Block wrote:
God Loves Ugly is a musical masterpiece for more than one reason. I could probably write a doctoral thesis on why Slug is one of the greatest lyricists of all time. God Loves Ugly (GLU for short from now on) was groundbreaking when it was released. The only one enacting a style even remotely similar to what's seen in GLU, at the time, was Aesop Rock. Even then the styles--even though both abstract--bore no resemblance to one another. GLU set lyrical presidence. Not only for Slug's amazingly arrogant (yet ever so delicate) delivery, but his content was other-wordly. Even today, almost a decade later, very few albums live up to GLU. That's saying something profound.
My personal favorite album of all time. ('lemons' for short) embraces the type of storytelling that Slick Rick pioneered and takes it to another dimension. Not only does Slug manage to articulate amazingly well-written stories that everyone can relate to, he does it in the most artistic way possible. He encompasses Hip Hop with every breath spit at the mic. From his caricatured portrayal of the tobacco industry in 'The Skinny', to his metaphorically abstract views on the War On Terror in the song 'Your Glasshouse'.. Slug never fails to amaze with his lyricism. Still keeping that abstract edge that he made a name for himself with in GLU.
'US' is an album that, in my opinion, was needed. 'US' talks about struggles never before seen in hip hop. I mean, who talks about being homosexual? That's not exactly what makes 'US' a masterpiece, though, that is part of it. What makes 'US' a masterpiece is the portrayal of such subjects. The emotion behind every word spoken over the most delicately placed instrumentals. If you doubt what I'm saying, just listen to the two songs 'Tight Rope' and 'Babygirl'. You won't doubt any longer. Every word that Brother Ali speaks on this album seems to be carfully placed. Every word has a meaning to it. Nothing is left to chance. Not only this, but the entire album is a call for peace. A call for acceptance. Something I don't think has ever been done before in hop hop history. An entire album devoted to bringing people together, and done-so in the most artistic way possible.
Emotion. Emotion. Emotion. Easily one of the biggest rollercoaster rides I've ever been on when listening to an album. The emotion behind the wildly articulated lyricism on this album is beyond amazing. I've said it before and I'll continue to say it: Eyedea was, and still is, one of the greatest lyricists to ever live. This album should be considered a masterpiece purely on its originality alone. That's only half of what makes it great, though. The other half, beside the amazing emotion, is the lyricism.. Eyedea puts words and phrases together that I would never, ever fathom.
I can't find the image for Drawn With An Eraser, but it's there.
^^ Drawn With An Eraser is a masterpiece in my eyes. Basically for the same reasons By The Throat is. Except Spoon isn't nearly as good as putting words together as Eyedea. The originality in what's being said, in culmination with how it's being said, and the instrumentals it's being said over.. Simply astounding.
Only 5 albums I've ever listened to and been genuinely astounded by what is being portrayed.
