Slaughterhouse's EP
Although hip-hop fans may not be familiar with the group called Slaughterhouse, they will likely recognize the four rappers behind the name. Royce da 5'9", Crooked I, Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz formed Slaughterhouse back in 2008 and recently released their second album entitled "The Slaughterhouse EP."
Although "EP" contains only three new songs and three remixes, it is nevertheless a great introduction for those unfamiliar with the artists behind the Slaughterhouse collaboration.
It is clear that Slaughterhouse created this album for the purpose of showcasing the artists' lyrical talents. The tracks are lengthy so to accommodate at least one verse from each of the four rappers, while the beats are appropriately strong to set the stage for these powerful wordsmiths.
Even so, the beats sound as if they might be found on any other popular rap veteran's album—but that could just be representative of its production quality. The track "Back on the Scene," for example, is led by a gripping horn pattern that sounds quite similar to Jay-Z's "Death of Autotune."
"EP" is probably most significant for giving the artists behind the project more of the public attention they deserve. This is especially the case for Royce da 5'9", a Detroit rap artist who really excels in his lyrical capacities. Royce's influence among the rap community is formidable; he has ghostwritten for artists like Dr. Dre and Diddy in addition to pursuing his own solo work.
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All
If I had to choose three words to describe the Los Angeles members who comprise the hip-hop collective called Odd Future, I would pick: psychotic, inventive and terrifying.
But their craziness is the very reason that Odd Future—short for Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All—is garnering so much attention recently. After listening to the ensemble's recent-released album, "Radical," I was shocked by its bold references to drugs, sex and violence; yet, at the same time, I was impressed.
Odd Future's brilliance stems from its extensive vocabulary, creative references and clever wordplay, as well as a willingness to say literally anything.
In the track "Orange Juice," for example, the artists rap about snapping necks in one line and then about having sex with a nun in the next. The references in that same song range from Mr. T to Taylor Swift and even to Courage the Cowardly Dog.
The individual members of Odd Future are all talented, but I am most impressed by the group's leader, who calls himself Tyler, The Creator. Tyler raps on nearly every one of the tracks on "Radical" and is easily distinguishable from the others because of his deep, gritty voice.
Tyler develops two different personalities in his 2009 solo album "Bastard"—his angst-filled, angry teenage side and his psychotic, crazy side that makes Eminem's "Marshall Mathers LP" seem modest in comparison. Furthermore, the creepy piano and synth-filled beats manage to set a dark foundational stage for Tyler's absurd lyrics. Unfortunately, Tyler's beats are largely hit-or-miss because of his frequent tendency to resort to repetitive stringy synthesizers.
When Tyler does manage to combine his psychotic personality with a successful musical production, he paints an appealing lyrical horror picture—the listener simply cannot look away.
This is most clear on his newest single, "Yonkers," which has a corresponding music video that is just as insane as his lyrics. The video was released on February 10 and has already amassed over two million views on YouTube.
Young, bizarre and innovative artists like Tyler, the Creator who continues to push the creative boundaries help to keep the hip-hop industry fresh and exciting. If the popularity of "Yonkers" is any indication of Tyler's future success, it is clear that the Odd Future movement is here to stay.