Sept. 5th
dvsn
ALBUM
untitled unmastered.
Kendrick Labar
ALBUM
Yes, OVO Sound is back at it again with a struggle R&B albu- Wait. No, this is actually pretty awesome. dvsn is the newest signee to Drake's label, yet the band has immediately proven that they may be one of the most talented acts rocking an owl chain. dvsn's Sept. 5th is the R&B album that you've been needing in your life for those late night rides. The immaculate vocal performances by the duo's singer, Daniel Daley, match perfectly with the production of Nineteen85. Since first hearing the album, I've been plagued with trying to figure out exactly who Daley's voice resembles, so when I finally gave up and started listening to the subject matter I was even more impressed. Offering more than a snoozy 2016 take on "Bump n Grind," Sept. 5th actually explores themes of vulnerability, effort, and boundaries in relationships while still giving you songs like "Too Deep" that you shouldn't play while you…you know. Combining those aesthetics into the classic OVO 90s turned 2010s style of R&B makes for a very easy and rewarding listen, and a must buy for music lovers. The only negative aspect of the album is that it may sound redundant sonically. If you were to only hear it a couple of songs, it wouldn't be easy to even discern what you're listening to because so many of the songs sound so similar. Regardless, it is dvsn's debut album, and trust me it was a beautiful start. RJ
Kendrick Lamar is in the most creative space in his life since he was introduced to most of us 6 years ago. That being said, untitled unmastered. is a presentation of loose ideas and sounds that never fully came to fruition from the To Pimp A Butterfly sessions. Aptly titled, the project features Kendrick in a pure creative form, so its quality isn't always top-notch. Flirting with experimental production and new flows, Kendrick opts to let us into his head even more. We don't often get to fully understand who the Compton MC is personally, but this album shows that he is adventurous, comical, and a formidable hip hop artist. 3 of the tracks have already been premiered live, and finally hearing them in a studio recording is rewarding, although not really exciting. Kendrick makes up for it by giving us tracks that could compete with cuts from To Pimp A Butterfly. My favorites would be "untitled 03 |05.28.2013.", "untitled 04 08.14.2014.", and "untitled 06.30.2014.". Without giving the project or any of its tracks a title, the listener is able to really hone in on the material and appreciate the music with no preconceptions. Truthfully, it isn't as good as TPAB, but it does make you appreciate the artistry behind it. Regardless, untitled unmastered. sports and provokes raw independent thought, and that's really what the world needs. RJ
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