UPPER ECHELON.

We're basically half way through 2017 now and there's been so much new music released this year - a lot of trash tbh but some good tracks too! Albums from Drake, Kendrick, Joey Bada$$ to name a couple. Buuut with so many tracks released I thought I'd make a quick top 10 tracks of the year so far, remember this is only my top 10 so obviously there's gonna be some pretty big names that are gonna miss out. SO DON'T KILL ME JUST BECAUSE YOUR FAVOURITE TRACKS AREN'T IN THERE, choosing just 10 ain't easy you know. I'll leave the link to my choices down below so you can check em out too but tell me what you think should be on there too!

6lack - That Far
Bryson Tiller - Run Me Dry
Nav - Nav
French Montana + Swae Lee - Unforgettable
Lil Durk + Young Thug - No Love
Future - Mask Off
Logic + Alessia Cara + Khalid - 1-800-273-8255
Lil Uzi Vert - XO Tour Life
Childish Gambino - Redbone
Calvin Harris + Frank Ocean + Migos - Slide

(Before you say it, yes I know there's no Drake or Kendrick on there!)

https://open.spotify.com/user/sikanderhu/playlist/2tgBKgbKYaQWGAKg3Er9iv

Starboy

Going from the underground’s worst kept secret to the pop game’s biggest name – The Weeknd’s come up has been astronomical. 5 years ago I was being called a fan boy for shouting and raving about an unknown EP called Echoes of Silence, cut forward to 2017 and there’s not a music fan in the world that hasn’t heard a track from Starboy. The thing which always appealed to me about The Weeknd through listening to Echoes of Silence and the amazing Trilogy album was the unapologetic darkness and malice in his music. There was no attempt at accommodating to a broad audience, the jaunting beats and haunting melodies seemed pure and untouched. However, in recent times The Weeknd’s sound has changed and almost become too pop and has lost a lot of its impact for me. Sadly, Starboy follows this trend.

There’s a couple of tracks that do stand out and are worth listening to again, notably Starboy and False Alarm as they had a real unique sound which if had continued throughout the album would have made this a great listen. However, there’s so much of this album which just sounds samey and really this album could have been condensed and a lot of these tracks could have been left lout because they’re simply regurgitating a pattern again and again. I think the bit that really hurts me about this album is the fact that the music sounds watered down and the content censored – Ii feel if anything the label has taken a brilliant unique artist and squashed him into a pop shaped hole and made him into something weaker and less than he actually is. It’s like hiring Slipknot to do carol singing – it just feels wrong.

As an artist I have a lot of respect for The Weeknd as I truly believe he has one of the best voices and original sounds in music right now. However, the current trend in his music is not something I particularly enjoy. I really hope The Weeknd quickly ends this phase in his music and goes back to the darker malevolent side I enjoyed so much.

The Weeknd – Starboy – 2/10

4 Your Eyez Only

Anyone who knows me will tell you that my favourite album of all time is J Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive. So being a big J Cole fan, from Power Trip to Work Out, you can imagine how excited I was for 4 Your Eyez Only. This album came out of nowhere, it really did. 2016 was meandering to dull close when J Cole released a “documentary” on YouTube where he released two songs where he appeared to take shots at Kanye and Wale. Thank God J Cole released that when he did – he breathed some much needed life into what was a disappointing end to hip hop in 2016.

The album itself has a clear message and idea behind it. If his last album was a turn up, then this is definitely a sit and remember album. Cole brings some deep messages in this album and covers a wide range of issues. He speaks of lost love in She’s Mine, covers gun crime and inequality later in the album. Although the album is definitely thought provoking, moving and pretty chilled – I have to say I am a little disappointed. This is because I like the hard hitting J Cole with the jagged beats like A Tale of 2 Citiez, Fire Squad and Power Trip. As much as this album brings some deep messages and chill vibes, it’s just not the J Cole I prefer. Having said that I have to say Immortal is an absolute banger and a must listen, also the sample of Bryson Tiller’s exchange is really clever. So if you’re in the right mood this album could appeal to you, however, as much as I love J Cole I know this album is going to divide opinion.

This album may not be what I was hoping for but it still has a lot to offer if you enjoy deep and clever lyrics with powerful messages behind them with a hella chill vibe.

J Cole – 4 Your Eyez Only – 7.5/10