album with great music. Not the exact same sound throughout the whole album. Thats what some artists fail to do.
5/5 because value is perception, and I definitely bought this album.
Same with Wreks; great album.
strange music gets better and better each album and ep they release mayday are no exception they are amazing
Take Me to Your Leader and Believers are the first albums to give me chills the way Illmatic and ATLiens did the first time I played em. I don’t even know how to describe these guys. Perfection… no, that’s an understatement.
I agree
Mayday is the truth
Much better than ‘Take Me To Your Leader’, much better production on this one.
4 stars!
Guaranteed that no one on Strange Music agrees with you.
Better than that Yeezlost bullshit
I love every single song of this album fo real
forget Strange Music this is just good music
People need to hear Mayday’s music
THIS.
This is too good. Shame so many people will miss out on hearing it.
Exactly. Best comment on here. If you comment on here you probably know about them, but the average hiphop fan will miss a truly amazing album. These guys prove the people wrong that say hiphop isnt music.
Decent album mostly down to wrekonize (but you’d swear judging by all the dick riding comments that this shit is the best album ever)
Its not just for white people (some black folk small minded)
anyway album is 3/5 or 6/10 for me
Thanks for breaking that down that 3/5 is 6/10
Is it dick riding to genuinely love an album and say so? To appreciate a band that has such a unique sound? Mayday has reminded me that it’s still possible to make innovative music. You’re entitled to your opinion, but don’t knock other people for theirs.
Bernz is just as elite as Wrek. Not to mention the beats!!!!! From Rock, Inde rock style, Rythem Jazz vibe, rap, just perfection all around. Cats underselling the complete package.
Bernz is getting better, but still not as elite at spittin…This album is absolutely overrated and aint nearly as good as Take Me to Your Leader
I think Wrekonize’s solo album is much better than this. I play that daily, this album won’t be on my rotation.
I love Wrek too, but The War Within does not compare to this. This album is without fault, nothing released this year even comes close to this piece of perfection.
amazing music
Amazing Album as Always! Strange Music is the BEST label! They make the best music! Every single album is FIRE!
Love it Love it Love it ! Great album by MayDay !
not only has Mayday! opened a new lane in today’s music, but have the formula for making a classic album.
One of the most complete albums you’ll ever here. I wish the bonus track ‘Bad Religion’ made the standard album, that shit is amazing.
Its really getting to me that, despite not mentioning any faults the reviewer still fails to give this album a 5. It deserves it.
Exactly.
Everyone needs to hear this.
This is music, this is hip hop, seriously the best album of the year… i can not believe i am saying that
Last year’s was better.
Absolutely
Mayday is the best act on strange music by far better than tech
not as good as stuck on an island but still an easy 5
!MAYDAY! IS GREAT BOTH ALBUMS ARE WELL PUT TOGETHER I WANT MORE STRANGE MUSIC
Modern day Pink Floyd!
Not yet….not even close, homie.
so fucking good
Perfect mix of musical styles. More people need to find out about this band
I don’t know why this band isn’t way more popular. Fantastic album!
You guys gotta check my friend out, he gonna make it.
Just finished my first listen…Wow! Speechless…Tighter than the first album, perfect sound for music, hip-hop lover. Aside of Stun Gun Stickups, the rest will be on heavy rotation for…Don’t know man, it may be forever.
This album seems like they really didnt put that much heart and soul into it.
Yes.
Album of the year contender
good sh*t
amazing
“There’s nothing new under the sun”…those are my sentiments on the subject matter of this album. Nevertheless, it certainly is an enjoyable musical odyssey.But definitely not for the Hip Hop purist, maybe the open-minded.Run The Jewels you have competition.
Decent.
Flawless
the bars arnt perfect
perfect 5/5.
Compared to their last album, this album is a 2.5/5
It would’ve been lower, but it ends well. From the guitar slo at the end of Marathon Man, to the last song, it’s relatively solid.
Best song is Forever New, followed by Last One Standing. It probably shoulda ended with Last One Standing.
The beats are unimpressive-overall….the hooks even worse. Definitely not the best album of the year, not even for Strange Music. Rittz’s album is still the best of 2013 in the rap genre.
Cool story
I actually agree with the OP. I liked their 1st album way more. A lot of the beats on this one didnt really connect with me. Lyrics are still on point though, and there are some gems on here, especially Forever New. The 3 bonus tracks are awesome though, should have been included on the album.
looks like youre two people out of hundreds….hmm
thousands….millions…..soon
i thought there 1st was kinda whack
bernz sounded like he was holding them back
he stepped his bars up this album
4/5
trash
Such a chill cd. Different tempo compared to TMTYL but still has some fun party tracks along with some good driving songs like High Ride and shortcuts and dead ends.
…
I destroyed my replay button. This is really good album !
It’s so refreshing to hear genuine music like maydays music. Their beats and lyrics are top notch! it truly reminds me of a modern day outkast or beastie boys… mayday is paving their own lane in this shit!
cant wait to see them live… i heard their live show is off the hook!
It’s surprising. I would say, it’s more of a rock show than a rap thing. A real good vibe & energy.
dope ish. these dudes will keep strange in the game after tech.
Believers is not on the same level as Take Me To Your Leader but then again that album was off the wall bat shit crazy good. Believers is still an amazing album nonetheless. Mayday! is gradually becoming more well known and I only expect them to get better. Also, they are AMAZING live if anyone hasn’t seen them yet. They aren’t pure hip hop/rap but they aren’t pure rock either, they straddle that line well and keep it fresh. Just my opinion….
I’m loving that Marathon Man track. It has a Na’leans bluesy rock feel to it.
dope
awesome piece of art my favorite drop from strange music this year
am i the only one that can see “my life” being played on the radio?? it would fit in and its by mayday and it had irv on it! they both deserve more attention!
I think a lot of Mayday could be radio hits. I kind of don’t understand why they aren’t way bigger than they are based on talent alone. Not trying to ride the nuts, but they are good and have that radio sound.
Great Album
Dope as always
digging this
sofft. Not very good at all.
this album 10x better than “take me to your leader”
like to hear mayday with a louder/harder sound
better than techs album
TMTYL
Dope album. In my opinion ‘Take me to your leader’ had more edge to it.
They need to headline their own tour instead of opening up for less talented label mates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgtepffWL4
best album since stuck on an island
they still kinda soft tho
and bernz stepped his bars up from the last cd
This is a step up from their last album, which was still amazing!
>
RICK ROSS is the Best Lyricist in the game
>
bernz not as good as wrek but he did better than take me to your leader
A perfect mix of different genres. Dope album
HAVOC!!! I luv dat girl!
this album was like a breath of fresh air to me. i would lov to see their live performance, im sure its ill. i really only fuck with half the tracks though. bernz ripped some songs, others he was weak on., wreck killed every song except one. i felt it was more pop than any other genre, hiphop is pop now so whatever hoped it would cross over. 4/5 fo sho!!!!! favorite tracks: mortuary mary, forever new, on that jack, and shortcuts and deadends
not hard ’nuff, not street ’nuff, where is the songs about moving kilos of crack, and the rick ross and pusha t feature??????? i bet these dudes aint even from the hood, if you rap on anything u have 2 be from the streets
you are incredibly stupid.
This has got to be the dumbest comment I have ever read. Just know that real hip-hop is not what you know my friend. You think all these dudes you listen to come from the “hood”. Life is a stage, and you cannot even begin to understand this album (too far above your head).
Gotta be the best hip hop album I’ve heard in a long time. From the sickest beats to ridiculously good flow, all mixed together with several different genres, as other have pointed out. Don’t delay.
best album in a while
Really great album
This sounding a bit too soft for my ear
One of the best albums of the year for me. One of the few that I have been able to listen to over and over again.
Incredible.
trash album.
One of the best hip-hop albums I’ve heard in the last 10 years.
This album was an instant classic at release. Every track is great