Heeeee's Baaaack. Kanye returns with his fifth studio album, and all the controversy and gossip that goes along with a Kanye West release. When all the smoke clears, Kanye has a genius about him that cannot be disputed or immitated. This album is just relentless. With production efforts put forth by Mr. West himself, as well as Jay-Z and RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), the record is opulant from beginning to end. The guest appearances by the aforementioned producers and other huge acts like Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, and Pusha-T (Clipse), among others, only add to the spectacle. Certainly as this artist has progressed, he's grown more egotistical and this is a prominent theme on his latest work. Without the ego, however, there really would be something missing. His ego is what makes it so fresh and so sharp. The grand scale on which he views himself enhances the ornate quality of his work. For as highly as he thinks of himself, he pushes himself that much further to constantly outdo himself. He raises the bar with each album, both for himself and those who make guest appearances on it. Like it or not, he is a force in American music that must be reckoned with.

RedletterDaydream

Past Works:
College Dropout
Late Registration
Graduation
808's & Heartbreak

Track:
Monster (feat. Jay-z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver)

The highly anticipated follow-up to last year's debut from Kid Cudi does not disappoint. There is something raw about this album that may surprise you. It lacks a certain ornate quality that was present on the first album. This is more noticeable in the production. The beats and instrumentals set a tone that is a little darker. The lyrics follow suit and are much more introspective. The record is conceptual in nature. Cudi appears to see himself as "Mr. Rager", and from track to track regails listeners with stories about long hours spent partying, alcohol and drug use, and the strain that this lifestyle has on relationships and the ability to focus. He's emerged as the poster child for Kanye West's label, GOOD Music. Kanye does appear on the album briefly as well. Cudi shows some growth here exhibiting a more tempered lyrical style. He appears to have stayed grounded after the success of his debut release. Overall, this is a fairly brilliant sophomore effort from a very gifted artist with the gift of gab.

RedletterDaydream

Past Works:
Man On The Moon: The End of Day

Track:
Mojo So Dope

Chiddy Bang, is a duo on the verge of what could be tremendous hip hop notoriety. "The Preview" is just that, a preview; of their upcoming studio album debut. This EP, however is far from lacking. Pharrell Williams (yes, that Pharrell Williams) had a hand in production, and there are appearances by Q-Tip and Darwin Beez. Illustrated on the album cover, Chidera Anamege (right) and Noah Beresin (left) mix traditional hip hop lyrics and backbeats with some more eclectic samples to create something fresh and unique. They sample MGMT on "The Opposite of Adults", which has been released as a single. The lyrical delivery is handled by Chidera, a.k.a. Chiddy, and is handled well. They're hungry and poised for success, or as stated on the opening track, "I'm on the elevator and I'm on the way up". This is a group that's still primarily underground. After a string of mixtapes and the debut EP, they've built a fan base. Get in on the ground floor, these guys are going places. The studio debut, "The Swelly Life" is set for release in early 2011. 

RedletterDaydream

Past Works:
The Swelly Express (mixtape)
Air Swell (mixtape)

Track:
The Good Life

Debuting at number four on the Billboard 200 Chart (United States), Erykah Badu's fifth studio album was met with admiration by critics and fans alike. There were high expectations and I would say they've been met if not exceeded. This record, like all of her past works, will satisfy her fan base. Badu, in addition to being obscenely talented, holds to her priniciples of uncompromised artistic expression. She does not do it for the critics, and this earns her my respect. This album, unlike "New Amerykah Part 1" is much more emotionally driven and raw. There is no political undertone to speak of. There is as always, a heavy soul influence on each track. There are samples of songs by Junior Mafia, and an instance of just slightly modified Notorious B.I.G. lyrics in the chorus of the track titled "Fall In Love". Erykah Badu persists in being one of the most genuine artists now and over the entire course of her prolific 'neo-soul' career.

RedletterDaydream

Past Works:
Baduizm
Mama's Gun
Worldwide Underground
New Amerykah Part 1 (4th World War)

Track:
Window Seat

When you hear that N.E.R.D. is coming out with a new album do you get this galvanizing excited feeling in the pit of your stomach? I Do. The trio have out done themselves once again with this album ranging their music and beats from funk, hip-hop, rock, and pop to upbeat tunes to sexy laid back harmonies. Pharrell, Shay, and Hugo are pure artist not just musicians...artists. they take music to a new level and you can't put them in a musicians category with all the swine that is out there. The beats on this album are wondrous and sequential each track flows into the next one with a melodic hip-hop current. I'm positive any fan of music in general will find this album appeasing and will enjoy it as much as I have. N.E.R.D. have their hands into everything at this point in time, and hopefully they will be making music 30 years from now because these guys are "everything" to me not "Nothing."

LoopedEyeless

Past Works:
Seeing Sounds
Fly Or Die
In Search Of...

Track:
Hypnotize U

Track:
Party People (ft. T.I.)

The first single from Cee Lo's latest work, the aptly titled "Fuck You", while brilliant, is not by any means indicative of the rest of this masterful album. It is but a sliver of the eclectic decadence we find on "The Lady Killer". Although the themes from track to track are almost uniform, each song addresses them in a diverse fashion. Some tracks are funny, some are melancholy, others are more objectively reflective. Cee Lo expresses his unique views on subject matter ranging from love to lust, to inadequacy, to friendship, to admiration, and back to love. What separates this record from others in the genre is Cee Lo's integration of classic soul influence, and emotionally transparent lyrics. The sincerity is appealing and relatable. Cee Lo, over the span of his nearly 20 year career in music, has consistenly been dismissed, I feel, as a second tier artist. His vast intelligence and talent paired with the wisdom that comes from that kind of longevity truly makes this album iconic, not only within the hip hop/r&b genre, but in American music...mainstream or otherwise.

RedletterDaydream

Past Works:
Cee Lo Green...Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections

Track:
Satisfied