[Guest]

The album is about a week old, but since Pitchfork have yet to review it there's a good chance a lot of people on here have yet to hear it. (That isn't a put-down by the way, it's just that I doubt many people on here regularly keep up with hip-hop releases until Pitchfork decides to jump on board).

For me it is the best album of 2012 so far. It's Southern hip-hop as it should be - all swampy Goodie Mob and UGK basslines; smooth as fuck Three 6 Mafia flows; mid-'90's OutKast experimentation; Scarface-esque personal tales; crossover appeal in the vein of Luda or TIP. Big K.R.I.T. is representing for the South (capital 'S') on a national (and hopefully - though unlikely - international) scale in a way that no-one has since the aforementioned T.I.'s early releases. I know that music lovers who are primarily into white guitar-based music (myself included) usually tend to lean towards Easy Coast hip-hop, and can occasionally make room in their collection for a universally-lauded West Coast artist or two. It is often easy to dismiss Southern hip-hop as simplistic party music with no real artistic ambition. But I urge everyone to listen to this album.

I'm sure Pitchfork will review it. I'm fairly confident it will be labelled the 'Best New Music'. If it gets less than 8.5 I will be very surprised, particularly given their previous support of K.R.I.T. combined with the fact that this is his best, most coherent project. But I basically just urge anyone with even a passing interest in hip-hop to acquire this album pronto and give real Dirty South a chance.

Anyone that has heard the album: thoughts?

[GeevyDallas]

It's a good album and I'll listen to it a few more times over the next week or so,but 8.5 is a bit much don't you think?Initially I think I prefer 'Return Of 4eva' and I'd say that's the most likely release by him that I'll come back to.

[Hayden]

I have a copy, yet to listen though. Planned to do that soon.

I loved 4eva N A Day. I still have 'The Alarm' & 'Wake Up' as 2 of the best songs this year.

If Live From The Underground is any better, I'll be quite pleased

I haven't heard the Schoolboy Q album yet either....I'll probably listen to these 2 back to back.
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Doubles & Conch

[Guest]

For me it's very similar to 'Return of 4eva' and '4eva and a Day', except more consistent, more memorable songs, and with full advantage taken of the major label budget in terms of production. Maybe 8.5 is a bit steep, but it would just be really nice to see an album that uncompromisingly Southern get the credit it deserves.

As for ScHoolboy's album, it's alright. It has some real good songs on it, but every so often there's a curveball that I think is neither a particularly good song nor does it fit in with the rest of the album. I also think that ab-soul and Kendrick are significantly better rappers. However, the good songs from the album are great songs. Also, his beat selection is on point. Doesn't make for the most coherent album, but there are some genuinely great beats throughout the album.