Pops Culture

By: Papa Minnow

Anderson .Paak – Ventura

After a disappointing 2018 release of Oxnard, Anderson .Paak sought to return to high praise from his fans by encapsulating the sound that garnered critical acclaim in the realm of R&B. His latest album, Ventura, brings a familiar feeling whiles also delivering a fresh new funky wave that resonates with listeners.

Skepta – Ignorance Is Bliss 

Grime music has built a niche demographic in the west, so it’s no surprise that Ignorance Is Bliss has been slept on. Skepta’s sophomore album displays his growth as a father, an artist, and a human being. It’s an impeccable body of work that removes all doubt of a sophomore slump, and elevates Skepta’s artistry seamlessly throughout the album.

Pop Smoke – Meet The Woo

Upon hearing eight of the nine songs off this album, one would be led to believe that Pop Smoke is UK’s next big artist. However, it’s the Mecca of Hip-Hop that champions the young artist from Brooklyn who took the summer by storm with his infectious hit Welcome To The Party. With his infusion of grime elements and a grimey rugged voice, Pop Smoke makes his claim in the game with a unique style that has paved his own lane. Not to mention his real name is Papa…

Denzel Curry – ZUU

Coming in at a run time of 29:02, Denzel Curry’s ZUU album is a sequel to his hit album Ta13oo. Despite the short length, there’s a lot to enjoy and take in as Curry pays homage to his hometown Carol City through its sound and brings a ton of energy that keeps listeners hooked and engaged throughout the album. It’s a distinct contrast to his former project, but an easy one to digest whiles still delivering insight and depth.

Boogie – Everything’s For Sale

Boogie delivers one of the most acclaimed albums of the year in his debut after signing to Shady records in 2017. Everything’s For Sale features some very talented artists such as newcomer J.I.D, Eminem, and 6lack; who all compliment their respective songs. It’s also quite a feat that Boogie goes toe-to-toe with one of the greatest rappers of all-time and delivers a complete body of work.

Rapsody – Eve 

Rapsody is one of the most underrated rappers in the game so it comes as no surprise that her album hasn’t been praised the way it should be. Usually female rappers are tiered amongst each other, but Rapsody has proven to hold her own against some of the best male artists.

The North Carolina native feels no ways about shedding light on the dark side of the music industry and the troubles she faces as a talented black woman in hip-hop. The best part is, she does it all so elegantly on classic beats that evoke a blissful sense of nostalgia.

BROCKHAMPTON – Ginger 

The best way to describe BROCKHAMPTON would be a box of your favourite donuts after a drunk night out. They’ve taken the concept of a boy band and overdosed it to 13 members which consists of producers, vocalists, photographers, a graphic designer, a web designer, and their manager.

They joined forces through the KanyeToThe forums and while that would usually spell disaster for most, these 13 have come together to create an incredible body of work in Ginger. It’s a polished album through and through and features various genres of music that still appeals to the masses and hardcore alike.

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