J. Cole - Cole World: The Sideline Story (The Penn Review)

I wasn't going to review this album because I feel as though I am jaded being a J. Cole fan so that may obscure my ability to be objective. After sitting with the album a week I can say there are things that I don't like about the album. The things that I dont like are not very many and are a far and few between.

Dollar and a Dream III set the tone for the album. I love when Cole spits them heartfelt raps that I can personally relate to. I was feeling "Can't Get Enough" although when I first heard it, I didn't really think that was Trey Songz on the hook because he came with a different sound that we are used to from him. I do feel that this was a blatant attempt at a radio single that may have originally took Cole out of his element but I think he pulled it off well. "Sideline Story" put me in the mindset of something I would ride to or skip depending on my mood that day. "Mr. Nice Watch" was just 'OK' to me. I definitely liked Cole's verses better than Jay-Z's effort. "Cole World" is one of my favorite joints on the album and has one of my favorite lines on the album. "Got a 150 bitches in the club starring at me, how that feel... VERY HAPPY" I LOVE THAT LINE! We've all heard "In the Morning" and "Lights Please" so I wont comment on those. "Lost Ones" had a good message but I skip it. One of my homegirls suggested that he should have had a girl rap the 2nd verse to convey the female point of view. "Nobody's Perfect" was my other favorite joint on the album. I loved his flow on the first verse and Missy put me in the mindset of Aaliyah on the hook (I think Cole was going for that cuz he loves Aaliyah like I do). "Never Told" was cool at best. I liked his flow but the song got boring after a while. "Rise and Shine" was classic Cole and it's dope... PERIOD! I don't dislike "God's Gift" but I dont like it either. It's just in the middle of the road for me. "Breakdown" and "Work Out" could have been left off of the album completely for my taste. These 2 songs brought the overall project down to me.

Overall, I loved the album and I suggest that music listeners in search of some good hip hop PURCHASE this album! Again, I will openly acknowledge that I'm a Cole fan so his music hits me differently than other stuff that I listen to so with that in mind... I rate Cole's debut album 4 out of 5.

Watch the Throne (The Penn Review)

I knew that when this album dropped that it was no way it could be what I "wanted" it to be so with that in mind, I began listening to this album with no expectations. I loved the beat and hook on "No Church In the Wild" but there were parts in the song that lost me. They could have kept "Lift Off" b/c I wasnt feeling that one at all. I think "Ni**as in Paris" is my hands down favorite and I can easily see that joint gettin the most rotation in my iPod. Otis was a failure to me from the moment that it dropped a few weeks ago on the radio. I was feelin "Gotta Have It" while "New Day" and "That's My Bitch" didnt do anything for me. "Welcome to the Jungle" was a yawner for me as well but they got me back with "Who Gon Stop Me" and "Murder to Excellence". The last two joints appeared to be filler joints to me at first but I really felt what they were saying in "Made in America" and "Why I Love You".

Lyrically, Jay dropped a few gems that I had to run back and Kanye had a few clever lines but I think Kanye is crossing over into a lane where he entertains me as opposed to inspiring me these days. Overall I would give this album a 3.5/5.

P.S. I really bought this album off of iTunes lol

Skip (of WeLoose) Smoke Break 2 (The Penn Review)

First of all, money can rap! PERIOD! His flow was definitely on point throughout the mixtape and I found myself running a few lines back. I was feeling the Intro, Sunday Afternoon, Cloud Song (minus the singer), Skywalker, Kitchen Talk, and Circus (minus the feature). My hands down favorite was Kitchen Talk and the lyrics were right on the money. It also reminds me of a song that I would do and I'm kinda mad I didn't think to do it! (lol) The only knock I had on the mixtape was the smoker talk. I'm not a smoker so I cant relate to that portion of the program. Not that I have anything against smoking songs, I just thought there were more than enough reiterations of the topic.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a new artist to give a try, I definitely co-sign for Skip.

Kelly Rowland Here I Am (The Penn Review)

As I began listening to the Kelly Rowland's album I had to admit I was pulling for her to have a decent project. Correction, not decent, GOOD! The first track "I'm Dat Chick" was a complete miss to me. "Work It Man" was better but ok at best. I didn't hate it. I still dont see what the craze is over "Motivation" and even being a Lil Wayne fan didn't help me see the hype over that song. (His verse was sub par to me.) I was excited to hear the joint with Big Sean but yet that didn't do anything for me either. I was beginning to think I wasn't going to like anything on the album until I got to "Feeling Me Right Now". She got a lil kinky on that one so please pay attention to the words. I was diggin "All of the Night" even if it did have an Usher - Daddy's Home vibe to it. "Keep It Between Us" is easily my favorite joint on the album. She could have kept the 2 pop songs at the end of the album. I definitely didn't like those at all. Not even a little bit!

To recap, I liked 3 out of 10 songs. I did not like most of her uptempo songs with the exception of "Feeling Me Right Now". Bottom line, Kelly, you are better than what you released. I give her project a 1.5 out of 5.