In 2012, Kanye West’s record label, G.O.O.D. Music (short for Getting Out Our Dreams), released one of the most emphatic label-wide collaborations ever with “Cruel Summer.” Though it was not critically acclaimed — few compilation albums are — “Cruel Summer” spawned some of the most ubiquitous songs of the decade, namely “Mercy” and “Clique,” and effectively positioned G.O.O.D. Music as the premier record label in hip-hop in the early 2010s.
Although the album “No Dogs Allowed” by Sidney Gish debuted on the last day of 2017, it merits a review even months after its release. Sidney Gish is a 20-year-old student at Northeastern University in Boston, and she has a penchant for songwriting well beyond her years. On “No Dogs Allowed,” she writes about what she knows best, inviting listeners to see the world through her eyes. She deftly immerses us in both everyday happenings and the larger quandaries of coming of age in the era of the internet.
On January 19, Baltimore-based rapper JPEGMAFIA released his fourth full-length solo project “Veteran.” The independent artist, who is known for his avant-garde approach to production and rapping, certainly does not disappoint on this new effort. Throughout the 19-song tracklist, JPEGMAFIA delivers an incredible array of thoroughly thought-provoking and strange songs.
Since the release of his 2013 debut mixtape, “Unknown Death 2002,” Swedish alternative rapper Yung Lean has held an odd place in the hip-hop world. As a European, he started out as an outsider in the largely-American genre. Many Americans viewed his melodic and occasionally nonsensical rap about drugs and sadness as a joke, not to be taken seriously.
I want to talk about a topic that’s been on my mind for a while: the career trajectory of Kid Cudi. Most people probably know Kid Cudi as a stoner rapper from the late 2000s who fell off after two decent albums. Back in 2009, Kid Cudi was riding high. With the release of the first “Man on the Moon,” Kid Cudi was right up there with the likes of Drake — granted, Drake was on the come-up as well, but he’s still Drake. Under the mentorship of Kanye West, Kid Cudi grew a devoted fan base that latched on the emotional, loner appeal of his music.
Frank Ocean is known as one of the most frustratingly reclusive artists today. After releasing the critically-acclaimed “Channel Orange” in 2012, the Odd Future singer quickly became one of the biggest names in R&B. Fans anticipated a second album after an announcement from Ocean in 2013. However, the album — or rather albums — would not arrive until 2016. Despite the successes of “Endless and Blonde,” fans were annoyed at the four-year gap between releases with no solo work in between.
On March 24, D.C.-based rapper GoldLink released his debut studio album “At What Cost.” The album follows two singles, “Meditation” and the widely popular “Crew.” The 2015 XXL freshman has also released two moderately successful mixtapes, so he has the background to debut as a practiced rapper with his own trademark flow and soulfulness. However, rather than rely on his tested formula in “At What Cost,” GoldLink moves to expand his scope by changing up and adding new elements to his style.
