Hip Hop Week In Review 3/1

Mastermind vs. Oxymoron

Alot was made this week about the debut album of TDE member Schoolboy Q, Oxymoron. While Schoolboy was busy riding Kendrick's coat tails, MMG leader Rick Ross leaked his newest project, Mastermind. While both projects dropped this week, that is where the comparisons should stop. This isn't a fair fight. The highlight of Oxymoron for most would be the song Collared Greens that features Kendrick and was the first single on the album, however that hardly counts as a highlight. The song is extremely underwhelming which sets the tone for the whole album. Terrible collabs with Tyler the Creator and SZA follow and soon if you haven't fallen asleep already, three solo songs from Schoolboy will do the trick. This album is what Schoolboy is, BORING. Kendrick is the truth, but Schoolboy and the rest of TDE should just stick to being his hype men. Now onto the album worth listening too. A mixture of trap music and champagne sippin hip hop, Mastermind does not disappoint. From the incredible features of Jay-z who lays a classic verse on Devil is a Lie keeping his tradition of putting some of his best verses on Ricky's albums, to the monstrous verse from Young Jeezy on War Ready which may be the greatest trap song ever recorded. Rozay and the Snowman that's a match made in heaven and one that Schoolboy Q and Tyler the Creator could never even dream to be. Rozay knows his lane and plays it perfectly throughout the whole album and even gives us another great track to ride to by teaming up with Meek Mill late on the album. Schoolboy Q will put you right to sleep, but all you need is a little bit if Mastermind to wake you up and turn you up.

Pharell Goes Pop

Aside from his giant hat and the backlash from his album cover, Pharrell's newest album GIRL, leaves a lot to be desires in the way of hip hop. From the man who produced Hov's Allure and Drop it Like its Hot as well as a host of Nelly hits and Clipse records, I expected much more. The lack of rapping or even anything remotely rap like is glaring and it's pretty obvious Pharrell purposefully stayed away from cursing and slurs on this album in a way he hasn't in his past. This album is a pop album and don't let anyone tell you different. There's nothing wrong with it, but it should be on the shelves next to Macklemore and Katy Perry not next to Eminem and Rick Ross. This isn't a surprise when you look at Pharrell's recent producing and singing collaborations with Daft Punk as well as his work on Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines. Pharell has been singing and making pop beats for a year now and we should have seen this coming. He has been making a living in the pop radio world and it shines through on this album. I respect Pharrell immensely and he is a producing legend in hip hop as far as I'm concerned but nothing about this album belongs in the hip hop category. This is a pop project from a newly turned pop artist. Will we see more of the same on the upcoming N.E.R.D project? Or will the old Pharrell show up and surprise us once again. Much love to Pharrell, but please make more music for the hip hop world.

Be sure to check back next week for the Hip Hop Week in Review and be sure to follow @The_Beat_Blog on twitter and be sure to follow me, @DaveyRudolphKSR as well.