Review Summary: I don't know who I am anymore-
I don't know who I am anymore- stated Donald Glover at the conclusion of the album. In this one statement he didn't only show how fragile hip hop can be, but this album can be an example of how the human mind itself can be fragile. It shows the transformation of a "rich kid asshole" into a depressed, lonely broke man. Many people don't understand this album, and many never will.
Let me start off by saying when I first heard this album I was lost as well. Once I understood it it meant that much more to me. It's a trip through Gambino's depressed Physce. While this May sound emotionally draining it's extremely captivating. The album starts off with more trap like beats and slowly transforms to dark and atmospheric, the production fits the mood perfectly on each track. And strangely enough as the album gets more dark it gets more beautiful. For example "Flight of the navigator" is a masterpiece. At this point in the album "the boy" has been socially isolated and fallen into a deep depression and attempted suicide after his father has died and he's lost everything. Flight of the navigator is a trip of reality and fiction as the main charecter is in a coma. He doesn't know if his fame, money, friends, or most importantly the love of his life is real at all.
Listening to this album actually puts me in a different world. It's thought provoking, beautiful, and damn near perfect. If you heard "Sweatpants" as a single, you've completely misinterpreted it. It makes perfect sense in the context of the album. And listening to this whole album is crucial to understand it. If you just skip around tracks you will never understand it. It tells a story, and requires your undivided attention.
So I've just been praising this album mostly on its themes and concept.
But how good does it actually sound?!
What elements of it are good?
What's good- The production is other worldly. Gambino's flow is much improved. His lyricism may come across as corny but it's for the charecter, when we hear is own introspective it's thought provoking, memorable, and very witty and sharp all at the same time. One of the most unique hip hop albums I've ever heard.
What's bad- Guest features are iffy but seldom, and there are some filler non musical tracks.
Overall however these complaints are petty to what this album has to offer. I'm currently obsessed with it. Not even gonna sugarcoat it. The emotional investment you'll get out of this is extremely rare in a hip hop album. I do have to admit however this album isn't for everyone. If you're not a fan of r&b you might not enjoy this cause it's present on a large portion of the album. I still suggest you give it a listen until you understand it, as I don't particularly care for r&b myself and grew to love it. Without a doubt my favorite album of 2013. Before you go jumping to conclusions about me being uneducated and listening to one album last year. I in fact dug into a *** load of hip hop last year. Mbdtf was the best in 2010, Undun was the best of 2011, Good kid maad city was the best of 2012. Lastly because the internet is the best of 2013.
The library- NR/10
Crawl- 9.7/10
Worldstar- 8/10
Dial up- NR/10
The Worst Guys- 7.8/10 (that outro is ***ing brilliant)
Shadows- 9/10
Telegraph Ave- 10/10
Sweatpants- 11/10
3005- 9.5/10
Playing around before the party- NR/10
The Party- 8.8/10
No Exit- 10/10
Death by numbers- Nr/10
Flight of the navigator- 12/10
Zealots of Stockholm- 9.1/10
Urn- NR/10
Pink toes- 7.5/10
Earth the oldest computer- 12/10
Life: the biggest troll- 10/10
