Bruh, you're top 1 for even reacting to Billy Woods AND picking up on ideas & themes. Most people wait then drop the review with sometimes less than what you just contributed.
Bro I appreciate that man fr!! I just wanted to give this work the proper care man - woods quietly has one of the best catalogs in hip hop but doesn’t get a ton to attention. I def see why folks want to let it sit a bit and I def missed plenty different things but thank god for editing cus i had so many pauses and rewinds through this that got edited out as I tried to process what I was listening to lol
Dope! I still gotta check out Dour Candy and Known Unknowns but I do know that this run he’s on from Hidden Places to now is INSANE! Ridiculously consistent and prolific! What’s your fav project by him (including his joint stuff) and where does this one rank?
@@BSideRapReviews my fav is hiding places , this would be in my top3 (including armand hammer projects) but has potential to go even top 2 or 1. Need more time with it
@@axlgzrdmattick I’m right there with you on that. Hidden Places was his best up to now (I haven’t heard all his projects yet but out of all I’ve heard). I listen to Haram the most Billy Woods was just as good on that album, but I personally think it’s a clear separation between Elucid and Woods even though I think Elucid is still really talented.
Haha thanks brodie! The editing make it seem like I picked up on everything right in the moment but it was well over a hour and half listen from me writing notes, checking lyrics, and fumbling over attempts at explaination…a live stream woulda been a mess 😂😂😂 But yeah man Woods such a great artist and wanted to highlight that. Im not just a huge abstract hip hop fan - but I feel like he does it the right way
Smith + Cross completely changed the context of the entire album for me. The whole album is Woods going through a museum with a girl he’s in a relationship, seeing a diorama of 2 African villagers sends him into a pain pill induced PTSD flashback. Hence the references to space, Greek/Roman . Animals and multiple references to history. Even the album cover looks like a painting you’d see in a museum.
That’s insane bro! Crazy how much depth and layers this has. I already thought the album was really cohesive but that adds to it a lot. I gotta find the comment to remember who said it, but someone let me know that the cover is actually a famous Rembrandt painting so you’re spot on!
@@notrueburialWithout a doubt, billy chose this painting for many reasons including that the museum it is located in was constructed for Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen. Maurits was a military leader and governor of Brazil in the 17th century during the prime of the slave trade. He played a significant role in the slave trade and it really highlights billy’s attention to detail
Fasho! Tracks like that are what make him the best abstract rapper imo. He got that abstract style but the way he links all the theme in a succinct way is dope. Its like being in a dream but a lucid one lol
crazy how woods' pen still getting sharper! man been in the game for like 20 years now and hes still getting better, super inspiring. Preservation laced him with some of the best beats he rapped ovet yet. always in awe of new woods & Armand Hammer projects, kind of absurd how consistent they are. recommend reading up on woods' past n checking some of his interviews, priceless insights into his writing n perspective. loved ur reaction btw! u caught alotta shit, which isnt easy at all with woods.
Really appreciate that man! 🙏🏾 Bro just think about where hip hop was when he dropped his first album and that he’s been able to evolve as hip hop evolved and arguably be at his best ever - that’s pretty insane. There’s def plenty guys who’ve rapped for 20 years but not many who you can say are at their best now. Bet ima check him out! The enigmatic guys really be having the most to say lol. I didn’t realize Fantano did a interview with him and Moor Mother - I might have to start there!
Woods is my favorite rapper. Imo he’s one of the greatest contemporary American writers in any form of literature. I discover new things with every listen and this work keeps me thoroughly engaged. As a white man through my lens, it seems some of the themes are the black experience, the concept of blackness and how Europeans defined it. Even the album title is a call back to that. Aethiopes was a European term to described dark skinned people. What gives the white man the right to define blackness? Not a damn thing imo.
Man I’ve made plenty of jokes saying folks should be learning rap instead of Shakespeare lol. I’m half joking but, you can find more poetic devices in a rap song that nearly every classic poem. Not necessarily with mainstream hip hop except with like Kendrick but there’s a couple of great underground lyricists I can say that about. Yep definitely a really heavy theme throughout the album. His experience is pretty unique too cus he comes from both a black American perspective and a African perspective, and while there’s def overlap - it’s still a big difference. I didn’t realize what the name meant until someone pointed it out in the comments but that tied the album together perfectly imo - all the way down to that brown album cover.
@@BSideRapReviews To add even another layer to it, the cover art is from a Rembrandt painting entitled “2 African Men” which ties in nicely to the album title. I really enjoy how he does have this unique perspective as someone who has ties to Zimbabwe. When you learn who Mengistu Haille Mariam was and how he found asylum in Zimbabwe. Billy Woods lived in Zimbabwe for part of his life as his father helped liberate Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from British colonialism. It makes you think he may or may not have seen Mariam growing up. It is really well written
Ayyy salute!! I really think it’s a testaments to how wood has perfected abstract rap. There’s a ton of abstract rappers I don’t like listening to because I don’t like having to guess if there’s meaning or not or have to listen 100 times to figure out what they’re talking about, but with woods he’s expressive but still makes his music for the listener. He’s not going to come out and tell you what he’s rapping about all the time but he’s always gonna clue you in. That’s what makes him my favorite in that subgenre
@@BSideRapReviews I quite agree with your view on Billy Woods abstractions. He walks a very fine line in how he writes his verses and I think the trick of it as far as I can tell, is that he is always trying to be grounded as compared to leaving the listener with nothing to hang on to in a void.. It's really difficult to pin down. However he does mention writers and books a lot in his verses which I rather happen to like.
Dude is insane! I didn’t notice on the original reaction but someone made a comment that the whole album is Woods walking through the museum with the girl and each song is an exhibit. I rock with that theory - how you feel about it?
@@BSideRapReviewsI don’t even think every song is an exhibit, I think he sees the painting on the album cover and the track list is just his immediate reaction. Like in a split second he feels every lyric of this album. If you know what I mean
Such a good feeling returning to that review after a while. woods is one of the most challenging artists to review and you did a great job with that reaction. It's my 2022 AOTY and top2 of the decade next to Manger on McNichols. Aethiopes literally made me cry when I first listened to it.
Preciate that!! It's such a great album! I didn't have it as my AOTY, but I still love that take. The storytelling is just so top notch. Absolutely love Manger on McNichols too. Boldy is one of my fav rappers right now, and that's his best project imo. So personal and the production was INSANE! Mommy Dearest and Medusa get constant spins from me
so fucking awesome to watch your face react on your first listen to these tracks. i don't know it made me cry a bit!! just seeing the impact of incredible music and writing so tangible on a face. thanks for your hard work making this video.
Preciate it man! I don’t have it as my favorite because I typically listen to more minimalistic rap but this is def a AOTY contender. I have it between this, Mr Morale and the Big Steppers, and Melt My Eyez See Your Future
Good reaction, this is for sure my favorite album of 2022 so far and you helped me digest the music lyrically. I love the off the wall production it is super forward thinking compared to a lot of Hip-Hop, I haven't heard much like it.
Ay Preciate that Fasho!! Facts about the production! I was curious how the production was gonna fare cus even though I think preservation is a dope producer - I think people were gonna naturally compare his beats to the alchemist beats on Haram. But after actually hearing the beats, you can’t even compare the 2 because preservations production is so unique and out of the box. At times it didn’t even feel like beats more moreso scores from a movie
Salute man!! That’s what I been hoping the bring - def wanna make it as entertaining as I can but still keep the main focus on the music. Preciate it bro ✊🏾
Breeze is an indie legend! His record "Clear Blue Skies" with his brother and sister as Juggaknots is a classic hands down! As many already mentioned here he was in a collective group with Company Flow + J-Treds + Juggaknots knows as Indelible Mcee's and if you listen closely El-P mentions that in his first verse. This is actually the first time El-P and Breeze have recorded together in decades. I'm a huge fan of El-P and Breeze so to see them reunite and record together again is a beautiful thing.
Also to see Billy Woods recruit Despot and Mike Ladd into this album brings me smiles. Despot + El-P + Mike Ladd + Breeze have all been on the same label before in the past. Billy Woods is great friends with Vordul Mega who is 1/2 of Cannibal Ox with Vastaire, who as well was part of the same label together.
Bro this one comment section has given me so much knowledge haha! I like how there’s some sort of connection between almost every rapper who appeared on this tape. Also that chemistry between El-P and breeze sounds like they been doing it nonstop for years
Great to hear your take on this, I’ve only been loving it more and more since Friday. The way he can create an overall narrative of all these different black experiences by telling stories in these little vignettes, to use your SAT word. Despots verse is a standout for me on the album actually, haha, maybe it grows on you? His cadence is always kinda been monotone like that, but I love the theme of debt and money he keeps throughout the whole thing: “If you want it on the arm, I’ll charge an arm and a leg, and every other body part until there’s none of them left. They say they’ll miss you when you gone, until they find out they’re next. ‘Cause every dollar that you dropped is stacked on top of their head” “All I got is time and I heard that this shit is money, So you can count on me if you ain’t in a big hurry”
Hahah i didn’t even know that word was in my vocab 😂 Bro I think in that one sentence, you kinda summed up the album. Even after first listen, this album seemed very cohesive to me but couldn’t really explain why because narratively, these stories are all over the place. But you hit it in the head - it’s the black experience…but all types of black - inner city…wealthy…African…all splattered on one canvas and the last song ties a nice bow on it. Had to relisten to Versailles after reading this and bro you right - ion think I have Despots a fair shake. I still don’t care for the delivery (reminds me of like every rapper I don’t like that raps with DJ muggs lol), but lyrically he did an excellent job. It plays perfectly into Woods verse too.
@@BSideRapReviews I ended up reading up on the Ethiopian cat Woods mentions on the first track and how he sought asylum in Zimbabwe because he was friends with the prime minister or some other figure of power there. Interesting parallel with the fact that Woods’ dad was a Zimbabwean writer/thinker that played a role in some of the people’s movements. Also was curious about the name of the album and the etymology I found was that Aethiope is a person with dark skin, and there is also some mention of this being the name of Ethiopia (Aethiopia) before it was changed in some biblical translation. Have you ever peeped El-Ps solo stuff, pre Run the Jewels? I think his lyricism and storytelling on those projects is also top-tier, lots of abstract and dystopian imagery. I love Run the Jewels, but I think El-P intentionally lets his verses take a backseat to Killer Mike when they’re together, which I guess just speaks to his ability to change as an artist to meld better with another person.
@@Doctor_Beats that’s crazy! I read a reviewer even saying that Woods himself lived their for a short time as a kid. I had no idea what Aethiope meant but bro man rhag makes so much sense…all the way down to the cover art. I don’t think I listened to his first 3 projects but I used to bump Cancer for Cure quite a bit back in high school (came out my senior year). I was also a fan of his production - esp the stuff he was doing for killer mike…even pre-RTJ. I feel you on that - on their first 3 project it def felt like the Killer Mike show rap wise but I do think El-P went bar for bar with mike on RTJ4. But yeah bro I been meaning to go back through El’s first 3 joints - I gotta get on that asap.
@@BSideRapReviews man, Cancer 4 Cure got a lot of playtime for me. The Mr. Exquire verse on that album is so insane. Also my first time hearing Danny Brown, who I kinda hated at first, the voice was abrasive. But I still peeped that XXX project and now I’m a fan. I agree that he was definitely rapping the most on 4, and I think the least on 3…I think 2 I’d probably put over 1 but it’s close. The first one they did just didn’t have an album feeling to it, they even said in some interview that a lot of that was leftover from working on Cancer 4 Cure and R.A.P. Music for Mike. In terms of El-P stuff, I think backwards from C4C is a good bet, it gets more and more experimental and abstract haha. But the concepts for tracks on that album are so inventive and weird and interesting: he raps like he’s a salesman for robotic stepdads, there’s a track where he basically becomes a believer in a higher power in the moment of his plane crashing to pray to be saved, etc. His first project, I think, was as part of the group Company Flow, Funcrusher Plus, and it was on Rawkus Records like around the same time that Mos and Talib were doing Blackstar on the same label, which is pretty cool. Outside of those I think a really prolific production credit of his is The Cold Vein by Cannibal Ox. And it all comes full circle because Billy Woods is in a group with one of the two dudes in Cannibal Ox. What a small world - NY abstract MCs…
@@Doctor_Beats haha I first heard Danny Brown on his album Hybrid. His voice was high pitched but his style wasn’t that off the wall yet. I liked him but it was so different from XXX that I had to double check to see if it was the same rapper lol. Voice def abrasive though haha. Yeah bro for me - I thought RTJ1 felt like a album as far as quality…I actually got that as AOTY for that year, but it just seemed like 2 dudes rapping. It def didn’t have the same chemistry they have today and they also didn’t have that identity - like I feel like they have a certain energy that they didn’t have on RTJ1 so the fact that these were leftovers from their previous joints make sense. RTJ2 is when I feel like they really put everything together and that’s still my fav one to date. But interestingly enough I have all 4 albums as AOTY for their respective years lol. Bruh I swear El-P got like 4 different careers wrapped up into one lol! Full circle indeed!
Started listening to his new album last night, 4 hours later I breezed through half his discography on full volume, hangin on every word.. Just say he's the best, let's not argue! Dope review, subscribed 🤙🏼
Hahah dope! Was Aethiopes your first time listening to Billy Woods or was that a revisit through his discog? Either way, what’s your too 1 or 2 projects from him? Preciate the sub brodie!!
After listening to this album a couple times I had to go to your reaction as a "cliff notes" type of tool. Reminds me of high school when I had to read mythology and Shakespeare. The only difference is I actually love hip hop especially this abstract style of Billy Woods. He makes me miss DOOM more. Imagine Billy DOOM, and Mach together on a project??? BTW you gotta be a barz whisperer if I'm using you for cliff notes.
Ayyy that’s a huge compliment bro!!! I really appreciate that. That’s dope that you say that though because rap is the highest form of poetry. Back in high school i had a literature class and and we had to learn bout poetic devices. And it’s crazy because all the poetic devices we learned about - similes, extended metaphors, rhyme structure, meter (basically cadence), alliteration, entendres, etc etc get used in hip hop. So fitting af haha! Doom really paved the way man - he’s missed for sure. Ion know if the word could handle all 3 on a project together - they’d be still breaking it down 100 years from now 🔥
@@BSideRapReviews thats the beauty of those 3. It may take years for me to 100% decipher all their work and thats ok. They're the type of emcees that have me reading or watching something random and then a light bulb goes off and I'll start smiling to myself and say, "so that's what he meant". Truly timeless art. I'll be using your latest Mach reaction for cliff notes as soon as I around to adding it to my music library. Can't wait. Keep up the good work!
Earned a sub. I’ve listened to Billy Woods since like 2019 but I never really went deep into his discography and listened to his albums in full, I was just a casual fan. Like 2 weeks ago I listened to his whole discog, and since then Aethiopes has become probably a top 5 album ever for me. Smith+Cross Protoevangelium Versailles Asylum Remorseless Are all 9/10 or 10/10 songs to me. Fantastic album.
Not mad at that at all! I’m still on the fence - March and April had some amazing albums. If I had a gun to my head and had to make a top 5 right now I think I’m going Melt My Eyez See your Future Tana talk 4 Aethipoes God Don’t Make Mistakes Gold (by Rigz) With a asterisk by Aethiopes because so dont think a week is long enough to sit with this one. Also heard that sno and sadistik album is sick but I gotta prepare my mind before listening to a sadistik album 😂
For more Breeze check out his 2021 solo record and his legendary 90s lp when he rapped with Juggaknots. Breeze and El-P were in a group together that had a handful of songs called Indelible MCs.
BET! Ima check him out - preciate you putting me on ✊🏾 I’m listening to Weight by Indelible MCs right now. Not really sure why and it’s lowkey random but they remind me of the group CunningLynguists for some reason lol
He was also on Prince Pauls concept album "A Prince Among Thieves" I haven't heard the album in forever but I think hes like the main character in the story of the album
@@BSideRapReviews for sure, i can see it... both from the same era.. Indelibles is J Treds, Breez and Herawin from Juggaknots, and Big Juss and El-P from Company Flow. You've definitely heard FUNCRUSHER PLUS by Company Flow, right? El-P's first group
@@Majesticon nahhh not outside of a few tracks like 8 steps to perfection. I was a little late to the party with El-P…I knew who he was before this but my first true intro to El-P was Cancer 4 Cure. I gotta do a deep dive on his full catalog soon!
Billy Woods is tough!! This might be my fav album of his, but after that I love Hiding Places. He also had a joint album last year called Haram by Armand Hammer that was in my top 10 AOTY
Wish he would have gone further into Doldrums. "Nothing ever happens till it do.... nothing ever happens until it does... times up" whooooEEEE paints a picture of a coiled up spring ready to burst
Dude this was a really impressive review I've shared this with a bunch of friends. I think you got a little overloaded towards the end haha the chorus of the last song - "Sugar Molasses Rum" is the keystone. 1 - sugar production drove the triangular trade during the columbian exchange which was when 90% of the slavery extraction happened. 2 - sugar makes molasses which in turn makes rum, I'm not sure if he's trying to draw a comparison to another form of progression.... but damn
Broooo I really appreciate the love and you sharing the vid!! That’s dope man salute! Lmao you ain’t lying my brain was fried - before I had a channel I woulda never listened to a album this layered in one sitting lol. Ahhhh that is make so much sense. It’s crazy cus it’s like he doesn’t waste a single word with each of his verses 🔥
Heavy Water might be my song of the year too far, hearing billy trade off with El-P on a more slightly more traditional beat was insane they all showed up on this one
Definitely gonna give this album a full listen, thanks for introducing me to this artist. Have you heard much of Clipping? Some of the production reminds me of a few tracks from them.
DOOOOPE! Finding a new artist be one of the best feelings imo! Man I recently got into those guys. The very first time I heard them, I can’t remember what album it was but it was one of their earlier joints, but at that time - I couldn’t really get into experimental hip hop (I really just needed a softer intro to it lol) so I wrote them off as “not for me”. Now I’m really into off the wall and experimental stuff, so visions of bodies being burned was my first project I listened to start to finish and it woulda been in my top 20 list for 2020 if I had a channel at that point. I still need to deep dive in their catalog but I think they’re cold and Daveed Diggs is an excellent rapper.
I rock with that! I think I got Denzel’s last joint by a lol smidge but I rock with this! I had Haram in my top 10, that’s was a excellent project. My only real knock was I thought Billy Woods was considerably better than Elucid…both in that project and I general - no disrespect to Elucid
This album is so amazing over the weekend I listened to it a ridiculous amount of times lol But yeah the story telling on this is fucking incredible I get totally drawn into his verses.
Great reaction. Definitely check out more Denmark Vessey, his projects Buy Muy Drugs and Cult Classic are incredible. He's big on conspiracy references and cult imagery, very conceptual but a total spitter. Detroit legend.
Preciate it!! Say less ima check him out cus he def was spitting on this one. Woods was using all my brain cells so I couldn’t follow his whole verse conceptually on the first listen lol but he def put in work on that track!
I think I agree with that. I think Kendrick would be in that convo if he was active. Other than that- who else is on a similar level? I’d say Blu is probably the closest off top of my head
@@SebbyIsYummy bro I’m AMPED about that! They said release date May 13tt and no cap I’m probably taking that Friday off from work lol. You think it’s a chance we get a The Heart Part 5 before the album drops?
Ay man, doing god's work trying to dicypher woods on a first listen!! Saw him in LA and the last song on the album went crazy. Hope he's doing okay, seems pretty down. Anyway, dope album and loved the reaction! Subbed
Bro Preciate it!! 🙏🏾 It’s tough tryna react to abstract stuff first listen but I do think Woods does normally hone in on just 1 or 2 themes each song instead of being kinda all over the place like a lot of abstract rappers can kinda do. That’s part of why I like Billy Woods the most out of the abstract rappers - he’s complex but it’s still structure. This was a live show where you saw him?
That was the first album I heard of Woods! Time flying bro - crazy that that’s 10 years ago lol. I rock with that one a my fav solo joint by him (outside of this one) is Hiding Places. I think his rapping is great on both both I like the production on Hiding Places a lil more
@@BSideRapReviews Yeah, a live show with him, elucid, and kenny segal in LA. Crazy to me that the whole crowd was singing along to Spongebob and Smith and Cross was amazing
I may need to get a pair of glasses too. Dig Billy’s lack of urgency -with his delivery and his idiosyncratic narrative. Pres creates a soundscape that at times seems unhinged and off-center, in a deliberate way (I think of : 1970’s Don Cherry albums or Charles Ives) but on other tracks the beat give solid ground for Billy and co to hold court. Strong album. To me, Top 3 : NYNEX Haarlem (this is way heavy) Remorseless
Haha you got to bro - that’s the only way I’m listening to Woods from now on 😂 You know what - I didn’t even realize how laid back his tempo was. His delivery just feels passionate at times, plus every thing else is a whirlwind - from the beats to the rapidly changing concepts in themes. It’s like his delivery is the eye of the storm - the thing that stabilizes each song. What you said about the production is big fact! Plenty of bright spots and creative moments, but like you alluded to, I think what he did best was create that atmosphere for Woods.
Got so excited seeing this on the home page! Incredible album, its already become one of my favorite albums ever and ive played it like 10 times. Preservation did incredible, and billy woods i spend way more time deciphering the lyrics than anyone else. Asylum is amazing storytelling, taught me some history too, and i love that “a haven’s only safe long as they want you around” part too. My favorite tracks are Remorseless, Christine, Heavy Water, Asylum, and Sauvage but really all of it, Doldrums, everything. Him and Moor Mother are my favorite rappers and he definitely belongs in the GOAT conversation. Loved the reaction too!! First great reaction for the album
Big facts! The production didn’t even feel like beats at some point - felt more like a movie score. I honestly wonder what their process was because i really doubt Woods was just picking beats - I feel like Woods had concepts and ideas and preservation structured the beats based on that. But yeah man so much chemistry between those 2! I really loved the story telling on Christine cus I love a good extended metaphor (I grew up a Lupe fan lol). It’s hard for me to say my fav but mine would have to be really close to that except I’d have to throw Haarlem in there! Bro I really appreciate that!! Salute ✊🏾
Yo you ever checked RAP Ferreira? He used to go by Milo before. His style is dope. Very jazzy and poetic and always drops dope projects that could be great to react to!
Yezzir! I gotta go back and check out some of his milo work though. My intro to him was Purple Moonlight Pages which prob woulda been on my top album list if I had the channel back then. Do you know if he's supposed to be dropping this year? I'm kinda surprised that he hasn't yet.
Aye man if want another somewhat dense challenging listen with a similar roster of emcees as this album, then I would recommend Uncommon Nasa's "Written At Night" album.
Ay you setting me up lol! Dawg this was the most difficult by far both actually reacting and the editing! I’m not really familiar with uncommon nasa but I know Fantano had a really positive review of this album. Ima at least check it out and consider reacting ✊🏾
Hate to say it but prob not bro. Really just a time thing - the reactions are quick to record but they generally take a couple days to edit and I got 2 more vids I’m tryna squeeze out before the end of the weekend. I been holding off on listening to it though just in case I get a chance to record a reaction. I might try to get a review of it though!
Ahh gotcha! So really pretty much every rapper on here is linked to the others in some way. Like El P either they were in a group with someone else on the album or really frequent collaborator. Makes sense cus all their styles mesh well
I just started checking them out - I’m doing a deep dive on El-Ps discog right now. My first tape I heard from him was Cancer for Cure and i enjoyed that album a lot, but really didn’t become a huge fan until RTJ. Now im going back to his earlier stuff. Bro has been good for so long - this is technically the 4th different decade he’s rapped in 🤯
This going sound bad but I haven’t…only because I’m still tryna make a reaction video. Ima listen this week so I can get out my end of the year list. I got about 20 albums I gotta evaluate still…of course the won’t all get vids but I be taking my lists series haha
@@BSideRapReviews any updates?😅 im really looking forward to that one. Ive been binge watching all your videos the last couple days it became a part of my daily routine😂
Check out Prince Paul - Prince Amount Thieves where Breeze is the antagonist of this incredible and possibly best concept record ever recorded. ruclips.net/video/6GQfY5zGKJ0/видео.html
Bro I been checking them out the last couple days! It’s amazing to me how like him and El-P have been able to evolve and continue to hone their craft for so long
@@BSideRapReviews yeah him n quelle Chris been locked in for years on they a duo called crown nation. I really fucks with him he’s got an album I’m highly anticipating the features are crazy.. mach-hommy, billy woods, ankle John just to name a few lol
I gotta check that out Fasho! I heard a few tracks in it but not the whole thing. I rock with Windhoek heavy cus ima Mach Hommy fan and I love that “flippin qs and ps like dyslexia” line
@@BSideRapReviews na lmaoo, song gave me earl sweatshirts east vibes. bars are there but the beat aint. that intro track “asylum” one of the hardest songs iv heard in a minute tho
@@justlooneyhomie LMAOOOO why you do Haarlem like that? 😂😂😂 Lol the difference though is Preservation did what he did on Haarlem on purpose…no idea what Earl was thinking…plus it East just feels like the loop never stops 😂
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Bruh, you're top 1 for even reacting to Billy Woods AND picking up on ideas & themes. Most people wait then drop the review with sometimes less than what you just contributed.
Bro I appreciate that man fr!! I just wanted to give this work the proper care man - woods quietly has one of the best catalogs in hip hop but doesn’t get a ton to attention. I def see why folks want to let it sit a bit and I def missed plenty different things but thank god for editing cus i had so many pauses and rewinds through this that got edited out as I tried to process what I was listening to lol
I second this subscribed instantly👏🏾✊🏾
billy woods one of my fav artists of all time. no misses in his catalogue
Dope! I still gotta check out Dour Candy and Known Unknowns but I do know that this run he’s on from Hidden Places to now is INSANE! Ridiculously consistent and prolific!
What’s your fav project by him (including his joint stuff) and where does this one rank?
@@BSideRapReviews my fav is hiding places , this would be in my top3 (including armand hammer projects) but has potential to go even top 2 or 1. Need more time with it
@@axlgzrdmattick I’m right there with you on that. Hidden Places was his best up to now (I haven’t heard all his projects yet but out of all I’ve heard). I listen to Haram the most Billy Woods was just as good on that album, but I personally think it’s a clear separation between Elucid and Woods even though I think Elucid is still really talented.
I always thought woods was an exceptionally hard artist to tackle in a reaction format, but you fuckin nailed it man.
Haha thanks brodie! The editing make it seem like I picked up on everything right in the moment but it was well over a hour and half listen from me writing notes, checking lyrics, and fumbling over attempts at explaination…a live stream woulda been a mess 😂😂😂
But yeah man Woods such a great artist and wanted to highlight that. Im not just a huge abstract hip hop fan - but I feel like he does it the right way
Smith + Cross completely changed the context of the entire album for me. The whole album is Woods going through a museum with a girl he’s in a relationship, seeing a diorama of 2 African villagers sends him into a pain pill induced PTSD flashback. Hence the references to space, Greek/Roman . Animals and multiple references to history. Even the album cover looks like a painting you’d see in a museum.
That’s insane bro! Crazy how much depth and layers this has. I already thought the album was really cohesive but that adds to it a lot. I gotta find the comment to remember who said it, but someone let me know that the cover is actually a famous Rembrandt painting so you’re spot on!
The album cover is actually a painting by Rembrandt and you can see it in Mauritshius museum.
@@notrueburialWithout a doubt, billy chose this painting for many reasons including that the museum it is located in was constructed for Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen. Maurits was a military leader and governor of Brazil in the 17th century during the prime of the slave trade. He played a significant role in the slave trade and it really highlights billy’s attention to detail
no hard feelings is so amazing
Fasho! Tracks like that are what make him the best abstract rapper imo. He got that abstract style but the way he links all the theme in a succinct way is dope. Its like being in a dream but a lucid one lol
crazy how woods' pen still getting sharper! man been in the game for like 20 years now and hes still getting better, super inspiring. Preservation laced him with some of the best beats he rapped ovet yet. always in awe of new woods & Armand Hammer projects, kind of absurd how consistent they are. recommend reading up on woods' past n checking some of his interviews, priceless insights into his writing n perspective. loved ur reaction btw! u caught alotta shit, which isnt easy at all with woods.
Really appreciate that man! 🙏🏾
Bro just think about where hip hop was when he dropped his first album and that he’s been able to evolve as hip hop evolved and arguably be at his best ever - that’s pretty insane. There’s def plenty guys who’ve rapped for 20 years but not many who you can say are at their best now.
Bet ima check him out! The enigmatic guys really be having the most to say lol. I didn’t realize Fantano did a interview with him and Moor Mother - I might have to start there!
Woods is my favorite rapper. Imo he’s one of the greatest contemporary American writers in any form of literature. I discover new things with every listen and this work keeps me thoroughly engaged. As a white man through my lens, it seems some of the themes are the black experience, the concept of blackness and how Europeans defined it. Even the album title is a call back to that. Aethiopes was a European term to described dark skinned people. What gives the white man the right to define blackness? Not a damn thing imo.
Man I’ve made plenty of jokes saying folks should be learning rap instead of Shakespeare lol. I’m half joking but, you can find more poetic devices in a rap song that nearly every classic poem. Not necessarily with mainstream hip hop except with like Kendrick but there’s a couple of great underground lyricists I can say that about.
Yep definitely a really heavy theme throughout the album. His experience is pretty unique too cus he comes from both a black American perspective and a African perspective, and while there’s def overlap - it’s still a big difference. I didn’t realize what the name meant until someone pointed it out in the comments but that tied the album together perfectly imo - all the way down to that brown album cover.
@@BSideRapReviews To add even another layer to it, the cover art is from a Rembrandt painting entitled “2 African Men” which ties in nicely to the album title.
I really enjoy how he does have this unique perspective as someone who has ties to Zimbabwe. When you learn who Mengistu Haille Mariam was and how he found asylum in Zimbabwe. Billy Woods lived in Zimbabwe for part of his life as his father helped liberate Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from British colonialism. It makes you think he may or may not have seen Mariam growing up. It is really well written
@@justin3209 nahh that’s sick af! Yeah that attention to detail is mind blowing
Bro, your grasp and analysis of Billy Woods album is very eye opening. It's really helped to expand my own. Thanks
Ayyy salute!! I really think it’s a testaments to how wood has perfected abstract rap. There’s a ton of abstract rappers I don’t like listening to because I don’t like having to guess if there’s meaning or not or have to listen 100 times to figure out what they’re talking about, but with woods he’s expressive but still makes his music for the listener. He’s not going to come out and tell you what he’s rapping about all the time but he’s always gonna clue you in. That’s what makes him my favorite in that subgenre
@@BSideRapReviews I quite agree with your view on Billy Woods abstractions. He walks a very fine line in how he writes his verses and I think the trick of it as far as I can tell, is that he is always trying to be grounded as compared to leaving the listener with nothing to hang on to in a void..
It's really difficult to pin down. However he does mention writers and books a lot in his verses which I rather happen to like.
One my favourite hip hop albums. Remorseless is a masterpiece
Let’s freaking go!! This album is incredible! Thanks for this bro.
You already know it brodie!! Preciate the support man ✊🏾
“Generation trauma, at the museum eyes glassy from the pain pills me and her in the diorama” yeesh
Dude is insane! I didn’t notice on the original reaction but someone made a comment that the whole album is Woods walking through the museum with the girl and each song is an exhibit. I rock with that theory - how you feel about it?
@@BSideRapReviewsI don’t even think every song is an exhibit, I think he sees the painting on the album cover and the track list is just his immediate reaction. Like in a split second he feels every lyric of this album. If you know what I mean
Such a good feeling returning to that review after a while. woods is one of the most challenging artists to review and you did a great job with that reaction. It's my 2022 AOTY and top2 of the decade next to Manger on McNichols. Aethiopes literally made me cry when I first listened to it.
Preciate that!! It's such a great album! I didn't have it as my AOTY, but I still love that take. The storytelling is just so top notch.
Absolutely love Manger on McNichols too. Boldy is one of my fav rappers right now, and that's his best project imo. So personal and the production was INSANE! Mommy Dearest and Medusa get constant spins from me
so fucking awesome to watch your face react on your first listen to these tracks. i don't know it made me cry a bit!! just seeing the impact of incredible music and writing so tangible on a face. thanks for your hard work making this video.
Ay this might be the nicest comment I ever got - might have to frame this one 😂 I really appreciate that fasho! ✊🏾
Can’t get enough of this album. Classic
And it gets better and better every time I listen to it!
This is an incredible analysis of the album, kudos to you man
I think it's my fave album of 2022 so far
Preciate it man! I don’t have it as my favorite because I typically listen to more minimalistic rap but this is def a AOTY contender. I have it between this, Mr Morale and the Big Steppers, and Melt My Eyez See Your Future
Good reaction, this is for sure my favorite album of 2022 so far and you helped me digest the music lyrically.
I love the off the wall production it is super forward thinking compared to a lot of Hip-Hop, I haven't heard much like it.
Ay Preciate that Fasho!! Facts about the production! I was curious how the production was gonna fare cus even though I think preservation is a dope producer - I think people were gonna naturally compare his beats to the alchemist beats on Haram. But after actually hearing the beats, you can’t even compare the 2 because preservations production is so unique and out of the box. At times it didn’t even feel like beats more moreso scores from a movie
@@BSideRapReviews Definitely check out Haram by Armand Hammer, fucking monster of a record imo.
Never seen your stuff before but you've got a new fan, amazing analysis
Ayyy Preciate that brodie 🙏🏾
I don’t comment much but you deserve the support for this review! 🙌
Ayyyy Preciate that fr!! 🙏🏾
You have a great way to analyze the music and really picking the lyrics well in the moment. Different from other channels!
Salute man!! That’s what I been hoping the bring - def wanna make it as entertaining as I can but still keep the main focus on the music. Preciate it bro ✊🏾
This was like a ghetto psychological horror book
Hahah why is this such a perfect description 😂
Yo excellent review man. Best analysis I've seen online so far.
Salute! I really appreciate that ✊🏾
You get a sub just for reacting to woods, shout to you dawg!
Let’s goooo! Preciate that man ✊🏾
Breeze is an indie legend! His record "Clear Blue Skies" with his brother and sister as Juggaknots is a classic hands down! As many already mentioned here he was in a collective group with Company Flow + J-Treds + Juggaknots knows as Indelible Mcee's and if you listen closely El-P mentions that in his first verse. This is actually the first time El-P and Breeze have recorded together in decades. I'm a huge fan of El-P and Breeze so to see them reunite and record together again is a beautiful thing.
Also to see Billy Woods recruit Despot and Mike Ladd into this album brings me smiles. Despot + El-P + Mike Ladd + Breeze have all been on the same label before in the past. Billy Woods is great friends with Vordul Mega who is 1/2 of Cannibal Ox with Vastaire, who as well was part of the same label together.
Bro this one comment section has given me so much knowledge haha! I like how there’s some sort of connection between almost every rapper who appeared on this tape. Also that chemistry between El-P and breeze sounds like they been doing it nonstop for years
so in love with this album.
Dont even wanna know how hard the new armand hammer project is boutta hit.
Bless u for reviewing🙏🏼
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
A new project is confirmed in the works?? 👀
@@BSideRapReviews yes, rumored to only be released on vinyl, but I'm sure someone is gonna rip it and put it on yt
Great to hear your take on this, I’ve only been loving it more and more since Friday. The way he can create an overall narrative of all these different black experiences by telling stories in these little vignettes, to use your SAT word.
Despots verse is a standout for me on the album actually, haha, maybe it grows on you? His cadence is always kinda been monotone like that, but I love the theme of debt and money he keeps throughout the whole thing:
“If you want it on the arm, I’ll charge an arm and a leg, and every other body part until there’s none of them left. They say they’ll miss you when you gone, until they find out they’re next. ‘Cause every dollar that you dropped is stacked on top of their head”
“All I got is time and I heard that this shit is money,
So you can count on me if you ain’t in a big hurry”
Hahah i didn’t even know that word was in my vocab 😂
Bro I think in that one sentence, you kinda summed up the album. Even after first listen, this album seemed very cohesive to me but couldn’t really explain why because narratively, these stories are all over the place. But you hit it in the head - it’s the black experience…but all types of black - inner city…wealthy…African…all splattered on one canvas and the last song ties a nice bow on it.
Had to relisten to Versailles after reading this and bro you right - ion think I have Despots a fair shake. I still don’t care for the delivery (reminds me of like every rapper I don’t like that raps with DJ muggs lol), but lyrically he did an excellent job. It plays perfectly into Woods verse too.
@@BSideRapReviews I ended up reading up on the Ethiopian cat Woods mentions on the first track and how he sought asylum in Zimbabwe because he was friends with the prime minister or some other figure of power there. Interesting parallel with the fact that Woods’ dad was a Zimbabwean writer/thinker that played a role in some of the people’s movements. Also was curious about the name of the album and the etymology I found was that Aethiope is a person with dark skin, and there is also some mention of this being the name of Ethiopia (Aethiopia) before it was changed in some biblical translation.
Have you ever peeped El-Ps solo stuff, pre Run the Jewels? I think his lyricism and storytelling on those projects is also top-tier, lots of abstract and dystopian imagery. I love Run the Jewels, but I think El-P intentionally lets his verses take a backseat to Killer Mike when they’re together, which I guess just speaks to his ability to change as an artist to meld better with another person.
@@Doctor_Beats that’s crazy! I read a reviewer even saying that Woods himself lived their for a short time as a kid. I had no idea what Aethiope meant but bro man rhag makes so much sense…all the way down to the cover art.
I don’t think I listened to his first 3 projects but I used to bump Cancer for Cure quite a bit back in high school (came out my senior year). I was also a fan of his production - esp the stuff he was doing for killer mike…even pre-RTJ.
I feel you on that - on their first 3 project it def felt like the Killer Mike show rap wise but I do think El-P went bar for bar with mike on RTJ4. But yeah bro I been meaning to go back through El’s first 3 joints - I gotta get on that asap.
@@BSideRapReviews man, Cancer 4 Cure got a lot of playtime for me. The Mr. Exquire verse on that album is so insane. Also my first time hearing Danny Brown, who I kinda hated at first, the voice was abrasive. But I still peeped that XXX project and now I’m a fan.
I agree that he was definitely rapping the most on 4, and I think the least on 3…I think 2 I’d probably put over 1 but it’s close. The first one they did just didn’t have an album feeling to it, they even said in some interview that a lot of that was leftover from working on Cancer 4 Cure and R.A.P. Music for Mike.
In terms of El-P stuff, I think backwards from C4C is a good bet, it gets more and more experimental and abstract haha. But the concepts for tracks on that album are so inventive and weird and interesting: he raps like he’s a salesman for robotic stepdads, there’s a track where he basically becomes a believer in a higher power in the moment of his plane crashing to pray to be saved, etc. His first project, I think, was as part of the group Company Flow, Funcrusher Plus, and it was on Rawkus Records like around the same time that Mos and Talib were doing Blackstar on the same label, which is pretty cool. Outside of those I think a really prolific production credit of his is The Cold Vein by Cannibal Ox. And it all comes full circle because Billy Woods is in a group with one of the two dudes in Cannibal Ox. What a small world - NY abstract MCs…
@@Doctor_Beats haha I first heard Danny Brown on his album Hybrid. His voice was high pitched but his style wasn’t that off the wall yet. I liked him but it was so different from XXX that I had to double check to see if it was the same rapper lol. Voice def abrasive though haha.
Yeah bro for me - I thought RTJ1 felt like a album as far as quality…I actually got that as AOTY for that year, but it just seemed like 2 dudes rapping. It def didn’t have the same chemistry they have today and they also didn’t have that identity - like I feel like they have a certain energy that they didn’t have on RTJ1 so the fact that these were leftovers from their previous joints make sense. RTJ2 is when I feel like they really put everything together and that’s still my fav one to date. But interestingly enough I have all 4 albums as AOTY for their respective years lol.
Bruh I swear El-P got like 4 different careers wrapped up into one lol! Full circle indeed!
"Still got no quarrel with the vietcong" that's a reference to Muhammad Ali talking about the Vietnam war... damn
Bro I missed that! Woods don’t waste a single word
Breeze Brewing always steals the show
Bro he BARRED OUT!
This is a reaction this album deserves, instant sub
Salute!!! I appreciate that man! ✊🏾
Started listening to his new album last night, 4 hours later I breezed through half his discography on full volume, hangin on every word.. Just say he's the best, let's not argue! Dope review, subscribed 🤙🏼
Hahah dope! Was Aethiopes your first time listening to Billy Woods or was that a revisit through his discog? Either way, what’s your too 1 or 2 projects from him?
Preciate the sub brodie!!
After listening to this album a couple times I had to go to your reaction as a "cliff notes" type of tool. Reminds me of high school when I had to read mythology and Shakespeare. The only difference is I actually love hip hop especially this abstract style of Billy Woods. He makes me miss DOOM more. Imagine Billy DOOM, and Mach together on a project??? BTW you gotta be a barz whisperer if I'm using you for cliff notes.
Ayyy that’s a huge compliment bro!!! I really appreciate that. That’s dope that you say that though because rap is the highest form of poetry.
Back in high school i had a literature class and and we had to learn bout poetic devices. And it’s crazy because all the poetic devices we learned about - similes, extended metaphors, rhyme structure, meter (basically cadence), alliteration, entendres, etc etc get used in hip hop. So fitting af haha!
Doom really paved the way man - he’s missed for sure. Ion know if the word could handle all 3 on a project together - they’d be still breaking it down 100 years from now 🔥
@@BSideRapReviews thats the beauty of those 3. It may take years for me to 100% decipher all their work and thats ok. They're the type of emcees that have me reading or watching something random and then a light bulb goes off and I'll start smiling to myself and say, "so that's what he meant". Truly timeless art. I'll be using your latest Mach reaction for cliff notes as soon as I around to adding it to my music library. Can't wait. Keep up the good work!
Earned a sub.
I’ve listened to Billy Woods since like 2019 but I never really went deep into his discography and listened to his albums in full, I was just a casual fan. Like 2 weeks ago I listened to his whole discog, and since then Aethiopes has become probably a top 5 album ever for me.
Smith+Cross
Protoevangelium
Versailles
Asylum
Remorseless
Are all 9/10 or 10/10 songs to me.
Fantastic album.
My aoty so far. Incredible
Not mad at that at all! I’m still on the fence - March and April had some amazing albums. If I had a gun to my head and had to make a top 5 right now I think I’m going
Melt My Eyez See your Future
Tana talk 4
Aethipoes
God Don’t Make Mistakes
Gold (by Rigz)
With a asterisk by Aethiopes because so dont think a week is long enough to sit with this one. Also heard that sno and sadistik album is sick but I gotta prepare my mind before listening to a sadistik album 😂
@@BSideRapReviews solid solid list. Melt my eyes and GDMM also on my top 5
For more Breeze check out his 2021 solo record and his legendary 90s lp when he rapped with Juggaknots. Breeze and El-P were in a group together that had a handful of songs called Indelible MCs.
BET! Ima check him out - preciate you putting me on ✊🏾
I’m listening to Weight by Indelible MCs right now. Not really sure why and it’s lowkey random but they remind me of the group CunningLynguists for some reason lol
He was also on Prince Pauls concept album "A Prince Among Thieves" I haven't heard the album in forever but I think hes like the main character in the story of the album
@@BSideRapReviews for sure, i can see it... both from the same era.. Indelibles is J Treds, Breez and Herawin from Juggaknots, and Big Juss and El-P from Company Flow. You've definitely heard FUNCRUSHER PLUS by Company Flow, right? El-P's first group
@@Majesticon nahhh not outside of a few tracks like 8 steps to perfection. I was a little late to the party with El-P…I knew who he was before this but my first true intro to El-P was Cancer 4 Cure. I gotta do a deep dive on his full catalog soon!
@@BSideRapReviews sick! and maybe do a reaction video?? aaayyy
Wow I gotta check this guy. First heard here
Billy Woods is tough!! This might be my fav album of his, but after that I love Hiding Places. He also had a joint album last year called Haram by Armand Hammer that was in my top 10 AOTY
Big find!!
Incredible insights
Wish he would have gone further into Doldrums. "Nothing ever happens till it do.... nothing ever happens until it does... times up" whooooEEEE paints a picture of a coiled up spring ready to burst
Then the way it flows into NYNEX 🔥🔥🔥
Dude this was a really impressive review I've shared this with a bunch of friends. I think you got a little overloaded towards the end haha the chorus of the last song - "Sugar Molasses Rum" is the keystone. 1 - sugar production drove the triangular trade during the columbian exchange which was when 90% of the slavery extraction happened. 2 - sugar makes molasses which in turn makes rum, I'm not sure if he's trying to draw a comparison to another form of progression.... but damn
Broooo I really appreciate the love and you sharing the vid!! That’s dope man salute! Lmao you ain’t lying my brain was fried - before I had a channel I woulda never listened to a album this layered in one sitting lol. Ahhhh that is make so much sense. It’s crazy cus it’s like he doesn’t waste a single word with each of his verses 🔥
Heavy Water might be my song of the year too far, hearing billy trade off with El-P on a more slightly more traditional beat was insane they all showed up on this one
The chemistry on that track is INSANE. That’s been my fav track of the album - that and Haarlem which I like more and more every time I hear it lol.
Remorseless is up there with the wake and red dust, and almost every other Woods song to be honest
I prefer remorseless over The Wake personally. Tough picking between that and Red Dust but you right it’s def right up there with it
Definitely gonna give this album a full listen, thanks for introducing me to this artist. Have you heard much of Clipping? Some of the production reminds me of a few tracks from them.
if ur into Clipping. check out Paraffin by Armand Hammer (billy woods & ELUCID) also
DOOOOPE! Finding a new artist be one of the best feelings imo!
Man I recently got into those guys. The very first time I heard them, I can’t remember what album it was but it was one of their earlier joints, but at that time - I couldn’t really get into experimental hip hop (I really just needed a softer intro to it lol) so I wrote them off as “not for me”.
Now I’m really into off the wall and experimental stuff, so visions of bodies being burned was my first project I listened to start to finish and it woulda been in my top 20 list for 2020 if I had a channel at that point. I still need to deep dive in their catalog but I think they’re cold and Daveed Diggs is an excellent rapper.
best rap album out so far this year, by my lights. his LP w/ Armand Hammer & the Alchemist last year was my favorite rap LP of 2021. so good.
I rock with that! I think I got Denzel’s last joint by a lol smidge but I rock with this! I had Haram in my top 10, that’s was a excellent project. My only real knock was I thought Billy Woods was considerably better than Elucid…both in that project and I general - no disrespect to Elucid
This album is so amazing over the weekend I listened to it a ridiculous amount of times lol But yeah the story telling on this is fucking incredible I get totally drawn into his verses.
Exactly! It makes the album feel like an experience…it’s movie like!
This album rules.
Facts!
Great reaction. Definitely check out more Denmark Vessey, his projects Buy Muy Drugs and Cult Classic are incredible. He's big on conspiracy references and cult imagery, very conceptual but a total spitter. Detroit legend.
Preciate it!! Say less ima check him out cus he def was spitting on this one. Woods was using all my brain cells so I couldn’t follow his whole verse conceptually on the first listen lol but he def put in work on that track!
AOTY. New subscriber
Salute!! ✊🏾
Easily best story teller in hip hop atm, EASILY
I think I agree with that. I think Kendrick would be in that convo if he was active. Other than that- who else is on a similar level? I’d say Blu is probably the closest off top of my head
@@BSideRapReviews If you hadn't heard yet, Kendrick announced his new LP. It should be dropping next month. I'm hype
@@SebbyIsYummy bro I’m AMPED about that! They said release date May 13tt and no cap I’m probably taking that Friday off from work lol.
You think it’s a chance we get a The Heart Part 5 before the album drops?
Ay man, doing god's work trying to dicypher woods on a first listen!! Saw him in LA and the last song on the album went crazy. Hope he's doing okay, seems pretty down. Anyway, dope album and loved the reaction! Subbed
You have to listen to History Will Absolve Me if you haven't though, just had its 10 year anniversary and sounds even better now!
Bro Preciate it!! 🙏🏾
It’s tough tryna react to abstract stuff first listen but I do think Woods does normally hone in on just 1 or 2 themes each song instead of being kinda all over the place like a lot of abstract rappers can kinda do. That’s part of why I like Billy Woods the most out of the abstract rappers - he’s complex but it’s still structure.
This was a live show where you saw him?
That was the first album I heard of Woods! Time flying bro - crazy that that’s 10 years ago lol. I rock with that one a my fav solo joint by him (outside of this one) is Hiding Places. I think his rapping is great on both both I like the production on Hiding Places a lil more
@@BSideRapReviews Yeah, a live show with him, elucid, and kenny segal in LA. Crazy to me that the whole crowd was singing along to Spongebob and Smith and Cross was amazing
I may need to get a pair of glasses too.
Dig Billy’s lack of urgency -with his delivery and his idiosyncratic narrative. Pres creates a soundscape that at times seems unhinged and off-center, in a deliberate way (I think of : 1970’s Don Cherry albums or Charles Ives) but on other tracks the beat give solid ground for Billy and co to hold court. Strong album.
To me, Top 3 :
NYNEX
Haarlem (this is way heavy)
Remorseless
Haha you got to bro - that’s the only way I’m listening to Woods from now on 😂
You know what - I didn’t even realize how laid back his tempo was. His delivery just feels passionate at times, plus every thing else is a whirlwind - from the beats to the rapidly changing concepts in themes. It’s like his delivery is the eye of the storm - the thing that stabilizes each song.
What you said about the production is big fact! Plenty of bright spots and creative moments, but like you alluded to, I think what he did best was create that atmosphere for Woods.
billy woods is a good writer.
Good is underselling it lol
@@BSideRapReviews pretty good.
Got so excited seeing this on the home page! Incredible album, its already become one of my favorite albums ever and ive played it like 10 times. Preservation did incredible, and billy woods i spend way more time deciphering the lyrics than anyone else. Asylum is amazing storytelling, taught me some history too, and i love that “a haven’s only safe long as they want you around” part too. My favorite tracks are Remorseless, Christine, Heavy Water, Asylum, and Sauvage but really all of it, Doldrums, everything.
Him and Moor Mother are my favorite rappers and he definitely belongs in the GOAT conversation. Loved the reaction too!! First great reaction for the album
Big facts! The production didn’t even feel like beats at some point - felt more like a movie score. I honestly wonder what their process was because i really doubt Woods was just picking beats - I feel like Woods had concepts and ideas and preservation structured the beats based on that. But yeah man so much chemistry between those 2!
I really loved the story telling on Christine cus I love a good extended metaphor (I grew up a Lupe fan lol). It’s hard for me to say my fav but mine would have to be really close to that except I’d have to throw Haarlem in there!
Bro I really appreciate that!! Salute ✊🏾
Yo you ever checked RAP Ferreira? He used to go by Milo before. His style is dope. Very jazzy and poetic and always drops dope projects that could be great to react to!
Yezzir! I gotta go back and check out some of his milo work though. My intro to him was Purple Moonlight Pages which prob woulda been on my top album list if I had the channel back then. Do you know if he's supposed to be dropping this year? I'm kinda surprised that he hasn't yet.
Aye man if want another somewhat dense challenging listen with a similar roster of emcees as this album, then I would recommend Uncommon Nasa's "Written At Night" album.
Ay you setting me up lol! Dawg this was the most difficult by far both actually reacting and the editing! I’m not really familiar with uncommon nasa but I know Fantano had a really positive review of this album. Ima at least check it out and consider reacting ✊🏾
People putting Drake and j.cole as goats 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lmaooo not around this channel they not 😤😂😂😂
Both shit on trash ass Billy woods lol
subbed
Salute! ✊🏾
salute!
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
You gonna do a reaction to the Vince Project?
Hate to say it but prob not bro. Really just a time thing - the reactions are quick to record but they generally take a couple days to edit and I got 2 more vids I’m tryna squeeze out before the end of the weekend. I been holding off on listening to it though just in case I get a chance to record a reaction. I might try to get a review of it though!
Denmark Vessey is in a group called Crown Nation with Quelle Chris
Ahh gotcha! So really pretty much every rapper on here is linked to the others in some way. Like El P either they were in a group with someone else on the album or really frequent collaborator. Makes sense cus all their styles mesh well
Breeze and EL-P used to be in a group called the Indelible MC’s
I just started checking them out - I’m doing a deep dive on El-Ps discog right now. My first tape I heard from him was Cancer for Cure and i enjoyed that album a lot, but really didn’t become a huge fan until RTJ. Now im going back to his earlier stuff. Bro has been good for so long - this is technically the 4th different decade he’s rapped in 🤯
@@BSideRapReviews I’ll sleep when you’re dead is my personal favorite, dude is insane!
did you listen to we buy diabetic test strips yet? will you make a review on that
This going sound bad but I haven’t…only because I’m still tryna make a reaction video. Ima listen this week so I can get out my end of the year list. I got about 20 albums I gotta evaluate still…of course the won’t all get vids but I be taking my lists series haha
@@BSideRapReviews any updates?😅 im really looking forward to that one. Ive been binge watching all your videos the last couple days it became a part of my daily routine😂
Check out Prince Paul - Prince Amount Thieves where Breeze is the antagonist of this incredible and possibly best concept record ever recorded. ruclips.net/video/6GQfY5zGKJ0/видео.html
Someone else mentioned this album too and I love a great concept album - ima check it out soon!
good ain’t he
And bro breeze brewin is the shit. Hes been around since the 90s. Part of the juggaknots
Bro I been checking them out the last couple days! It’s amazing to me how like him and El-P have been able to evolve and continue to hone their craft for so long
Denmark vessey “this the flow that got Ponzi scheme written all over it” u should def check out sum more of his stuff he’s super tough
Bro I been checking him out and yeah he’s tough. I also didn’t notice before hand that I’ve heard him plenty of times on Quelle Chris’s albums
@@BSideRapReviews yeah him n quelle Chris been locked in for years on they a duo called crown nation. I really fucks with him he’s got an album I’m highly anticipating the features are crazy.. mach-hommy, billy woods, ankle John just to name a few lol
Give terror management a try
I gotta check that out Fasho! I heard a few tracks in it but not the whole thing. I rock with Windhoek heavy cus ima Mach Hommy fan and I love that “flippin qs and ps like dyslexia” line
haarlem was the east of the album
Ion think I follow you - break this one down for me brodie! You referring to the eastern medicine album or am I way off?
@@BSideRapReviews na lmaoo, song gave me earl sweatshirts east vibes. bars are there but the beat aint. that intro track “asylum” one of the hardest songs iv heard in a minute tho
@@justlooneyhomie LMAOOOO why you do Haarlem like that? 😂😂😂
Lol the difference though is Preservation did what he did on Haarlem on purpose…no idea what Earl was thinking…plus it East just feels like the loop never stops 😂
Haarlem goes hard tho, East is just weird lol
@@justsomejusstsome8994 ayo first listen caught me off guard like a mother fuck💀
Bruh this album is a dumpster 🔥
You gon have to elaborate lol cus this joint a AOTY contender to me!