It's been a G.O.O.D Month - June Edition
It's been a G.O.O.D Month - June Edition
Has it not been a G.O.O.D month of music so far? Grammy award-winning artist (notice I didn't say just a rapper), Kanyé West, has given us three projects that he's produced and/or featured on, with two more to come. The schedule looks pretty G.O.O.D!
Schedule
DAYTONA - May 25 | Yé - June 1 | KIDS SEE GHOST - June 8 | NASIR - June 15 | Teyana Taylor & Yé - June 22
DAYTONA is the third studio album by Terrence LeVarr Thornton (aka Pusha T), the G.O.O.D Music president and rapper. According to Highsnobiety, at the album's listening party, Pusha T announced that each of the five new albums would only be seven tracks apiece.
In an interview with Lenard McKelvey (Charlamagne the God), on the Breakfast Club, Pusha T explains the thought process.
"I think that seven is the real number. People have been getting bombarded with all these long albums... We can get it across short and concise," he states Kanyé told him. Initially, he (Pusha T) disagreed with that idea, but upon further coaxing, he understood his point of view. Plus, he figured that since he is producing five albums that are set to drop in consecutive weeks, maybe for fatigue's sake, it makes sense.
Without further adieu, let's get into a track-by-track analysis of each of the projects.
DAYTONA
Track One: If You Know Now
It's a good first track. Definitely sets the tone for the album with his lyrics about "the life".
Track Two: The Games We Play
"Drug dealer Benzes with gold diggers in 'em. In elevator condos, on everything I love" Again, glamorizing the drug dealing lifestyle and reaping the benefits. Hence, "The Games We Play" (the rap game and the dope game).
Track Three: Hard Piano (feat. Rick Ross)
This is the first feature of the album, with Rick Ross rapping on the second verse on the track. It's a smooth track with amazing Yé production.
Track Four: Come Back Baby
The intro samples “The Truth Shall Make You Free” by The Mighty Hannibal. Also, having George Jackson's song “I Can’t Do Without You.” as the chorus. The vibe of the chorus is different from the song itself. Pusha's verses have a dark tone and are again, mainly about where he's come from, old ways of making money.
Track Five: Santeria
"Listen, it took quite some time. And the record itself is me being creative, me being creative and toying with the idea of the options that a person in my position, from my background, you know? How entrenched I am, how I’m still close and how in touch I was. I wanted to write a song that just embodies my emotion and let people know, we’re sad. We were and we’re extremely sad still today. But it’s like, I just want to show people how my mind works, ’cause people don’t even know – people don’t even know once a situation like that happened, and not everybody is as thought out as me." Pusha says in a 2018 Billboard interview. This is Pusha, reflecting on his past still but also expressing his sorrow for his fallen friend and road manager De'Von “Day Day” Pickett.
Track Six: What Would Meek Do? (feat. Kanye West)
A Kanye feature! This track is a reference to Meek Mill's recent legal troubles/incarceration. Kanye's verse starts off with a reference to his track Lift Yourself. Overall, this was a good track. According to Pusha T, Meek Mill was intended to be on it.
Track Seven: Infared
The Drake/Birdman diss track. Take it how you want.
VERDICT
Overall, the album is solid. Rating - 9/10 stars,
For more information, or to download the album, visit: iTunes/Apple Music, Spotify or Tidal.
Featured Fan Interview
Instagram: @kevinrobinsonjr
Twitter: @lexnice1
Name: Kevin Robinson Jr.
Favorite Song from the project: Infared
Favorite Line: "At the mercy of a game where the codes is missin'
When the CEO's blinded by the glow it's different
Believe in myself and the Coles and Kendricks
Let the sock puppets play in their roles and gimmicks"
Why: It's real talk! It's 1000 Pow Wow!
Overall thoughts: I believe that the production on this album is great. I think that this was definitely worth the wait.
ye
Ye is the highly anticipated eighth studio album of Kanye West. This, coming after his controversial remarks about slavery being a choice. Even then, he still took over the top seven spots on iTunes Top songs list. Let's dive in!
Track One: I Thought About Killing You
Kanye talks about mental strength, love and not letting those who want to see him lose control get to him. These trials and tribulations are expressed at length throughout a spoken-word passage, revealing his struggle and thoughts of suicide.
Track Two: Yikes
This is a song in reference to his struggle with opioid addiction. He also spoke on other stars who have fallen to prescription drug overdoses like Michael (Jackson) and Prince.
Track Three: All Mine
Centered around infidelity and desires that can't be stopped, Kanye addresses some celebrities who couldn't stay faithful in their relationships.
Track Four: Wouldn't Leave
“Wouldn’t Leave” is dedicated to Kanye’s wife, Kim Kardashian.It's about her loyalty and unwillingness to just up and leave.
Track Five: No Mistakes
"No Mistakes" is about Kanye reassuring his wife that he'll love her no matter what. "Make no mistake".
Track Six: Ghost Town
This is the first time Kid Cudi and Kanye have been on the song together since they fell out after "The Life of Pablo" came out. It's about Kanye being reunited with his friend and feeling liberated.
Track Seven: Violent Crimes
Lastly, the track is Kanye's perception of women changing. He's grown a lot since becoming a father. Overall its a nice vibe and track.
Breaking Down All The Samples On Kanye West’s ‘ye’
Verdict
Solid. 9.5/10
For more information, or to download the album, visit: iTunes/Apple Music, Spotify or Tidal.
Featured Fan Review
Instagram: @kevinrobinsonjr
Twitter: @lexnice1
Name: Kevin Robinson Jr.
Favorite Song from the project: All Mine
Favorite Line: "Find yourself up in the food court
You might have to enjoy your sample"
Why: I just like it. It's goofy and funny.
Overall thoughts: This is classic Kanyé! In the words of DJ Khaled, "Another One".
KIDS SEE GHOST
KIDS SEE GHOSTS is the first collaborative album between Kanye West and Kid Cudi. They've done many songs together, whether that be writing, producing and/or features.
Track One: Feel the Love
Pusha T delivers a pretty good verse with Kid Cudi singing "I Can Feel the Love" on the chorus. He says this even during Kanye's gunshot sound effects as a way of saying through it all, I still feel the love. We're brothers.
Track Two: Fire
In this song Cudi and Kanyé speak on past failures in their life and the people that down them for it, but at the end of the day, the hate (from the people) fuels their fire (passion).
Track Three: 4th Dimension (feat. Louis Prima)
This track is Cudi and Yé on a different wavelength than everyone (4th Dimension). They speak on everything from sexual encounters to mental health..
Track Four: Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)
This basically a Sequel to Ghost Town from "ye". Again, just reiterating feeling liberated.
Track Five: Reborn
This track is Kid Cudi and Kanye understanding their past, and how it hasn't been the best (controversies/mental health) but at the end of it all, they are moving on (forward).
Track Six: Kids See Ghosts
This track has Kanye and Kid Cudi going in separate routes. Kid Cudi addresses his doubters, while Kanye speaks of the struggles of fame and the media.
Track Seven: Cudi Montage
This track trying to inspire people to be able to get out of negative situations, for example the tale of gang/gun violence and retaliation in the song. "Shine your light on me... Stay strong!"
Verdict
Overall 10/10 stars.
For more information, or to download the album, visit: iTunes/Apple Music, Spotify or Tidal.
Featured Fan Review
Instagram: @kevinrobinsonjr
Twitter: @lexnice1
Name: Kevin Robinson Jr.
Favorite Song from the project: 4th Dimension
Favorite Line: "Made me say, "Ooh, uh"
Like I'm mixing Master P and Rick Ross (uh, uh)
She seem to make me always feel like a boss (uh, uh)
She said I'm in the wrong hole, I said I'm lost (uh, uh)"
Why: It just stuck out to me. I like Rick Ross and Master P and they both were mentioned.
Overall thoughts: The album is great and another claésic Ye production added with Cudi's vocals.
As seen by his tweets, the 7 Deadly Sins, are what became the main theme of the album. Each track represents a sin. This will be explained below.
Track One: Not For Radio
“Not For Radio” is a gritty, political statement, mapping out the different racial and financial issues Nas faced. Since he entered the industry. This song corresponds with the deadly sin, Pride. This can be deciphered from the lyric:
"And who y'all comparing me to is nonsense
Show gratitude in the presence of dominance"
Track Two: Cops Shot The Kid
This song is about the constant cycle of police brutality against African American youth. Hence, "The cops shot the kid". The song corresponds to wrath – vindictive anger; angry revenge. Nas talks about police brutality as a form of wrath from unsolicited racial prejudice and hatred. Nas also mentions Black on Black violence in the summer time as a consequence of being paranoid in an uneasy environment to live in.
Track Three: White Label
“White Label” corresponds to gluttony – which is similar to greed, but gluttony is the act of taking too much of something in. Nas echoes that “taking too much of something in” by admitting that he "swallow a lot of reefer" and by going overboard with sexual positions and fantasies.
Track Four: Bonjour
Nas echoes the need to fulfill his desires by describing his sexual attraction with women, how to get past their restraint and still get lucky, eating the finest cuisines, drug references, guilt trips, and flaunting how much wealth he has. | “Bonjour” is the deadly sin, lust – The need to fulfill unspiritual desires (not just sexual desires, but this is usually what lust is associated with.
Track Five: everything
The chorus features singing from both Kanye West, and The-Dream. Each one of the 7 songs on the album is based on one of the 7 deadly sins, with “everything” corresponding to greed – wanting too much of something.
Track Six: Adam And Eve
“Adam And Eve”– which samples Kourosh Yaghmaei’s 1974 track “Gol-e Yakh.”– corresponds “to sloth – being too slow or lazy at doing something”
Track Seven: Simple Things
Nas notes how jealousy is often disguised as criticism of his personal life, possibly alluding to recent claims by his ex-wife that he was cheating and physically abusing her. “Simple Things” corresponds to “Envy.”
Verdict
Overall 10/10 stars.
For more information, or to download the album, visit: iTunes/Apple Music, Spotify or Tidal.
K.T.S.E - Keep That Same Energy
As Kanye West said in the song Erase Me - Kid Cudi, "But all good things gotta come to a en-a(end)". It's a been a long wait (literally) but Teyana Taylor's album is finally here and it's the fifth and final installment in the G.O.O.D Friday releases (of the 5 consecutive week schedule anyway). This is Mrs. Taylor's first release since her mixtape The Cassette Tape 1994, and her first album since VII.
Teyana Taylor actually has a long history with Kanye West. In 2010, she was on the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and was featured on the 2010 single “Christmas in Harlem.” In 2012, Taylor signed by Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music, which led to her being a part of the label's album, Cruel Summer. She released her debut album VII in November of 2014. In August of 2015, Teyana released an EP called The Cassette Tape 1994, which Mr. West helped produce the track "Your Wish". She also memorably starred in his “Fade” music video (shown below).
Track One: No Manners
This song is about her heavy infatuation with an unnamed lover. Although she has a man, she doesn’t plan to sit around and let others control her. It's most likely about her husband, NBA (Sacramento Kings) Player, Iman Shumpert.
Track Two: Gonna Love Me
This song is about getting through the troubles in a relationship, and finding love in the struggle. Again, another ode to her husband and also showing her growth over the years since being married and motherhood (since her last album).
Track Three: Issues / Hold Me
This is another song about the struggles of holding on to love and going through issues while doing so. Nobody is perfect, we both have issues
Track Four: Hurry
This song is about a man taking the initiative and fulfilling his (their) sexual tension /desires.
Track Five: 3Way
This song is essentially about having a threesome with (most-likely) her husband.
Track Six: Rose In Harlem
This song is about Teyana, her story, and where she's come from to where she is now. It's an ode to the saying "rose from concrete".
Track Seven: Never Would Have Made It
This song is about all the people/her husband that's been there for her during the journey (life). It correlates with the song by Marvin Sapp of the same name, Never Would Have Made It.
Track Eight: WTP
It's a dance song with no real meaning.
Verdict
Overall 6/10 stars.
For more information, or to download the album, visit: iTunes/Apple Music, Spotify or Tidal.
Conclusion
This five week stretch of Kanye West produced albums have been amazing to say the least. From Pusha T to Teyana, each album is unique in their own way. It's kind of sad that this is coming to an end, but is it really? According to CyHi the Prince, this is only the beginning as, Kanye is going to produce the next album of everyone under the G.O.O.D Music record label.
We're in for a treat!