2009 was a huge year for the Minnesota-based indie rap label with many releases finishing in my personal top records of that year. Last year the label had a handful of interesting releases, but 2011 is definitely gearing up to be the year of the Rhymesayer.
The first RSE release will be the Columbus emcee, Blueprint. "So Alive" is the third video/single released from the up-coming album, Adventures in Counter Culture. "So Alive" along with his other singles "Keep Bouncing" and "Radio-Inactive" are increasingly building hype around his album which will examine American Popular Culture.
The second RSE release of 2011 is also probably the most anticipated one - Atmosphere's first longplay in almost exactly 3 years, The Family Sign. The album is expected to continue the live instrumentation from guitarist Nate Collis and Key-man Erick Anderson, which were very prominent on last year's double EP release as well as the group's 2008 LP. On this track Slug tells a story about taking a loved one for granted. Another great concept for the music video features a dog being neglected by its family until it runs away, then the video concludes with a "Missing Dog" poster.
Grieves had a pretty big 2010: signing with RSE, Re-released his excellent 2008 album 88 Keys & Counting, and releasing a great EP on the RSE. 2011 is to be an even bigger year for the Seattle-based rapper, as he plans on releasing his first LP on Rhymesayers, Together/Apart. His rockstar looks and complex lyricism filled with vivid imagery reminiscent of a young Slug, will once again be complimented by Budo's guitar licks, piano loops and horns. Together/Apart is expected to see a June release.
Other Rhymesayers who are expecting to see a 2011 release include: Evidence's long awaited RSE debut Cats & Dogs
Freeway is also expected to see another release following his collaboration LP with Jake-One
The Seattle beatsmith, Jake-One is expected to release his follow up to his 2008 double-disc, White Van Music .
Showing posts with label freeway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freeway. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Rhymes: 2009 WRap-Up
I know I'm over a month late, but I've been busy.
Using a system of criteria I made up including:
-Replay Value (how many times I listened to the album)
-Rapping/Singing (technical sense of rapping, ie: flow, cadence, vocal delivery)
-Production (Overall sound of the beats)
-Lyrics (Includes Lyrical Content as well as Lyrical techniques including multis, punchlines, similies and metaphors)
-Cohesion (how well the album meshes together as a whole unit, includes sequencing)
-Good Songs (plus 1 pt for every good song that stood out on album)
-Great Songs (plus 1.5 pts for every great song that stood out on album)
-Filler Songs (Negative 1 pt for every bad/filler song on an album)
-Tie Breakers are settled by my own personal decision
Top 20 Albums:
20. UGK - UGK 4 Life - 40 pts
19. Slaughterhouse - s/t - 40 pts
18. Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati - 40 pts
17. Eminem - Relapse - 41 pts
16. Jay-Z - Blueprint 3 - 41 pts
15. Asher Roth - Asleep in the Bread Aisle - 43 pts
14. Royce da 5'9" - Street Hop - 45 pts
13. Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez - 46 pts
12. Wale - Attention: Deficit - 47 pts
11. Q-Tip - Kamaal the Abstract - 49 pts
10. Kid CuDi - Man on the Moon: End of Day - 49 pts
9. BK-One - Radio Do Cabinal - 51 pts
8. K'naan - Trubadour - 52 pts
7. Clipse - Till the Casket Drops - 53 pts
6. P.O.S. - Never Better - 53 pts
5. Sene&Blu - ADayLate&ADollarShort - 54 pts
4. Mos Def - The Ecstatic - 54 pts
3. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 - 61 pts
2. Brother Ali - Us - 61 pts
1. Fashawn - Boy Meets World - 62 pts
Top Mixtapes/EPs (To Qualify, must have all original production)
13. Blu - HerFavoriteColo(u)r - 38 pts
12. Inverse - So True EP - 39 pts
11. Pac Div - Church League Champs - 40 pts
10. B.o.B. - B.o.B. Vs Bobby Ray - 41 pts
9. Charles Hamilton - This Perfect Life*** - 44 pts
8. DWill & Stik Figa - hellogoodbye - 46 pts
7. Freeway - The Beat Made Me Do It - 46 pts
6. Drake - So Far Gone EP - 46 pts
5. Atmosphere - Leak at Will EP - 47 pts
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Vs EP - 47 pts
3. Brother Ali - The Truth is Here EP - 48 pts
2. Danny! - Where is Danny? *** - 49 pts
1. CunninLynguists - Strange Journey Vol 1 and 2 (Both had 55 pts and couldnt decide between the two)
*** Denotes that the album was intended to be released as an album, but due to label difficulties was never released officially (which negated it from the top albums section), but was leaked by the artist themselves.
Using a system of criteria I made up including:
-Replay Value (how many times I listened to the album)
-Rapping/Singing (technical sense of rapping, ie: flow, cadence, vocal delivery)
-Production (Overall sound of the beats)
-Lyrics (Includes Lyrical Content as well as Lyrical techniques including multis, punchlines, similies and metaphors)
-Cohesion (how well the album meshes together as a whole unit, includes sequencing)
-Good Songs (plus 1 pt for every good song that stood out on album)
-Great Songs (plus 1.5 pts for every great song that stood out on album)
-Filler Songs (Negative 1 pt for every bad/filler song on an album)
-Tie Breakers are settled by my own personal decision
Top 20 Albums:
20. UGK - UGK 4 Life - 40 pts
19. Slaughterhouse - s/t - 40 pts
18. Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati - 40 pts
17. Eminem - Relapse - 41 pts
16. Jay-Z - Blueprint 3 - 41 pts
15. Asher Roth - Asleep in the Bread Aisle - 43 pts
14. Royce da 5'9" - Street Hop - 45 pts
13. Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez - 46 pts
12. Wale - Attention: Deficit - 47 pts
11. Q-Tip - Kamaal the Abstract - 49 pts
10. Kid CuDi - Man on the Moon: End of Day - 49 pts
9. BK-One - Radio Do Cabinal - 51 pts
8. K'naan - Trubadour - 52 pts
7. Clipse - Till the Casket Drops - 53 pts
6. P.O.S. - Never Better - 53 pts
5. Sene&Blu - ADayLate&ADollarShort - 54 pts
4. Mos Def - The Ecstatic - 54 pts
3. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 - 61 pts
2. Brother Ali - Us - 61 pts
1. Fashawn - Boy Meets World - 62 pts
Top Mixtapes/EPs (To Qualify, must have all original production)
13. Blu - HerFavoriteColo(u)r - 38 pts
12. Inverse - So True EP - 39 pts
11. Pac Div - Church League Champs - 40 pts
10. B.o.B. - B.o.B. Vs Bobby Ray - 41 pts
9. Charles Hamilton - This Perfect Life*** - 44 pts
8. DWill & Stik Figa - hellogoodbye - 46 pts
7. Freeway - The Beat Made Me Do It - 46 pts
6. Drake - So Far Gone EP - 46 pts
5. Atmosphere - Leak at Will EP - 47 pts
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Vs EP - 47 pts
3. Brother Ali - The Truth is Here EP - 48 pts
2. Danny! - Where is Danny? *** - 49 pts
1. CunninLynguists - Strange Journey Vol 1 and 2 (Both had 55 pts and couldnt decide between the two)
*** Denotes that the album was intended to be released as an album, but due to label difficulties was never released officially (which negated it from the top albums section), but was leaked by the artist themselves.
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