[Album Review] Chiddy Bang – Breakfast
Chiddy Bang. And they’re pretty much amazing.
Recently, I wrote an article about what I thought makes the best possible album an artist can make. I’m applying that article to this review.
Talent:
Xaphoon Jones and Chiddy are quite the duo. Xaphoon has made a name for himself by sampling anything and everything and being recognized as one of the best producers in today’s music game. Chiddy has established himself as a serious spitter when he broke the Guinness World Record for Longest Freestyle Rap ,as well as, the Longest Marathon Rapping Record (9 hours and 18 minutes). Yes, I sat, and watched him do it live for a few of the hours. It was nuts. He made it seem like freestyling was as easy as stealing “breakfast” from a baby.
# of Tracks:
As stated before, removing the Intro & Interlude leaves us at 12 actual songs. There’s no overkill on the amount of tracks as the 12 that made their debut, are the ones that are their best (clearing samples, of course). Plus, we all have attention spans of two year olds so quality > quantity.
Features:
I’m not sure if Chiddy Bang actually had Icona Pop come in the studio and work with them for “Mind Ya Manners,” but Shirazi, and Gordon Voidwell (I think) sound like they actually worked with them. The features are kept to a minimal, which makes Chiddy’s verses stand out even more.
Thematic Album:
Not really thematic, but you can argue that “Breakfast” symbolizes the first meal for them in the “industry.” This is their first taste of going big time.
Individual Tracks:
If you keep up with the blog game, “Baby Roulette,” “Mind Ya Manners,” & “Ray Charles” are the only songs we actually knew about. All three are solid tracks as there appears to be a pattern going on here. Dope samples, catchy choruses, awesome production, and complimentary verses.
A few tracks to point out though:
Ray Charles: Not my personal favorite for the fact that he swagger jacked Hoodie Allen’s “James Franco.” I think Lydia is the one who spotted it, but sadly, it’s true.
4th Quarter: Sounds like it was inspired by LeBron James’ lack of talent in the fourth quarter, and Chiddy & Xaphoon were like fuck it, we got the clutch gene! #LeBronsFault
Does She Love Me: I don’t think we’ve ever seen this side of Chiddy before. Does he have #WhiteGirlProblems too?
“I will take her on a date/To a nice restuarant, but I got too much on my plate/Said I’m here for a day she hit me three hours late/Found out I left the city bet she had the sour face/Told I would kick it with her whenever I return/But that was based on the premise that she was my concern.” – Swag.
Out 2 Space: Xaphoon’s person favorite according to his Twitter.
My Personal Favorites: Handclaps & Guitars, Happening, Mind Ya Manners
Album Rating:
7.5/10
Each song was rated out of five stars on two separate listening sessions. I took the average of both scores and subtracted 1 for the swagger jacking of Hoodie Allen.
“Breakfast” is 12 songs (excluding Intro & Interlude) with minimal features, showcasing production and lyrical talent, with somewhat of a theme going on. I like that. This is a fun ass album from start to finish and this is a solid debut from the duo. Do I think this is the best effort they could of given? No, because it sounds too similar to their mixtapes. Honestly, once WZRD drops, this will be lucky to get any airtime in my rotation. Still, this is the usual Chiddy Bang music so grab a plate and join in on the fun!
Nameless – Angelina
I don’t know if you know this, but pleaseeee, you should be dancing with me, you got it alll, ANGELINA!
I’m sorry for that outburst. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. This song has literally taken over my life. I’m singing it everywhere I go, including public places. It’s embarrassing, but I can’t stop! And I’m a terrible singer. Nameless (consisting of four Parisian dudes) is bad news for everyone with functioning eardrums, and I mean that in the best way possible! It’s because their song is so ridiculously catchy that I have to sing-a-long with it whenever I hear it. I’m spiraling. Seriously. I’m just going to stop now.
Pleaseeee, you should be dancing with me, you got it alll, ANGELINA!
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Reptar – Sebastian
It’s no secret that Reptar is one of Sunset’s favorite bands. They released one of our favorite EPs last year with Oblangle Fizz Y’all and are now looking to steal 2012 with their debut album Body Faucet. ”Sebastian” is the album’s first single, and it features everything we love about Reptar: their quirkiness, their constant irreverence, and their innate pop sensibility. Also, they have the coolest band website ever created. Listen/download “Sebastian,” and check out the tracklist of Body Faucet below.
Download HERE.
Tracklist:
1. Sebastian
2. Please Don’t Kill Me
3. Isoprene Bath
4. Orifice Origami
5. Houseboat Babies
6. Natural Bridge
7. Ghost Bike
8. New House
9. Thank You Gliese 370 b
10. Sweet Sipping Soda
11. Three Shining Suns
12. Water Runs
Body Faucet will be everywhere on May 1st, 2012 via Vagrant Records.
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Timeflies – Alcohol
How many people do you know that can successfully walk around a bar and start freestyling about everything they see and have it make sense? Keep in mind, they’re doing all of these videos on tour now, so it’s harder for them, but mad props.
Timeflies makes Tuesdays.
J.Cole – Grew Up Fast
YES! Gotta love some new J.Cole.
As a result of acquiring 2 million followers on his Twitter, Cole cut loose a little present for his fans. This one’s titled “Grew Up Fast” and serves as a reminder that Cole is no longer “Blowing Up,” but rather he’s already there and has no plans of stopping.
Grew Up Fast. For yallll. Much Love
Live Review: Timeflies (at Majestic Theater)
Timeflies, who’s style is self-described as “dub-something,” is currently running through the gamut of the Midwest to promote their recent album, The Scotch Tape. Last week, they spent a couple nights rocking out and partying at the home of my recent alma mater, Madison, WI. I couldn’t make the show with work, but luckily my boy Pat aka White Lightning was more than willing to hit up Majestic Theater to cover the gig for Sunset.
Peep his live review below, accompanied with some dope visuals and a meet and greet interview post-show (which turns this write up into more of a virtual, VIP Timeflies concert experience, sick.) It looked like a blast, and based on some Twitter evidence, the boys had a little too much fun. Some guys just can’t handle Madison (just playing Rez.)
Madison you guys went hard lets fuckin rage
— Timeflies (@Timeflies) February 16, 2012
The only thing worse than how I feel is having to change rooms to go back to bed
— Rez (@robresnick) February 16, 2012
SCOTCHED UP SCONNIE:
TIMEFLIES AT MAJESTIC THEATER IN MADISON, WI
Apparently time flies when you’re at a Timeflies concert. YouTube sensation Timeflies, Cal Shapiro and Rob “Rez” Resnick, recently performed an hour-long set at the sold out Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI. Disappointment with the set length aside, it was an amazing hour of music which included the expected Scotch Tape tracks as well as a few Wisco themed freestlyes. Clearly well versed in Madison’s party mentality, the duo came ready and threw a few shout outs to a local bar,“The KK”, throughout the show.
The songs off their album “Turn It Up”, “Detonate” “Stunner” and the encore “Until the Sunrise” kept the hundreds of girls screaming all show long, but the Timeflies Tuesday favorite “Under the Sea” did what the lyrics elude and “kept them wetter” as they sprayed their water bottles over the crowd. The duo previewed an untitled track from their upcoming mixtape (expected release April) featuring Rihanna’s “We Found Love” w/ Calvin Harris as the chorus. Prompted by Rez, Cal gave an acapella-style rhyme session with the word “Wisco”. At one point during the show Cal decided to stage dive into the crowd, putting the fans into such a frenzy he was lucky to get back on stage.
However, my personal favorite of the show was the Wisconsin freestyle that Cal spit to the beat of Diddy’s “Coming Home”. Armed with a list of words from a UW-Madison student, Cal did what he does every Tuesday and freestyled shout-outs to Montee Ball, Russell Wilson, Spotted Cow, Sconnie, Mifflin, State Street, cheese curds, Bascom Hill, Pop’s, the UW student section’s “Eat Shit, Fuck You” chant, Travis Beckum, beating “the shit out of” Michigan State and Heisman winner Ron Dayne. Although it was hard to decipher his lyrics in between the iconic Wisco themes due to the crowd’s cheers, nobody seemed to care as long as he said something about Wisconsin.
Shoutout to Dustin Bui and Timeflies for tickets to the sold out event.
Chiddy Bang Drops Debut Album Breakfast
Oh shit. It didn’t seem like too long ago when Chiddy Bang was still the blogs’ best kept secret. You know, back when they were just Pretty Much Amazing. Fast forward to today–after up and leaving college and dropping a few mixtapes–and they have finally released their debut album, Breakfast. Honestly, there isn’t much else to be said. Go cop that on iTunes. Now. Alright, fine. Peep a couple tracks below, including my Xaphoon’s personal fav.
I HOPE YOU LIKE TRACK 8 THAT IS MY SHIT
— Noah B (Chiddy Bang) (@XaphoonJones) February 21, 2012
BONUS: This jam isn’t on the album but the homeboys made a video for us anyway. Dope!
