Housekeeping: A New Kind Of Gangsta & A Trill Young Texas Playa…
Ranty odds and ends on new music with no thematic cohesion. I’m beginning to feel a bit guilty about not writing much of late, but I’ve had a good excuse. No, I’m not sharing. Proceed:
1. Schoolboy Q - Habits & Contradictions: I was pretty geeked about this project, given Q’s incendiary performance on ASAP Rocky’s “Brand New Guy” and the fact that I was mildly impressed by last year’s “Setbacks.” But I have to admit that I’m not hopping on this bandwagon.
Simply put, I don’t like “Habits & Contradictions.” Schoolboy Q is clearly talented and capable of making really good songs (there are a few on H&C - ‘My Hatin Joint’ comes to mind), but he doesn’t seem to care about sonic cohesion and that’s a dealbreaker for me. There’s just too much going on with the production and I kinda zone out on the verses if he isn’t talking about taking someone’s bitch. I don’t question Q’s cred at all, but his forays into gang and gun talk just ring hollow to me. That’s unfortunate, given that I was hoping to become a huge fan - but I can’t ride with a gangsta whose biggest weakness to me is talking that G shit. Meh.
2. Kirko Bangz - The Progression 2: Conversely, I was more than ready to dislike this project because of the corny name (that sentiment remains intact) and his ridiculously saccharine pair of singles, “Drank In My Cup” and “What Yo Name Iz,” but I must admit that I’m impressed by the Houstonian. He isn’t the most gifted technician but brings a nice combination of pop instincts and Houston to the table.
Which begs the question “E tu Drake?” Yep, the big beige elephant comes to mind when you listen to some of this shit, especially since Kirko rocks over one or two Drake instrumentals and a song like “Play Me” is right out of the Drake playbook - down to the 40-esque production. That said, Kirko gets a pass (AND MORE) from me because a large part of Drake’s oeuvre is influenced by Houston anyway (and he ain’t the only one) and I think it’s only right that someone outta Houston gets to capitalize on trends that originated here.
In addition, the man has the good taste to go in overan Eddie Hazel sample -which makes him good money on this blog. There’s a bit too much pandering to the ladies for him to get a complete endorsement (plus one weird moment where he refers to himself as… I’mma just chill instead), but unlike that other boy there’s ZERO simping or whining on display. I respect that. And he balances it out with an appropriate amount of tough/fly talk, while carrying the entire project by himself (seriously, there’s one guest - Paul Wall - and it never gets boring. One or two “covers” though). It’s safe to say that Kirko is here to stay. Go get “The Progression 2.” It’s free. And excellent.
I guess you just read a pair of shitty reviews. That just happened. I didn’t plan on that. Oh well…
