Peep This Joint: Royce Da 5’9” – The Allegory Album Review

After reflecting on his life in the highly introspective, soul-baring album, The Book of Ryan, in 2018, rap veteran Royce Da 5’9’’ focuses his newest effort, The Allegory, on looking outwards and providing philosophical commentary on society at large. 

In an interview with legendary Los Angeles radio host, Big Boy, Royce explained the origins of the album title, revealing it as a direct reference to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

“The album speaks a lot about perspective, I’m intrigued by perspective these days,” Royce said. “It’s amazing to me that two people could be looking at the same thing and seeing two totally different things, and each thing being their respective truth.”

With this project marking his eighth studio album, the Detroit emcee enlists a myriad of rappers to help push the album’s focus on perspective. The Allegory runs for a little over an hour with 22 tracks total of dense lyricism and philosophical messages meant to question the listener’s current perspective on reality.

In the rap game, Royce is best known as a top-tier lyricist and storyteller. But in this project, he switches things up by producing every track on the album. Considering that he has only recently started producing beats with his first credit on Eminem’s newest album, this is an ambitious feat that deserves its own applause.

The album opens up with the song, “Mr. Grace (Intro)” where a sample of a a father teaching his daughter financial literacy is played. Lines such as “If I gave you a million dollars right now, would you buy candy or a candy store? A candy store,” and “If I gave you something for 500, and you flip it to the next man for 2000, what is that called? Upselling” indicate Royce’s invitation to listeners to question their perspective on America’s lack of financial curriculum for its children.

He confirms this later on in his verse the repercussions of this lack of literacy rapping, “But this is America, where credit is for the privileged and profit is not my amenity.” In this line it’s clear to see that Royce is targeting the oppressors, namely rich white businessman who maintain the racist status quo of oppressing minorities.

A standout track of the album is the song, “Upside Down feat. Ashley Sorrell & Benny The Butcher.” As the fourth single of the album, Royce and rising New York rapper Benny The Butcher lay down a lyrically he avy tirade against the aforementioned oppressors. With Royce rapping, “White kids graduate to relationships with a ton of perks / Black kids, just aggravated and had to take a ton of Percs,” it’s clear to see the frustration he holds over the lack of equity in today’s status quo. Benny The Butcher voices similar frustrations rapping, “Young heathens clap tools over VVS jewels / White kids pull heaters at school, wanna CBS News.”

For a rapper with one of the most sharpest pens in the game, the production throughout the album never seems too boring or stale, despite the heavy reliance of sampling and boom-bap drums. The eclectic use of a wide range of samples such as Kool & the Gang’s funky hit, “Sunny Madness” in the song, “Dope Man” or the soulful crooning of The Linton’s “Lost Love” in “Overcomer” shows the hard work Royce put in before showcasing his work to the world. It ultimately pays off with an impressive production quality not typically found in rappers who decide to dip their toes into beat-making, especially one capable of such high caliber lyricism.

Overall, The Allegory proves that Royce’s pen is still sharp as ever and showcases his new production skills in this self-produced album. If you’re itching to hear some hard hitting bars that’ll have you reflecting on your own perspective, I suggest that you peep this joint out!

Rating: 8/10

Written by: Johann Oribello

Peep This Joint: The Brooklyn Drill Sound

A new movement has been brewing in the midst of the New York rap scene for the past couple of months.

Take the gritty, haunting production from U.K. drill and mix it with the aggressive yet charismatic delivery of Brooklyn rappers and you have the Brooklyn Drill sound. The catapult-like rise of Brooklyn rappers such as Sheff G and Pop Smoke have officially put Brooklyn back on the map.

It’s clear to see that Brooklyn Drill has roots from the original drill scene in Chicago and the U.K. Nevertheless, the rappers from Brooklyn have managed to put their own signature New York flavor and created a new, bustling movement that’s taking hip-hop by storm.

The sound has already been steadily growing in the most thorough borough for a minute now with Flatbush’s own Pop Smoke’s track, “Welcome To The Party” gaining tons of traction during the summer of 2019. The song became a breakthrough hit and landed Pop Smoke at the forefront of movement. 

Unfortunately, the fast-rising rapper’s career was tragically cut short on Feb. 19 as he was fatally shot in his Hollywood Hills home during a home invasion. 

The shocking death of the promising rapper has left the rap world shocked with music artists from the rap community pouring their condolences and support on Twitter.  In light of Pop Smoke’s untimely departure, here are a few words about the young phenom as well as other Brooklyn Drill rappers to check out:

Pop Smoke

Taken from: HipHopDX

As mentioned previously, Pop Smoke reared the helm for the Brooklyn Drill scene. Listen to any of his tracks and it’s not difficult to see why. His low, gravelly voice matched with his effortless delivery and signature growl adlib caught the attention of many listeners worldwide. It even had one writer compare him to an ancient Sumerian demon. Out of all the Brooklyn Drill rappers, he saw the most commercial success garnering collaborations with artists such as H.E.R. and Travis Scott. It’s clear to see the prosperity Pop Smoke received brought much attention to the Brooklyn scene as a whole.  Now mainstream artists such as Tory Lanez, Quavo and even titans like Drake and Nicki Minaj have hopped on to the Brooklyn Drill wave. Despite the premature cut to a promising young career, his influence opened the gateway for the sound to reach the masses. 

Tracks to check out: “Welcome To The Party,” “Meet the Woo,” and “Dior.”

Sheff G

Taken from: Pitchfork

Due to Pop Smoke’s meteoric rise into the spotlight, he’s seen as the most prominent voice in the Brooklyn Drill soundscape. Before his arrival into the music scene though, Flatbush’s own Sheff G reared the helm. He first made waves back in 2017 with the release of his breakout track, “No Suburban” and then went on to release his full-length debut, The Unluccy Luccy Kid in 2019. Capitalizing off the momentum of the entire movement, the album proves to be a strong entrance for the Brooklyn rapper. If you’re new to the scene The Unluccy Luccy Kid is an amazing introduction to the subgenre as a whole.

Tracks to check out: “Flows,” “We Getting Money,” and “Menace feat. Sleepy Hallow & Mozzy.”

22Gz

Taken from: Atlantic Records

22Gz (pronounced as tutu jeez) is one of the earliest pioneers of the Brooklyn Drill wave, releasing his first song, “Blixky” back in 2016. After capturing heat with the release of his next single, “Suburban,” his career took a turn for the worse as he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Fortunately for the young Brooklynite, he only spent several months in jail as the murder charges were later dropped. Since then, the self-proclaimed “Brooklyn Drill General” has been steady on his grind and managed to ink a deal with Kodak Black’s label, Sniper Gang. With a successful mixtape under his belt, 22Gz is a force to look out for in the near future.

Tracks to check out: “Blixky Gang Freestyle,” “Spin the Block feat. Kodak Black,” and “Suburban Pt. 2.”

Fivio Foreign

Taken from: XXLMag

Fivio (pronounced as fabio) Foreign is another up-and-comer that’s firmly gaining traction beyond the Brooklyn music sphere. Landing a feature on Tory Lanez’ new single, “K Lo K,” Fivio shows up with an infectious energy and bounce as he puts on for the city of New York. His rapid rise to popularity has even caught the eyes of Drake who he’s rumored to have a feature with. After connecting with legendary New York rapper Mase and signing a record deal with him, Fivio is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the near future. 

Tracks to check out: “Big Drip,” “Richer Than Ever feat. Rich The Kid,” and “K Lo K feat. Tory Lanez.”

If you’re looking to find out what’s currently hot right now in hip-hop, peep some of these joints out!

Written By: Johann Oribello

Peep This Joint: Dave East – Survival Album Review

The buzz around Harlem rapper Dave East is larger than ever with the release of his debut album, Survival executively produced by the legend Nas himself. 

The album recently dropped on November 8th and features a star-studded cast of guest appearances such as Nas, Rick Ross, Teyana Taylor and Ty Dolla Sign. With a total of 20 songs that run for a little over an hour, it’s clear to see that East came prepared to tell his story to the masses.

He holds respect in the rap game as he has released numerous mixtapes and is adept at collaborating with both veteran guests such as Nas and Cam’ron as well as younger emcees like Gunna and A-Boogie. Over time he refined his signature gritty New York sound and it reflects with how polished Survival sounds. Since the release of his first mixtape in 2010, his debut album clearly portrays a seasoned rapper comfortable in his element as he gives listeners a glimpse into different parts of his life. 

A standout track from the album is the song, “On My Way 2 School” where he invites listeners to be in his shoes as he retells harsh experiences walking to school. East vividly paints how violent and dangerous the journey was just to go to school in a rough neighborhood: 

“On my way to school (On my way) / 

Nike’s and Adidas on my way to school (Either or) / 

You ever seen a homicide on your way to school? (Boom!) / 

You never seen your homie Mama cry on your way to school (Never).” 

Another standout song is “Mama I Made It” which is a love letter to the woman who raised him. The track exudes a classic ‘90s feel as East boasts his admiration for his mother. Reminiscing on the past when his mom slapped him when he “used to try to cuss” to brighter days today where “she aint never gotta worry ’bout no rent,” it’s clear to see the love. Having a song dedicated to your mother on an album is always a respectable and welcomed move and Dave East clearly outdid himself on this one.

The Harlem rapper revealed in an interview with legendary west coast radio host Big Boy that he listened to all of his favorite rappers’ first albums to prepare his mindset for his own.

“I went and played 50’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Snoop’s Doggystyle, Nas and Illmatic,” East said. “I played everybody’s first album just to see what their energy was at. Like ‘What time was you on when you knew this was your debut to the world?’.”

Overall the decision proved to be a wise move as his debut album is a shining example of his lyrical gift and vivid storytelling. This album is definitely one of the most solid albums released so far this year and is a must-listen. 

Go peep this joint right now!

Rating: 9/10

Written by: Johann Oribello

Peep This Joint: Mos Def – Black on Both Sides Album Review

October 12, 2019 marked the 20th anniversary of his universally lauded album, Black on Both Sides by legendary rapper Yasiin Bey, better known as Mos Def. 

This project marked his debut as a solo artist after receiving critical acclaim on his collaborative effort with another veteran rapper, Talib Kweli with their full-length LP, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star that released just a year before this project. 

Released in 1999, Black on Both Sides is a bonafide 90’s rap album that remains a hallmark and defining sound for underground boom-bap hip hop. Despite the vintage production style, Mos Def manages to utilize the sound to create a timeless record that stood the test of time and still bumps even today. 

Especially after the tragic deaths of Tupac and Biggie that nearly closed off the golden age of hip-hop, Black on Both Sides serves as a final hoorah to the definitive era.

Due to the album’s timeless feel despite its sound being centered around boom-bap, the album is universally praised as not only one of the best albums of that era but also of all time. The album stands as an ideal introduction to 90’s boom-bap due to its accessibility and timeless sound.

With passionate and thought-provoking lyrics mixed with an effortless flow dispersed throughout the project, it’s clear to see that Mos utilized the album to restore sociopolitical consciousness into the rap game and bring hip-hop back to its roots/foundation. 

The song, “Mathematics” is a prime example of this which is filled with meticulously-crafted lyrics and effortless delivery. Under a beat laced by legendary producer DJ Premier, the Mighty Mos Def addresses the racist prison industrial complex that particular targets people of color:

“When the average minimum wage is $5.15/

You best believe you’ve got to find a new grind to get cream/ 

The white unemployment rate is nearly more than triple for black/ 

Some front-liners got their gun in your back/ 

Bubbling crack, jewel theft and robbery to combat poverty/ 

And end up in the global jail economy/”

Regardless of the fact that this album came out in ‘99, many of the bars Mos spits are still relevant today. Mos reveals that many social issues that plagued the world then still exist today and time has shown that it has only gotten worse. Further in the same song, he spits about the growing use of government surveillance:

“40% of Americans own a cell phone/

So they can hear everything that you say when you ain’t home/

I guess Michael Jackson was right, you are not alone/”

Besides the overarching effort to spread awareness and enlighten his listeners, Mos does come through with more lighthearted tracks such as “Ms. Fat Booty” where he tells a story of a girl he met at a club who eventually ghosted him. He flexes his story-telling ability and his delivery demonstrates just how vivid of a picture he can paint with his bars. 

Some more standout tracks from the album that you should listen to include “Hip Hop”, “Do It Now” featuring Busta Rhymes, and “UMI Says”. 

As mentioned earlier, this project is flawless from top to bottom and is a shining example of sharp Mos Def’s pen and flow is. With a signature 90’s sound, he manages to create an album that stood the test of time sonically and is still relevant in today’s politically charged environment. 

Go peep this joint!

Rating: 10/10

Written by: Johann Oribello