Album Review: Call Me If You Get Lost - Tyler, The Creator

After the release of his two most recent albums Flower Boy and IGOR, fans and critics wondered which direction Tyler, The Creator would take his music next. The critical acclaim and mainstream recognition that these projects received were bittersweet for Tyler, as his genius was finally being acknowledged but the pressure was mounting for his next project to deliver. Artists who are able to consistently raise their own standards while exploring new sounds should be praised, and that is exactly what Tyler does on Call Me If You Get Lost. Each of his projects has a unique aesthetic, rollout, and mood, giving listeners a unique experience every time a new album is released. Just as expected, this newest project is quite an experience.

Tyler has mastered the art of the album rollout. Often announcing new projects just weeks out from their release date, he is able to immediately establish the album’s aesthetic and vibe for fans to analyze. The lead singles “LUMBERJACK” and “WUSYANAME” were great selections, as they capture the essence of the album without showing the best that it has to offer prematurely. The artsy era of Flower Boy transformed into the mysterious and alter ego defined IGOR, and now Tyler has come full circle with essentially a matured version of what put him in the first place, sprinkled with the personalized motifs and sounds that he has created.

The album implements skits, features, and shorter transitional tracks well to bridge bangers together. The album isn’t as cohesive of an experience as an IGOR, but it didn’t set out to be; instead, Call Me If You Get Lost is a traditional rap and hip-hop project that allows Tyler to return to spitting bar after bar as he did in the Cherry Bomb and Wolf days. We see this right away with tracks like “CORSO” and “LEMONHEAD”, which incorporate noisy and industrial-type beats that complement Tyler’s delivery perfectly.

The album isn’t top-heavy, either, with the tracks toward the middle delivering just as much as the openers. Lil Wayne’s feature on “HOT WIND BLOWS” is one of his best in years, Tyler absolutely snaps on “MASSA”, and intricate lyrical schemes are found all throughout “RUNITUP”. For fans more interested in the longer, episodic tracks that Tyler has gotten so good at writing in recent years, “SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE” absolutely delivers. Somehow, this track feels familiar and brand new at the same time.

“RISE!” and “BLESSED” are solid tracks, but feel unnecessary for an album that could have been refined to create a complete experience as IGOR did. The closing, tracks, however, make up in some part for these shortcomings. “JUGGERNAUT” features incredible industrial production from Pharrell Williams, who absolutely blesses Tyler here. “WILSHIRE” is a compelling story, and its 8:35 runtime goes by in a flash. “SAFARI” is a strong final track that lets Tyler go harder than he has on previous closers.

Overall, Tyler yet again delivers the project that I didn’t know I wanted from him. While less cohesive and experimental than IGOR, Call Me If You Get Lost is a unique and well-executed rap album that sees Tyler continuing to mature artistically and musically. This will be on a heavy rotation for the summer. What did you think of this project?

Favorite Tracks: “CORSO”, ““LEMONHEAD”, “WUSYANAME”, “LUMBERJACK”, “HOT WIND BLOWS”, “MASSA”, “RUNITUP”, “SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE”, “JUGGERNAUT”, “WILSHIRE”, “SAFARI”

SCORE: 8/10

Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 13)

I am extremely pleased to bring back one of my favorite series on this blog today with the thirteenth installation of my sneaker series Best Foot Forward. I’ve been fortunate enough in the past few months to add sneakers to my collection that I’ve lusted over for years. Ranging from luxury designer options to iconic athletic silhouettes, the four pairs featured today fit nicely into my collection and will fit into my summer rotation very nicely.

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Saint Laurent Paris Jodhpur in Brown Suede

The Jodhpur silhouette has been imitated countless times by fast fashion brands looking to recapture the essence of the boot that Hedi Slimane made so famous during his time at Saint Laurent Paris. Its sizable heel, soft-to-the-touch suede, and elegant shape are only possible with the quality and craftsmanship that SLP has to offer. I chose the brown suede colorway because it fits well into my wardrobe, which is mainly made up of understated and neutral pieces. Can’t get enough of this pair.

Pair 2 (Lower Left): Maison Margiela GAT Replica in White + Gum

The Maison Margiela German Army Trainer Replica has quickly become one of my favorite go-to sneaker models for both casual and more formal occasions. Whether I’m tossing these on to go grocery shopping or to go to the office, the GAT Replica is an extremely comfortable and visually appealing sneaker. The White + Gum colorway is one of the most iconic and recognizable on this pair, so I had to scoop them once I found a sale online. I’ll be wearing these all summer long.

Pair 3 (Upper Right): Nike Air Max 90 “Infrared”

I regretted selling my Infrared Air Max 90s for years after buying and then selling them in high school. When they released last year, I was lucky enough to win a pair through the SNKRS app, which as all sneakerheads know, is a rare occurrence. My favorite Air Max of all time, the AM90 pops with its Infrared accents. I usually turn to these for more casual looks, whether pairing them with sweatshorts or ripped jeans on the weekends. Can’t go wrong here.

Pair 4 (Lower Left): Air Jordan 6 Retro X Travis Scott “British Khaki”

One of my favorite rappers collaborated on one of my favorite Jordan models in a colorway right up my alley. How could I say no? Cactus Jack, more widely known as Travis Scott, brings his eclectic and outlandish style to this pair with furry suede, bright infrared accents, hidden pouches, and a playful glow-in-the-dark sole that channels the pairs I grew up wearing as a kid. These definitely fit into my wardrobe and aesthetic and definitely turn heads along the way.

I’m lucky to be able to continue growing my sneaker collection pair by pair. A focus on quality over quantity means I don’t add pairs quite as often, but make sure that the ones that I do are up to my standards. Which of these four is your favorite? Thanks for reading.

Album Review: The Off-Season - J. Cole

Fayetteville, North Carolina native J. Cole has established himself as one of the strongest rappers in the genre’s modern era. The self-described “middle child” of hip-hop, Cole embodies the aesthetics of modern styles while staying true to the roots of rap. The result of this dedication is a philosophical, lyrically talented artist with well-produced beats and a contemporary delivery. In the lead-up to The Off-Season, Cole released two singles and a viral freestyle on LA Leakers, along with a mini-documentary that captured the recording process for this newest project. These teasers had fans excited, expecting Cole to return to form and to deliver one of his strongest albums yet. Luckily, that is exactly what we received, as this 12 track offering clearly demonstrates Cole’s maturation and growth as an artist with many great songs to choose from.

Cole wastes no time setting the stage for things to come with the project’s opening track “9 5 . s o u t h”, which features lyrical accompaniments from Cam’ron and Lil Jon. A hard-hitting bass pairs well with Cole as he spits bar after bar, introducing the audience to his newly refined and intricate skills. The one-liners are strong right off the bat, with “Krispy Kreme dreams, sometimes my dogs wanna kill 12” standing out. “a m a r i” is a strong second song, featuring more of a modern and casual delivery style from Cole who still comes off as hungry. Again, we see him switch things up with autotuned and sung sections throughout. “m y . l i f e (with 21 Savage & Morray)” is one of my favorites on the album, utilizing its features incredibly well. The instrumental here reminds me of 21 Savage’s “a lot”, and goes very smoothly with his verse. Each artist discusses the benefits of persevering through hardship, which is something both of them have had to do throughout their careers and lives.

“a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e” sees Cole reflecting on the insincerity of rappers who tout false wealth through material goods without having the funds to justify them. The instrumental is somewhat one-dimensional here for me, so I’m glad this track is less than 3 minutes long. “p u n c h i n ‘ . t h e . c l o c k” is another short track that lets Cole discuss the many hours he has put into his craft, featuring an audio soundbite of a Damian Lillard interview, which is one of the many basketball references found throughout the album. This makes sense considering that Cole is now playing basketball professionally in Africa. “1 0 0 . m i. l ‘ (with Bas)” features Cole reflecting on how far his music has come despite his previous successes, which haven’t discouraged him from still always refining what he does best.

“p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l . (with Lil Baby)” is one of my favorite songs on the album, featuring the same instrumental as Aminé’s “Can’t Decide”. As the title suggests, this song discusses the damaging nature of pride in different social environments. The transitional handoff to Lil Baby’s feature is seamless and thoroughly impressive, as he becomes one of my favorite feature artists as of late. “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d . (with Bas & 6LACK) is one of the most substantively mature songs on the project, echoing the themes of “4 Your Eyez Only”. Cole reflects on his doubts and fears, and what it’s like to be the father of a Black son in America. This is another great track.

We heard the next two songs before the album’s release, and luckily “i n t e r l u d e” and “t h e . c l i m b . b a c k” still hold up well in the project’s tracklisting. “c l o s e” reflects on a friend who fell into the pitfalls of drugs, but unfortunately this track is less than memorable to me for some reason - something’s missing on the penultimate song. Finally, the closer “h u n g e r . o n . h i l l s i d e (with Bas)” ties up any loose ends wonderfully. Here, Cole declares that he will always be the same person no matter how far his artistic career takes him. Bas closes the project with fantastic contributions, and Cole’s hard work proves paid off.

The Off-Season is a lot of what I wanted from a new J. Cole project. He has clearly reflected on what works for him as an artist, refining and practicing his craft to produce introspective, hard-hitting songs with lyrical depth and complexity and mass appeal, but there is still room to grow. It seems that he will soon be dedicating more of his time to pursuing other forms of expression besides rap, but I don’t think this is Cole’s final project. I highly suggest that you check this album out, as it’s my favorite of his since 2014 Forrest Hills Drive.

Favorite tracks: “9 5 . s o u t h”, “a m a r i”, “m y . l i f e (with 21 Savage & Morray)”, “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e”, “1 0 0 . m i l ‘ (with Bas)”, “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l (with Lil Baby)”, “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d (with Bas & 6LACK)”, “i n t e r l u d e”, “h u n g e r . o n . h i l l s i d e (with Bas)”

SCORE: 7/10

An Update

Hey there! Long time no blog. Despite my best efforts to maintain a schedule airtight enough to get everything done and allow time for me to indulge my hobbies while getting enough sleep, the past month was relentlessly busy and, because of that, you haven’t heard from me recently. But now that the craziest of times have more or less passed, I have returned with an update as to where I’ve been and where I’d like to take this blog in the coming months. Generally, things are going excellently well, and even though I regret not posting for a month, I am ecstatic for why that just wasn’t feasible, and I’m excited for you to hear why today.

A lot has happened in the past four weeks. Let’s retrace my steps in chronological order, starting with the fact that I have found and moved into a wonderful new apartment with my amazing girlfriend. The hunt for the perfect place mirrored the ways I often find major life milestones- without looking very hard for them. We had done plenty of online research for apartments, narrowing down square footage and amenities while looking for areas within our budget. After a disappointing tour at another complex, Kaylyn and I decided not to end the day on a low note and to instead go to the nearest community just to look. When we pulled into the gated community right up the road just next to Chastain Park in North Buckhead, we knew we were home. Beautiful tree coverage, protective security measures, and a young vibe checked all of the boxes for what we wanted. The unit itself is fantastic, with two spacious bedrooms, a cozy patio, a modern kitchen, and a big living room that we’re already filling with furniture. The Georgia State University Lofts and Patton Hall were a great home for four years, but we are delighted and ready for a change and an upgrade.

Why were we moving in the first place, you ask? We just graduated college. It still feels a bit strange to type that on the keyboard or say it out loud, but it’s true nonetheless. I have earned my Bachelor’s degree in English, graduating with high honors as Magna Cum Laude. My time at GSU will stay with me forever. Lifelong friends, great memories, and so many interesting courses gave me a unique and irreplaceable college experience that I’m forever grateful for. I leave Georgia State Panther strong, ready to make my mark on the world.

Unpacking boxes, hosting gatherings, working full-time, and finding time enough for myself and loved ones has been a task to behold recently. But as things begin to settle down and I get to transition into the next phase of life, it is promising to look forward and to plan the next steps. As far as my blog goes, I want to set a reasonable and sustainable goal that won’t add pressure to me creating content here. For now, I am going to aim for one blog post per week. That includes more album reviews, more style spotlight posts (I may have just purchased some long-awaited pieces - don’t worry, I’m still saving my $), and plenty of other favorites of mine to feature here. It’s good to practice, and it makes me happy to do what I love.

Thanks for sticking around and caring enough to read through this update of mine. Everything that is happening is hitting me in waves, but I don’t think it has all fully registered yet. I have enjoyed every second of these formative milestone occasions. I am ready and confident to step into the next chapter in stride. I have felt more gratitude and support in recent weeks than ever before, and I am endlessly grateful for my circumstances and who I have in my life. With all of that being said, it’s good to be back.

Album Review: ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE - BROCKHAMPTON

BROCKHAMPTON took the internet by storm with the release of their SATURATION trilogy in 2017, which consisted of three inventive albums with hard-hitting beats and unique personalities. The group has achieved a moderate level of mainstream success since then, in large part due to songs like “SUGAR”, which became radio hits. The following albums that the group released, iridescence and GINGER, reflected the hardships and interpersonal conflicts the group had been navigating after one of their primary members left due to scandals and accusations. This led to major introspection and less of an uplifting atmosphere to a lot of their releases, but not too much to their detriment. After a brief hiatus in 2020, the self-proclaimed “hardest working boyband in the world” has returned with their newest album ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE. Frontman Kevin Abstract has said this is the first of two albums the group will release in 2021, which will also be their final two projects. I had high expectations after the group built hype surrounding this project leading to its release, and luckily, those hopes were exceeded.

The opening track and lead single for this project, “BUZZCUT (feat. Danny Brown)”, is the epitome of the type of music that put BROCKHAMPTON on the map. A loud and colorful beat with sharp production and abrasive lyricism gets things off to an extremely strong and confident start. The Danny Brown feature is used perfectly, as his eclectic delivery fits this beat perfectly. The song’s music video is appropriately fitting, as well, and cements this as one of the strongest opening tracks on any of the group’s projects so far. Next up is “CHAIN ON (feat. JPEGMAFIA)”, which has been reworked since its debut as a part of the group’s Technical Difficulties singles that released last year. Peggy’s verse is packed tight with impressive bars, and its minimal beat is a nice contrast to the opening track. Dom’s closing verse is a new addition to this track and delivers quality as usual. The third track on the album “COUNT ON ME” is a summertime, windows down vibe with non-credited contributions from A$AP Rocky. This track has grown on me quite a bit since its initial release.

“BANKROLL (feat. A$AP Rocky & A$AP Ferg)” is the beginning of this album’s producers really starting to show off their skills. This beat is intricate, multi-layered, and textured in a way that allows each member’s contributions to shine. I particularly enjoyed Merlyn’s verse on this track. “THE LIGHT” is one of this group’s highest points, with an incredibly crisp and guitar-backed instrumental and lets Joba begin his takeover of this project. The revelation that Joba’s father killed himself last year becomes an anchor for this album’s themes, creating a dark and vulnerable tone that is handled with aggressive and powerful delivery. This album is continually changing in its tone but in a useful and enjoyable way. “WINDOWS (feat. SoGone SoFlexy)” is a traditional hip-hop beat allowing each member to spit their hearts out. The “Go Merlyn! Go Merlyn!” refrain during his verse brought a smile to my face. Matt Champion’s flow is impressive, and despite this track’s 6+ minute runtime, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

“I’LL TAKE YOU ON (feat. Charlie Wilson) is another smooth pop-inspired track with a warm atmosphere that channels GINGER more than any of their previous projects. This is one of the less abrasive tracks on the album, serving as a strong transition into “OLD NEWS (feat. Baird)”, which feels like a traditional BROCKHAMPTON track. Again, Joba’s closing verse is a bright highlight that closes this track strongly. “WHAT’S THE OCCASION?” is another guitar-based track with reverberating vocal deliveries from Matt Champion and Joba. The first few minutes of this track are solid, but its closing instrumental peak is otherworldly, culminating in a beautiful closing that leads well into the next track.

“WHEN I BALL” has one of my favorite instrumentals on this project, channeling The College Dropout-era Kanye West in its smooth and piano-packed summertime sound. Dom’s verses are few and far between on this album, unfortunately, but he brings the heat every time. The soft and accessible sounds from the previous tracks come to a grinding halt with “DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY”, which is as sonically aggressive as SATURATION III’s opening track “BOOGIE”, but with more intense subject matter. Kevin Abstract’s verse is very strong, and the song’s screeching chorus is addictive.

The penultimate track “DEAR LORD” is a completely stripped-back, anthemic, and choral performance that allows the boys to harmonize in a very churchlike fashion. The sentiment of this track is beautiful, as it seems the group is pleading for positivity for their group members Kevin Abstract and Joba who have been through so much in recent months. This track still gives me goosebumps. “THE LIGHT PT. II” is an extremely raw and revealing closing track that brought tears to my eyes, as Joba reflects on his father’s death and reveals all of his thoughts regarding this tragedy with incredible clarity. BROCKHAMPTON has never shied away from sharing its vulnerabilities, but this takes that to the next level. An absolutely brilliant closing track for an astounding album - the group’s best yet.

It has been a pleasure to watch BROCKHAMPTON mature as artists and as people, sharing their journey all along the way. This album is their most refined, confident, and impressive yet, with hard-hitting tracks and emotional reflections that make it an incredibly compelling listen with high replay value. ROADRUNNER sets a new standard for this group, and I can’t wait to see if it can be topped with their final album release later this year.

Favorite tracks: “BUZZCUT (feat. Danny Brown)”, “CHAIN ON (feat. JPEGMAFIA)”, “COUNT ON ME”, “BANKROLL (feat. A$AP Rocky & A$AP Ferg)”, “THE LIGHT”, “WINDOWS (feat. SoGone SoFlexy)”, “OLD NEWS (feat. Baird)”, “WHAT’S THE OCCASION?”, “WHEN I BALL”, “DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY”, “DEAR LORD”, “THE LIGHT PART II”

SCORE: Strong 8/10