March Madness Day 10: Kevin Gates - Murder For Hire II

Cover Art (slightly customized) for Kevin Gates' "Murder For Hire II"

Kevin Gates. Kevin Gates is a Baton Rouge, Lousiana born rapper, who, through a slew of mixtapes and strong social media presence over the years, built a fanbase that eventually launched Gates into international fame in early 2016 via a successful, record label endorsed, debut album called "Islah" (named after his first born daughter) which spawned two successful and catchy hits ("2 Phones" and "Really Really"). Threw his mixtapes, charismatic interviews, social media presence and general hustler mentality, Gates managed to grow organically as a rapper by first building a buzz from he's from first, then expanding nationwide and eventually worldwide. 

"Murder For Hire II" was released in May of 2016, that same year as "Islah" but (unfortunately) it would be the last project that Gates himself released before going back to prison in October 2016 over allegedly kicking a woman in the chest at one of his shows. 

This review I remember writing on the HHH forum and I decided that I didn't want to mess up my March Madness streak by not posting anything today, so here's another throwback (New reviews coming soon though, promise)

Anyway, enjoy this super short review I wrote in like 5 minutes...

WE ARE NOW GOING BACK TO 2016 JOSEPH S...

March Madness Day 9: Royce Da 5'9" - Layers

Cover Art for Royce Da 5'9's "Layers" (slightly customized by Joseph Sanker II)

Today's throwback review is about one Royce Da 5'9". A Detroit born wordsmith who's career has had ups and downs. Known for his early collaborations with fellow Detroit artist Eminem, Royce was known for those collabs until recently his career started gaining traction, starting in 2014 with his DJ Primere collaboration titled "PRHYME". Ever since "PRHYME" Royce had released a 2015, deluxe addition of "PRHYME" with features from Joey Bada$$, MF DOOM and others. Then in 2016, Royce released "Layers" which, I will be reviewing today in today's throwback review. (Also, PRHYME 2 out March 16, 2018, so why not post a Royce review?)

WE ARE NOW GOING BACK IN TIME TO 2016 JOSEPH S...

March Madness Day 8: Freddie Gibbs - Pronto EP

Cover Art for Freddie Gibbs' "Pronto" EP

Freddie Gibbs. Freddie Gibbs is a rapper from Gary, Indiana. Freddie Gibbs is probably most known for his 2014 breakout collaboration album "Piñata" with legendary producer Madlib. Prior to "Piñata", Gibbs was bubbling in the underground with a slew of revered, street oriented mixtapes such as "Baby Face Killa", "Cold Day in Hell" and "The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs". After "Piñata", Gibbs followed up with a small EP called "Pronto" released the following year in 2015.

Freddie, at the time, had always kept his fans tided over in between full length album releases and 2015 was no exception. He released the EP "Pronto" in March 2015 (actually, after some research, I've realized that Pronto was released 3 years ago today, yes March 9, 2015, so, that's something considering legendary dead rapper The Notorious B.I.G. was also killed on this date 21 years ago) while he completed his next solo album "Shadow of a Doubt" which dropped in November of that same year. 

Will I ever review full length albums again? Or will I just be that guy who only reviews EPs of artists he's already reviewed in order to cut down on the amount he has to write in the artist's background info/introduction? Who knows...anyway, let's review this small 3 song EP.

March Madness Day 7: Skepta - Konnichiwa

Cover Art, slightly customized, by Joseph Sanker II

I swear I don't have enough throwback reviews to post every other day for this month, BUT since I do have them, why not post?

Today's post is a review for Skepta, who, at the time, was the first UK based rapper I ever reviewed. I have since expanded my international hip hop tastes (although not by much) and since then, I look back on Skepta's Konnichiwa with a fondness. Skepta really had American based youtube reviewers like Dead End Hip Hop, Theneedledrop etc, reviewing his music for the first time, despite the fact that Skepta "Konnichiwa" is Skepta's fourth album AND he's been in this rap game since 2003. So suffice it to say, it was a long time coming for this man to get his shine.

Also being in the good graces of one of the biggest rappers on the planet (you know, the one from Canada) doesn't hurt either. It really cool when one of the best selling projects of 2017 featured you on your own solo interlude track that was aptly named after you. A good look is an understatement, Skepta is definitely known in the American scene in hip hop and it is no accident or stroke of luck.

Putting that to the side however, enjoy this circa 2016 review of Skepta's "Konnichiwa"

WE ARE NOW GOING BACK IN TIME TO JOSEPH S IN 2016...

March Madness Day 6: Mozzy - Spiritual Conversations EP

Cover Art (slightly customized) for Mozzy's "Spiritual Conversations EP"

Mozzy. Mozzy is a rapper from Sacramento, California. Mozzy has been bubbling locally in the Sacramento hip hop scene for quite sometime (he actually went by Lil Tim back in 2004 for a little while before changing his name to Mozzy in 2012) but his hype seemed to have really increased ten fold in 2015 when he released multiple projects, both solo and collaborative. But the most prominent album being "Bladadah". With the release of "Bladadah" Mozzy gained buzz worldwide. So much buzz that notable magazine Rolling Stone ranked Mozzy's "Bladadah" as the 22nd best rap album of 2015 . Complex magazine, another well known publication, published an article stating that Mozzy had the best run of any rapper in 2015. So, with all these accolades as well as new attention, Mozzy continued dropping project after project. Whether it be a solo project or a collaborative project. Mozzy released a whopping 11 projects in 2016.

In 2017, Mozzy dropped two collaborative projects with two prominent street oriented artists (Carol City Rapper Gunplay, and Vallejo rapper and member of SOB X RBE Yhung T.O.) in addition to locally known Bay area rappers Yowda and Lit Soxxx. This is on top of dropping two solo albums, one of which I reviewed called "Fake Famous" and the well put together "1 Up Top Ahk".

What's special about "1 Up Top Ahk"is that, in addition to being one of the best music releases of 2017.  It also housed a song called "Sleep Walkin". That song "Sleep Walkin" would end up in the critically and community acclaimed film "Black Panther" (which I think is due to the director, Ryan Coogler, being from Oakland, a place where Mozzy's music is being played routinely).

Couple that with the fact that Mozzy was also featured on the Kendrick Lamar curated soundtrack for the film "Black Panther" (not to mention that Kendrick shouted out Mozzy at the 2018 Grammy Awards, which WAS the coolest thing that happened that night) and 2018 is raining blessing upon blessing on the Sacramento based rapper and the best part, he isn't slowing up at all.

On March 2nd, 2018, Mozzy released his first solo project since "1 Up Top Ahk" back in June 2017. Perfect timing too as more and more people are starting to find out about Mozzy since "Black Panther" came out...

Anyway, is Mozzy showing signs of slowing down, or is he keeping his music consistent in terms of quality? Let's find out

March Madness Day 5: Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book

Cover art for Chance The Rapper's "Coloring Book" (obviously edited by me)

Once again, a throwback review, I know, I'm being lazy just throwing out reviews from years past, but I figured,  might as well get them out there before they aren't seen by anyone.

Anyway, the following is a review I did around the same time I did the Kendrick Lamar 'untitled unmastered' throwback review. This time, I focused on the future grammy winning mixtape 'coloring book', which did get overrated by critics, but when it came out, at the time, I actually liked the sonic direction chance took, even at the expense of rapping. 

However, I will say that since "Coloring Book" dropped, it hasn't necessarily aged that well in my view, but upon reviewing my 2016 review of "Coloring Book" I'd say my thoughts  are still valid for the most part.

Anyway, we're going to go back in time to a 2016 Joseph S...  and here...we...GO!

2016 REVIEW STARTS BELOW FOR CHANCE THE RAPPER'S 'COLORING BOOK':

March Madness Day 4: Drake - Scary Hours EP

Cover art for Drake's "Scary Hours" (obviously edited by me, Joseph Sanker II)

On January 19th, 2018, legendary Chicago drill rapper, Fredo Santana passed away due to his heavy use of codeine. In addition to this devastating loss in the hip hop world, the United States government had also shutdown due to...well...lot's of things, but let's just say January 19th, 2018 wasn't a good news day (When is it ever a good news day?). 

However, on January 19th, 2018, Drake also reappeared in the public eye with the conveniently titled "Scary Hours" his first official project since 2017's "More Life" (which I did, in fact, review) and it seemed like Drake's timing with new music, along with the title of "Scary Hours" was almost more than coincidental, but then again, I'm never the one for conspiracy theories, but if I were, I'm 100% artists in the industry have done crazier things in the past, this is just a drop in the bucket I'm sure.

Enough of that though. With his new EP "Scary Hours", Drake has returned to re-establish his reign as "that guy" in hip hop. You know, the chart topper, hook singer, "guy you hear constantly on the radio", billboard mainstay, apple music stream record breaker...you know, the guy who turns out hits like pimps turn out hoes on the strip.

And to think, he re-establishes his dominance with only two songs and today, it's going to be talked about...