New on your playlist: Rappers who take the rap for giving rap a bad rap

04 November 2016 - 10:29 By Staff Reporter

If you gave a Chihuahua a few grams of cocaine, an Instagram account and access to a Rolls-Royce, you may come close to describing rapper Meek Mill's new album DC4. Meek Mill: DC4If you gave a Chihuahua a few grams of cocaine, an Instagram account and access to a Rolls-Royce, you may come close to describing rapper Meek Mill's new album DC4.Since his last major-label release Mr Nicki Minaj has stumbled into problems like a drunk at an obstacle course. Whether it was in-house squabbles at his label MMG, beef with Drake or rows with other rappers, Meek Mill has generally been at the losing end of a number of nonphysical altercations in the past 18 months.This is what makes DC4 so triumphant. It's the perfect anthem for payday. Listening to it you can almost taste the kind of invincibility that comes with being rich. It's club friendly, bass heavy inspiration for people whose idea of wealth is buying bottles at a club and feeling guilt free.For a man who was supposedly on the decline, Meek is surprisingly reassured and positive on the album. His energy levels are alarming and someone probably needs to tell him that one doesn't need to shout that much. Listen to the album for long enough and it does start to sound like you're being yelled at by the brand ambassador for Rolls-Royce.He's also very one dimensional. All the talk about his Rolex, pockets full of money and Rolls-Royce can become monotonous but if you've heard any of Meek Mill's previous work you shouldn't be expecting philosophical orations to begin with.In short, next pay day, stream DC4 on your way to a strip club while you hang your head out of the car like a Golden Retriever. After that, take a deep breath and listen to something less energetic.6/10Joe Budden: Rage and The MachineSOMEONE should probably give Joe Budden a prize for commitment to the cause. In a world where, mumble rap rules and early '00s-style lyricism is seen as dated, the Slaughterhouse alumnus has stuck with it.On his latest album Rage and the Machine he's just as rappity-rappy as he has ever been and in truth it still sounds good.One of Budden's strengths has always been his candour. He's as happy rapping about his battles with addiction and being an aging rapper as he is about money. In fact if anything he tends to sound uncomfortable if he slips into discussing conventional rap subject matter.This album is surprisingly impressive. From production to subject matter, it comes across as a welcome break from the hyper-repetitive trap-heavy sounds currently dominating hip-hop and that is how we know it will fail.Rage and the Machine is an album aimed at a market that no longer exists. Five to eight years ago this kind of thing may have done well but the market is obsessed with the 21 Savages of the world.Pity.7/10'DC4' and 'Rage and the Machine' are available on Apple Music, Tidal and anywhere else you find music..

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