tried to like it, but couldn't. I think I even gave it like 3-4 spins. It wasn't a good thing whenever I would listen to it and I would think about Drake's "mixtape". So yeah, right now I'm jammin to the new Drake.
Like his two previous albums, there are moments I like (much of the production and a few of his lines) but more moments that either I don't like or just bore me. I don't really understand his appeal, but it seems I feel like that about many recent hip-hop albums that are both commercially and critically successful.
Been slowly listening to it since it came out. Just listened to "Hood Politics" and I think it is my favorite track so far.
Love it. Unique, innovative, and thoughtful. The album is meant to send a message, and I think Kendrick definitely delivered. My favorite tracks are "Hood Politics," "Momma," "King Kunta," and "u," but I really enjoyed most of the songs on the album. EDIT: Should have added that I was kinda meh on it after my first listen as well. The album picks up in the second half, and it gets better and better with each re-listen.
Only listened to a few of the initial tracks and I was really disappointed. I don't judge albums until I've listened a few times, because inevitably I listen to a song 4 times and fall in love the 5th time. With that said...Drake's new one hit with me immediately.
It's meant to be more of a serious, darker, thoughtful album than a club banger album like GKMC. It's just different, and deliberately so. TPaB is the kind of album that may take a few spins to sink in. The kind of album that garners excellent reviews but may not resonate with the folks who just want something fun to bop their heads to while driving home from work. Many of the tracks have a jazz or blues sound to them. While I like GKMC more overall, TPaB is still a great album with some really standout tracks. How Much a Dollar Costs is probably my favorite track, up there with Kendrick's best stuff.
He's good but not on Drake's level ... He should have waited an album or two to go with a different vibe... Too early in his "mainstream" career to try this ... He may lose some of his "mainstream" fans... Remember , they buy much more albums than real hiphop heads...
I'm surprised at the seemingly negative reviews here. I thought it was one of the best records I've ever heard. And I'm not alone in that sentiment. The underlying theme of the record is the poem that he gives you snippets of throughout. It ties together so nicely. You won't find many radio friendly singles, but great content and musical production trump that in my opinion. Oh yeah, on my first listen, I was underwhelmed because I was looking for GKMC, but this album is heavier on the content and just as good if not better. It's nice to see an artist evolve rather than continue putting out imitations of their old stuff.
Like some have said this album is deeper and darker than anything hes done. I think he's afforded himself the right to make an album like this, where be doesn't care too much for the hooks and beats. He digs deep into the bowels of his emotions on this one, albeit not what I was hoping for. Section 80> GKMC>>>>>>> TPAB
I'm intrigued by the early bad reviews here. Pretty much all of my favorite albums of all time were hard to love on the first couple of listens. I think a really good long-lasting record reveals itself over time after repeated listens. Could just be cause the music is complex or subtle, or it could just be it's doing something new that the listener needs to wrap their head around first or needs some time to sink in. From my experience, the immediate gratification type songs are great and I enjoy them for a while, but suddenly one day I'll be listening and it will just feel empty. Doesn't happen all the time, but frequent enough. Anyway, the record appears to have received very positive reviews from music publications. Will try to give it a listen sometime in the next week. I did like GKMC, but don't think of it as a genre-saving album like some people. It was a good rap record.
