The Chicago K Pop podcast is on hold for the summer as I recollect my life and write tons of poetry while preparing to unleash artist driven episodes when I return. In the mean while, Song, Album and a monthly roundup with have to be suffice. This month not a lot of music in forms of albums came out this month but it was still a damn good month for music. I have a short review/impression for those albums as well as some singles below.
Justhis and Mad Clown - Wash Wash
After forming the group CommonCold in 2013, both rappers went on to only release a couple singles on their Soundcloud of the same name before doing their solo work, It seems now the duo is back but unlike the hard hitting rapping and beats, Wash Wash is a cool tropical yet addictive song that still caters to their strengths. I love the song a lot and I hope this continues. I've been waiting on CommonCold to come back for years now and we may finally be getting that. Hopefully they come with songs like "Flower" and "Population Control" from Mad Clown's third EP "Piece of Mine". That would please my heart.
Jay Park - Love My Life/Yacht
Love My Life is produced by Thurxday and features pH-1. I love this song with its tropical flavor. Jay and 1's rapping were on point creating a really good summer track. Yacht was produced by Cha Cha and features Sik-K. This track is even more fire with Jay's lovable voice over bumping beat. Both songs are amazing and I'm honestly pissed that I wasn't paying attention to them when they dropped. Whether Jay is gearing up for another album or just dropping singles, I hope this run of great singles continues because I'm loving it.
The Barberettes - Summer
The Barberettes are back with a single for the summer. The single actually houses 3 tracks, Summer Love, Shoo, and Summer Love English Version. All 3 songs are great but Summer Love is really good. It perfectly captures love in the summer with a fine guitar strum and the girl's vocals are on point as usual driving home just how amazing their voices are. If I was paying attention to music this month, this would be in my top 10.
neonblu - BJ
Bloo and Niahn are cooking up an album together named Whiskey but in the meantime, they blessed us with the smooth auto tuned track BJ. Now the song is about sex of course but I like it a lot. Niahn's auto tuned singing is really good here and Bloo coming in with some lowkey bars and flow was cool as hell. If the rest of the album is going to be like this, sign me up fam.
Rico - Paradise
Rico releases his new single Paradise from his upcoming second LP. There is one way to describe this song and that is "Sexy". Rico and Don Malik wrote the lyrics while Mild Beats made the beat and the beat as well is just "Sexy". Rico's smooth voice on top of a R&B beat with Jazz fusions is pure ecstasy. I can't get enough of this song. Someone send help. His next LP is def going to be a baby maker.
SAAY - Circle
This song is beautiful. I felt the galaxy in my stomach when listening to this song fam. Her voice is amazing and the beat was godly. This is her debut single and I def will be listening to her in the future. There isn't much to say besides this is amazing.
DayDay - All Day Every Day
DayDay is definitely one of my favorite indie rappers right now. he just released his first EP "All Day Every Day" but I have to say, I don't like it that much. Out of 6 songs all of them have a feature from one or more artist except the track "All Day Every Day". With that there is much left to be desired from him as second and third verse he could have written are now occupied from other artists. All on the songs here are well produced and every artist did well, especially Shupie, Ylee and Sillyboot on the "Piggy Bank Remix". Lil Boi kills his verse on "No Tomorrow" and outshines DayDay. This isn't a bad album but I can feel DayDay isn't at full power here. Barely a 3/5.
Zico - Television
I was going to review this album but ended up focusing on my poetry deadlines instead, Regardless I like this album a lot. Zico went hard as usual and the beat were amazing. All of the features did their thing. The standout track is easily "Fanxy Child" with Dean, Crush and Penomeco. All of them killed their verses and have great chemistry. The only song I didn't like was "She's A Baby". I honestly don't care for Zico singing. Its cool here and there but a whole song and I'm instantly turned off. I have to rate this a 3/5.
Tommy Strate - 2RU COLORS
This is trash. This is fuck boy music. I need to beat the chick ass who put me on to him. I would honestly prefer if this man never rapped again because he is a really good producer but I don't care for what he has to say. If you like fuckboy music this is for you but I have to wash my brain. Ja Mezz's feature was fire though.
Groovy Room - Everywhere
Do You want to get me hyped? Put Justhis on your album and I'll listen as soon as it drops. I love that "Unsigned Hype" opened the album, setting the tone as well as how perfect that song is. Groovy Room and Justhis have been making hype for almost 3 years now and are getting their respect. I'm glad we finally got Heize and Jay Park but also glad it was over a GroovyRooom beat. I love everything about this song. I like the rest of the album but I feel like I have to be in the car to listen to Xindoshi to really like that song but other than that it's pretty meh. The features here are crazy as I would never have guessed what a Suran/pH-1, Nafla/Verbal Jint song would sound like but now I do and I want more. I rate the album a 3/5.
offonoff - boy
Off the first listen I really didn't care for the album but after giving it a second chance I love it. The features here were great with my favorite being "Cigarette" with Tablo and Miso. Everyone works so well together here creating such a great story. Dean and Punchnello killed their parts as well on their songs. The rest of the album was phenomenal. offonoff are great at creating these tales of love throughout the album. There isn't much to say besides how good the album. You have indulge yourself in it to fully understand it but regardless, the album is amazing.
Geeks - FIREWORKS
I really don't like this album. The only song I like is "Divin" cause that's a summer panty dropper but other than that I really don't care about the rest of the album. The rapping isn't bad nor is the production, the production itself is amazing but I personally am not feeling it. I just felt bored listening to it. This is going to be one of those album I have to give time and come back to later.
Red Velvet - The Red Summer
Red Velvet are back with their 5th EP but I was not feeling it that much. The opening song Red Flavor didn't do much for me as it felt like a throwaway track. You Better Know is the best song on here. I feel like I've heard it somewhere before but I'm still digging what's going on here. The beat is amazing and so is the singing plus the chorus is really addictive. The rest of the album has great production but it felt like leftover tracks from their last work. This is not a bad album but it's nothing to rave over
KARD - HOLA HOLA
I feel like this album has been lost in the sauce. Most of the songs are pre releases that we've heard so many time before, because they were so damn good but I was hoping for more than just those tracks plus 3 new ones. I don't think the album is bad but it just feels like a playlist in the first half. Regardless the songs are really god. KARD have found their style and sticking to it which is great. The songs are well produced and the group's talents are shining. This group is shaping up to be a force.
Park Bo Ram - Orange Moon
I like this new EP from Bo Ram but I can't shake the feeling that eventually I'll forget about it. It has a total of 5 tracks with a feature from Samuel Seo which is also pretty forgettable. the album as a whole is pretty smooth and soulful. Bo Ram sort of moves away from strictly pop beats and moves over to hip hop, R&B inspired tracks. The album overall is pretty good and her singing is on point throughout, same as the production but only one song sticks out, Moonwalk. I love that song a lot. I would rate this a light 3/5.
