Tag: music

audio review : But You Caint Use My Phone ( mixtape ) … Erykah Badu

audio review : But You Caint Use My Phone ( mixtape ) ... Erykah Badu

New Amerykah Part Three was supposed to come out in 2012, but Erykah Badu has apparently abandoned that series, which would be okay if this were her next album. Instead we waited nearly six years for a mixtape. The title comes from Tyrone and the concept is based on, meaning literally every track has to do with, phones. Why phones? That’s a good question. Why a whole mixtape about a song she made nearly two decades ago is a better one.

Telephone is one of her best songs and a portion of it is Screw Mixed here, but it just makes you want to listen to the original; the same with her version of New Edition’s Telephone Man and Drake’s Hotline Bling. That’s not to say Badu’s renditions don’t improve on them; I like her soulful quirky style; it’s just disappointing to hear so many covers. The rest of the tape sounds like demo bits from what could be another good album. I’ll Call U Back is especially groovy.

my rating : 4 of 5

2015

audio review : Scary Hours 3 ( EP ) … Drake

audio review : Scary Hours 3 ( EP ) ... Drake

Drake’s third Scary Hours is, with its six songs, more of a traditional EP than the previous two. What’s odd is how its release is, at least initially, attached to a special Edition of his newest album; For All The Dogs; as opposed to standing on its own. The music itself makes more sense.

The rapper comes out throwing bombs on Red Button, which marks the tone for a set of new songs; these aren’t Dogs leftovers; that, for the most part, avoid the genre’s biggest flaw. There are hooks, and they’re expectingly weak, but they’re sparse enough not to ruin the project.

my rating : 4 of 5

2023