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Top foreign nonformat albums
A bit late, but still publish our top for 2017 from the best foreign releases that do not have (or have a minimal) relation to hip-hop and are usually published under our regular column #Neformat.
Gord Downie – Introduce Yerself
October 17, died Canadian musician Gord Downey. His death did not come as a surprise, because back in May of 2016, he was diagnosed with brain cancer in an advanced stage. A week after the death of the artist, his latest album “Introduce Yerself” (“Imagine Yourself”) was released, and he began working on it with the frontman Broken Social Scene after learning about the impending death. As it becomes clear from the introductory part – the disc is entirely composed of elegies, so that depression and melancholy come through from every line, every word and chord. Continue reading
Silent Digest: Main Albums
Since the beginning of the year, CupcakKe, Car Seat Headrest, U.S. received high marks from Pitchfork and the status of the “best new album”. Girls and these guys. You met them through the Black Panther soundtrack, where SOB x RBE, along with Kendrick, performed the rather strong Paramedic! Number, remembered by the audience as well as their sound, and the poignant panchas, like “New baby chop, let it sing, it’s a Drake nigga. ” Unlike many rap newbies, SOB x RBE do not try to exploit the trap sound and draw inspiration from the southern music of the nineties. Each of the participants perfectly manifested itself on the aforementioned “Paramedic!”, But on this album the chemistry between them is not felt.
Rating: 6/10 Continue reading
M.I.A. vs. Everybody: how female rap fights the world system
Matangi “Maya” Arulpragasam – a girl born in London in a family of Tamil activists, famous for her daring deeds and remarkable talent. Singer, producer, clipmaker, designer, artist, rapper, loving provocative punches on the topic of the day, and political activist. In addition to the memorable eclectic style of music, in which she combines the motifs of ethnic music of the peoples of the east, hip-hop, electronics, world-class beats and reggae with acute social implications, Maia created a memorable image of a principled and wise girl who is constantly struggling with a ruthless political machine and injustice. Continue reading
