Apr 2010 20
Album Review: WEB & I.D.e.A – “God’s Favorites”1
Posted by - In Music, Reviews
So, yesterday I promised a review of God’s Favorites from WEB&I.D.e.A. A few weeks ago, I reviewed Waiting To Exhale and was actually quite impressed with what I heard. You guys know me, I’m more into R&B, Reggae and Pop, but I actually really liked the track. With that being said, I wanted to check out the album and I meant to post this review earlier today. Oh, yeah, and I recruited Tiffology on this review, because as our resident hip hop head, I wanted to see what she thought of the album as well. So without further ado, CrayonBeats reviews God’s Favorites. Check it.
God’s Favorites (Intro)
Tiffny: I like it. A good energetic intro to the album. I like that the album’s title was broken down. Coulda been corny, but it wasn’t. Not much to say about it since it’s an intro and all….. [N/A]Tiffology: Not my favorite, but it’s not bad. [3/5]
The Bad Guy
Tiffny: I like the beat, but I’m not completely sold on the angry rap. I understand for the song he’s “The Bad Guy”, but I guess I overdosed on it during my Eminem Years and just grew out of the “kill-die-fuck-you-pay-me” phase. Good song overall, just not for me. [2.5/5]Tiffology: This track has a rock vibe to it. The beat started playing and I felt that vibe, and then the grittly vocals dropped hard. Which fits with the whole “bad guy” title. [2.5/5]
Think It Over
Tiffny: It’s weird. Almost ever rapper has a ‘growing up in the hood’ song that chronicles selling/doing drugs at a young age, or the struggles of growing up poor, but I’m not bored by this song. It’s lyrics have a good beat behind it, and a message to match. I like it. [3.5/5]Tiffology: Before I listened to the words, I was just digging the sweet guitar licks in the beat. And after hearing that for a solid minute, I had to start the track over so I could listen to the vocals. What I got from this song was that there is always a choice in every decision that you make. And those that may ultimately be the wrong one for you in the end, you should really weigh out the risks and think about the outcome in the long run. And if it’s truly what you want. Because once it’s done, it’s done. There’s no going back in time before that decision. [4.5/5]
Seize The Day
Tiffny: OMG this beat is insane. It’s really unconventional, and relaxing in some way, then mixed with WEB’s flow, it’s engaging enough to make me feel like I need to be riding while listening to this… [4/5]Tiffology: Don’t really have much to say about this track. It’s alright… [2/5]
Everything
Tiffny: Dedicated to the ladies…not the bitches or the hoes…. I thought this was gonna be some gentle love song..um..not exactly? It’s kind of a contradiction that he’s dedicating the song to the ‘ladies’ but it’s lyrics are something I’d think kick to a bitch or hoe (if I were a guy). It’s all good tho, cuz it made me laugh. Probably not his intentions, but I did like the song. I’d just be pissed as hell if my man dedicated this to me…[3.5/5]Tiffology: At first listen, I didn’t like it. Second listen, it’s kind of cute (even with that roughness applied to it). “We both woke up sayin’ ‘Fuck the world’”, which is what it should be about. Not letting anything get in the way of the love shared. Who cares about what other people say about you and the person you’re with? “My one and only friend, lover, and sidekick”. [2.5/5]
**Tiffology: I didn’t have much to say about the next 4 songs, so below are just ratings.
My Life (ft Benjamin Arce)
Tiffny: I like this song. Listening to the lyrics, it’s one of those songs that can make you feel on top of the world, or inspire you to keep climbing until you’ve gotten to the top of the world. [4/5]Tiffology: [2/5]
Love at the Speed of Light
Tiffny: Crazy song about a twisted love. Creeped me out with the first few words he said but I like the beat? I’m not too sure what to think of this song, or what exactly is going on…[1/5]Tiffology: [1/5]
The Fly
Tiffny: This is fly. I like this song a lot. Another beat that grabs me, and more ‘I’m the shit’ lyrics. Nice. I’m feeling unstoppable while I listen to this. I think this is goin on my “I’m AWESOME” playlist. Yes. [5/5]Tiffology: [1/5]
Blind Cinema
Tiffny: YO WTF!? The beats on this album are crazy. I love this beat too. I like the story telling of the lyrics and I was actually visualizing how everything went down. Good song. I like a lot. [4/5] Tiffology: [1.5/5]Falling Down
Tiffny: Again, I’m loving the beat. But I couldn’t really get into the lyrics. Not that it’s not a good song (because it is), I was just more entralled by what was going on behind the lyrics than the lyrics themselves. [3/5]Tiffology: One day you might have it all, and another it could all be gone. “You can see it all coming and you try to prepare // But you feel so invincible, you’re blind by the glare // Of the lights, when it hits, it’s like they open the ground // And you’re tied to a boulder, slowly, it’s pulling you down // You struggle and squeeze to hold onto your spot // But you gotta let go before you know what you’re not.” [4.5/5]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIayeFmsOh8]
King’s Theme
Tiffny: Love the sound of the ocean incorporated in the beat (again with these beats! omg…I’m dying here). I like the chill feeling this song gives me. It’s not completely sedated, but it’s not entirely energetic. WEB’s strong delivery helps keep the beat from putting me to sleep (in a good way). I like. [4.5/5]
Tiffology: I think the one line that caught my ear was, “Heart beat kicking the drum pattern of life”. Other than that, this was one of those songs that I didn’t pay attention to much when I was browsing the internet. I kept replaying it so I could listen and focus in on the words, but I just continued to let it bump while I did other things. The beat is smooth, I couldn’t help it. Haha. But what I did hear, I liked. I was left with, “Is this about drugs?” [3/5]
VanCity
Tiffny: No hip hop album is complete without a song about the artist’s hometown. This album is no different, but it’s not cliche. VanCity, is another relaxed song that, thanks to WEB’s lyrics, allows me to visualize what’s going on. It’s cool. [3.5/5]Tiffology: Song is about his city, specifically the bad, from his point of view. “So much pain in my city // Always rains in my city // Same attitudes, nothing ever changes in my city // My city’ll beat you down, and make you think that it loves you // Beautiful girls fall into prostitution and drug use”. I replayed this track a couple times, it’s good. [5/5]
Tables Turn (ft Benjamin Arce)
Tiffny: This song, I like. I was actually not expecting to, because the beat didn’t really grab me, which was a surprise. However, the lyrics hooked me, and Benjamin’s smooth ‘playa’ vocals meshed well. The girl at the end trippin’ made me laugh. [3/5]
Tiffology: Everything looks good, until you get a closer look. You were digging the person before you got to know them, and then when you do get deeper than the outside (sexual attraction), you realize that they’re not right for you. They lack personality, they have no sense of humor, and they can’t have a single intelligent conversation. Tables were turned. You’re not into the person now, but now they are into you… and you can’t get rid of them. Haha. [5/5]
The Morning After
Tiffny: This song sounds like something Jay-Z would have made a few years ago, and I’m not mad at it. I like WEB’s flow, and the continued rant at the from ‘Tables Turn’ was funny. [3/5]Tiffology: This track is a continuation from the previous track. It’s funny. Crazy chicks! [4.5/5]
Don’t Love Me Like They Should
Tiffny: Another song that has me nodding my head to the beat. Lyrics are something everyone can relate to…we all feel underestimated at some point or another, and WEB articulates the ‘I’ll show you’ attitude well. [4/5]
Tiffology: “I’ll probably die before they love me like they should” Ever been underestimated by those around you? Negative snap judgements towards you, without knowing who you are as a person? Prove them wrong. Keep doing whatever it is that makes you happy, and go for your goals/dreams… no matter what. [5/5]
Liberation
Tiffny: A good song to wind down the album, jazzy beat and WEB’s melancholy lyrics again allow me to drift off and picture what he’s saying clearly. Not much to say about this song other than I like it. [5/5]Tiffology: “Now I believe God gave me wings, and yes, I’m trying to fly // But it’s hard to kiss the sky when you’re dying inside” When you’re fighting your own demons, you sometimes turn to other things to help you escape. This song reminds me of a couple people, it’s a sad song. [5/5]
Waiting to Exhale
Tiffny: You already know how I feel about this song. If not, then click here. [5/5]Tiffology: First off, let me just say that I love Nujabes “Mystline” instrumental that the producer added a drum pattern to. The whole song is beautiful – beat and vocals. Slow down and just breathe…[5/5]
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