two cents reviews

★ 9.6

album

untitled unmastered.

Kendrick Lamar

“Normally, a project full of B-sides and unfinished ideas wouldn't be considered a classic. Then again, this is Kendrick Lamar we're talking about here. I still can't believe I'm saying this, but shout out to LeBron James for making the release of this project possible because holy shit, I find it incredible how these were ideas for Kendrick's best album "To Pimp a Butterfly" that didn't make the final cut. In a way, the material here could be considered throwaways. However, the tracks here are still so fucking good, it works as its own little side project/companion album. On top of Kendrick's pen game, the jazzy production is amped up times two this time around, which makes for a brief yet incredible listen that'll make you want more. I honestly don't know what else to say that everyone else has said about this, except that almost nine years later and this EP full of throwaways is better than almost every modern day rapper's best albums. And when it comes to Kendrick Lamar, it's really just makes the rap game unfair for everyone else.”

★ 9.3

album

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition)

A Tribe Called Quest

“This is one of those albums you should already know if you're a true student of hip-hop, whether you discovered this recently or have been spinning it for forever. (I fall into the latter category.) But shit... I mean, what other thorough thoughts can you add to an album that listeners like myself have already said about A Tribe Called Quest's debut? "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" brought a jazzy smooth sound that was unheard of back in 1990. Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad made sure to school everyone on what their music would bring to the table and did so successfully. The album may not be flawless, as its sound wasn't refined just yet, but it still starts off strong with classic singles like "Bonita Applebum", "Can I Kick It?" and my personal favorite "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo", as well as deep cuts like "Footprints". Of course, Q-Tip helps elevate the greatness of "People's Instinctive Travels..." with the lyricism and flow he brings to the forefront. And yes, Phife Dawg does contribute vocals on here and killed it with every appearance, but he only shows up a handful, which may make this seem like a Q-Tip solo project vocal-wise. There's no denying that everyone had a hand in crafting a fun classic record that may be a bit rough around the edges. Hell, even Jarobi, who was only an official member during this album and the group's last album, came up with a fire monologue that's broken up into skits that can make a listener listen to what he has to say. Fuck it, I know I'm rambling. Can you blame me, though? It's hard to praise an album that has already received a great deal of praise. Which is why it's crazy how A Tribe Called Quest went on to improve from this on future bodies of work.”