Even in the exponentially softening climate of competitive sports, one is repeatedly taught since their pop warner years that the only efficient method to keep an opponent from running up the score is to stop them. In spite of his imposing track record, Pusha T’s proclamation last summer that his goal was to “always have Hip Hop Album of the Year” sounded more like well wishes than prophecy. 2013’s My Name Is My Name, his debut solo effort, hardly wasted any time on the digital shelves before being argued as one of the most impressive releases of the year. Hype for his King Push project has only ballooned in the ensuing years, and whereas most artists would succumb to the weight of such lofty expectations, Pusha is electing to raise the stakes. Releasing an official studio prelude to one of the most anticipated albums of the decade would be synonymous with career suicide for most, but Pusha is wholly confident in his artistic ability to put numbers on the board. If King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude is merely a walk-through, then Push must be storing his own wicked Hell’s week in 2016.
Long celebrated as an artist who is predictably unpredictable, arguably the most consequential aspect of Pusha’s second studio album is how it eradicates traditional pitfalls in a sublimely organic fashion. By now, Pusha’s keen ear for production is a foregone conclusion. With busy liner notes that include names like Timbaland, Boi-1da, Q-Tip, J. Cole, and Kanye West, many emcees would be content with the billion dollar soundscapes alone. But shedding customary unimaginativeness, Pusha always manages to keep his lyricism and unmistakable stage presence as the most vigorous magnetic pull. Conversely, even esteemed masterminds are prone to alternate their formulas and deliver nonpareil beats when in the presence of an undisputed legend. Timbaland immediately confounds expectations on “Untouchable” by burying his bouncy drum cadences to unearth a funereal-sounding instrumental and Push graciously takes his cue for a perfect ambience setting track. Notwithstanding, rhyming alongside one of the late Notorious B.I.G.’s most recycled lines, the G.O.O.D. Music president effortlessly discharges one of his most thrilling lyrical displays.
Even in the context of a “prelude” album, most fans would be dismayed by a tracklist of merely ten songs, which barely stretches past the half-hour mark. But on The Prelude, there is no room for dull moments, filler, or minced lyrics. Each song is a spectacle in itself, and, repeatedly, Pusha’s meticulous craftsmanship is simultaneously evident and spontaneous. Instead of enlisting random vocalists for hook duty, Pusha reunites with The Dream on two tracks, building off the chemistry the two established on Cruel Summer’s “Higher” and more memorably on My Name Is My Name’s “40 Acres.” Once again the pair has no problems strumming up chemistry, and their respective vocals each seem to register tenfold in the company of Boi-1da’s own somber soundscape on “M.F.T.R.” The feeling only multiplies two tracks later as they are joined by Kanye and A.S.A.P. Rocky for the J.Cole-laced “M.P.A.”
“Crutches, Crosses, Caskets” is vintage Pusha, and synchronously recalls his old Clipse days while incorporating a modern feel with Diddy operating behind the boards. Unfortunately, Malice doesn’t factor into the gritty equation, but Pusha picks his guests wisely nevertheless. Beanie Sigel also turns the clock back on “Keep Dealing” for one of his most fiery, impassioned collection of bars to date. Mostly relegated to hook duty, Kehlani’s vocals add an effervescent touch to another charged Timbo beat on “Retribution.” As one would expect, Pusha’s dazzling lyrical displays never drop off in terms of quality, and only seem to magnify gradually with each blazing performance.
Almost no one is still under the impression that Pusha only rhymes about moving dope, but he once again reminds listeners of how entrenched his pen can be with the deafening finale, “Sunshine.” Jill Scott croons alongside the Virginia native for a heart-rending dose of real talk about contemporary police brutality, memorializing fallen victims such as Eric Garner and Freddie Gray. When you rhyme this much every song turns into a possible run-of-the-mill performance, yet Pusha delves into risky artistic terrain and imparts flashes of lyrical genius only a few have the pedigree to pull off. The Prelude has once again positioned Pusha as an emcee with the ability to put forth a legendary piece of work. Here now, the clock ticks until King Push.
dope album
Fire! Can go through the album without changing a single track.
Dope from start to finish…
You’ve got to be kidding me. This is hypocrisy at its finest. Quit whining about social justice and police brutality when all you rap about is drug dealing.
Preach
WTF does that have to do about a rap album? Frankly its a crime it wasn’t rated a perfect 5. Can’t find a lyrically better album out there. Dude rhymed his and your ass off. To think Kendrick got a 5 for to pimp a butterfly. Dude is no where near apping at this level.
Yeah, the last track fucked the whole vibe up. Went from talking pusha shit the whole album then social injustices and police brutality in the last track
IN COMPARISON TO MY NAME IS MY NAME, Darkest Before Dawn feels less natural, more forced. Pusha pushes lyrics that often feel like they don’t necessarily belong on the beats he’s using. However, the synchronized “POPOPOP” on Crutches, or the “switch styles” on Untouchable are fucking awesome, because they feel THOUGHT OUT. It’s no doubt that Pusha has flow, and it’s no doubt that he knows that we know, but if KING PUSH is going to be as “raw” as he’s claimed, there needs to be a better relationship between his voice and the beats.
MNIMN was completely mediocre, and aside from 3-4 songs totally forgettable. This blows it out of the water in every sense of the word.
This guy has never let me down album after album and we got it for cheap mixtape series he’s always been a top spitter but now he’s showing it on a different stage I love this album front to back wordplay at its finest and top notch bars and flows!!! King push In April can’t wait
Wow. 4.5? He is one of the more boring rappers. Was alright trading bars with Malice but alone.. Nope.
An opinion can’t be garbage. But you can be. And are.
Opinions can definitely be garbage…
Your opinion is garbage… Just sayin
Wow, you’re opinion really is garbage. I’m willing to bet you don’t even understand what Pusha says, if you can’t dig him. He’s easily one of the illest doing it, change your name to Truthless.
This is better than Kendrick’s wack, over rated, trash. Pusha is a real lyricist and his beats are incredible.
Ha. Good one. Kendrick and Pusha both make great music.
This is the dopest album I have heard all year. The beats and lyrics are real on this shit.
My favorite verse is “Take me time to craft shit cause I don’t like back and forth with Puff on rap shit.”
Great project
Push is coming for that top spot. Swish is going to be a classic too. GOOD MUSIC BABY
Spectacular body of work. Push might be the best rapper alive.
vA stand up pusha you already from Bmore to VA hands down best album
Dude’s been rappin’ about pushing weight for 10 years, start rapping about something else.
All this time and effort he claims to have put in this album and the one before, but still not able to come up with new concepts.
Than your not as good as you think…..Take masta ace, for instance that’s a real rapper.
You gotta do what you’re good at. Pusha T rhymes about the coke game. You suck dick. Both of you are good at your job. Keep rockin it.
He stays in his lane, catering to a specific market. It’s worked for him business-wise. What do you want him to do, start rapping about butterflies?
Top 5 alive pusha t. J Cole. Lloyd banks. Joey bad ass. Dave east
U a real one for putting Lloyd Banks up in there
I’m not mad at that list although mine would be different. But I would take out Llyod Banks and put in Big K.R.I.T, otherwise this is not a bad list at all
Pusha T rapping. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
This guy has been rapping about fake coke tales for over 10 years he needs to try something new
Fake, huh??? He’s one of the only REAL dudes actually talkin about what he lived, you dummy. Do your research. That shit ain’t made up, WHATSOEVER. Why the FUCK you think the CLIPSE manager went to jail for like 20 years because he got indicted for participating/running a 10 million dollar a year drug ring??? Internet nerds: Just shut the fuck up when you don’t know WTF you talkin about. Fuckin clowns…
C
Lassik first one in a dying era of rap
I like this album. I would give it a 5 out of 5 if the title was “Darkness Before Dawn: The Prelude.” I just can’t get with that “Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude.” Minus one star for the gay title.
What do you even mean? The difference is pretty small and also Darkest Before Dawn is a fairly universally known phrase whereas darkness before dawn doesn’t really mean anything to anyone; aside from you maybe. Also judging a musical body of work based on the title of the album or tape and not the actual music is shallow and irrelevant
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Great album. Hes one of the best rappers around
Pusha T is a Master of the Boom Bap! He will be an excellent president at Good Music!!! Check out these Young Brothas from Philly, King Shampz x Azzan , ” All Hail The King” on Datpiff. And “Murder Art” on Soundcloud. They THE BEAST IN THE EAST!!!!!
There’s nothing “boom-bap” about the production on this album, which is not a knock on the production or “boom-bap” as a category.
If you think this is even close to the best album then you clearly have not rapped and I mean rapped not said some words over a beat. Do you truly think that you’ll be playing this as a classic in 20 years time?! Exactly. Have the intellectual patience to unwrap the lyrics and beats of Kendrick, Murs and the like. This is HIP HOP!
I agree that it’s not quite a classic, but to each their own. I dig Pusha T, but Good Kid Mad City aside, I don’t care much for Kendrick. People like who they like and like why they like. Why does intellect have to take precedence when some people just want to bop their head? Granted, superior lyricism ranks high and mindless nonsense isn’t worth a listen; but Pusha T has a fanbase who dig his vibe.
Yo, this (prelude) album is pretty good. 4 out of 5. Dope beats, concise, metaphor-filled lyrics. What the fuck do yall haters want? I can’t even take your opinion seriously is you still saying all Pusha raps about is moving coke. Whenever I hear that, I just know that you are a pathetic internet nerd who scrolls through comments on every blog and it is subliminally giving you an opinion instead of you actually LISTENING yourself to form your opinion. There are certainly coke lines on this album, but the subject matter is WAY more than that. Stop saying what you’ve heard other internet nerds say and listen to the music for yourself dummies
I bought this mixtape one day after the release. I was in the whip listening to Pusha being interviewed and they were previewing songs from the tape. I was going bananas! All of the tracks they played were flames. I got the tape and I’m not disappointed. This dude has an ear for beats and his lyrics are on point!
The only competition to Deeply Rooted for album of ’15.
FIRE
@Eklipz’77 AND WHERE THE FUCK IS MASTA ACE AT NOW??!!! NONEXISTENT & INCONSEQUENTIAL IN THE RAP GAME. PUSH HAS PERFECTED HIS CRAFT AND CEMENTED HIS LEGACY. NIGGAS GONNA BE LISTENING FOR A LONG TIME. LOOK HOW LONG AGO HELL HATH NO FURY AND LORD WILLIN CAME OUT AND MOTHAFUCKAS STILL TALKIN ABOUT THAT SHIT. WTFF? lame ass talkin about “masta ace now thats a real rapper” and your a real bitch
Lyrics: Yeah your hard, we get it, but there absolutely no message in this album. All I was thinking while listening to this album was, “what the **** are you talking about”
Beats: MFTR and Sunshine are catchy, the rest don’t do much for me.
Replayability: I wouldn’t listen to this album again, or any of the songs on it for that matter.
Overall Score: 5/10 – Not enough kindling to start a fire with the physical album
Almost one month in and still haven’t grasped all of the hidden lines Push has crafted – love listening to him for how much thought he puts into everything — keep that fire Push – it’s one of the best things that sets you apart! I love feeling like he’s setting the booth on fire when he records! The INTRO beat is insane, I actually wrecked my car speakers to it… yuugh! Solid throughout, great sonically, awesome dark choices for beats just like he promised, great lines, love his ability to story tell and his hooks are on point too.
Very Solid. Follow my blog for hip hop inspired shit :).
Best Tracks: Sunshine, CCC, Intro, MPA.
Pros: amazing wordplay, puns, play on words, delivery, flow and features (production & artists)
Cons: Mediocre subject matter (rap game, cocaine, (apart from sunshine)), length: would like more tracks
Amazing album. Wish there was about 4 more tracks though. Can’t delay the album half a year for 10 tracks.
Undoubtedly my favourite hip hop album of the year.