Avg Rating: 
5.0 ( 3 total votes )
Hip-hop is art. Now you may think of art as something that only belongs in museums, but nothing could be further from the truth. Art is a living thing, and it can be delicate or brutal, complex or simple. Ghostface Killa elevates life on the streets into epics as powerful as anything the Odyssey has to offer, and R. Kelly paints melodic masterpieces, even if those masterpieces are about the joys of having sex in the kitchen. So just what is art? Hip-hop is art. I’m not the only one who thinks hip-hop deserves a … ...Read the full album review
DJBooth Album Review
Hip-hop is art. Now you may think of art as something that only belongs in museums, but nothing could be further from the truth. Art is a living thing, and it can be delicate or brutal, complex or simple. Ghostface Killa elevates life on the streets into epics as powerful as anything the Odyssey has to offer, and R. Kelly paints melodic masterpieces, even if those masterpieces are about the joys of having sex in the kitchen. So just what is art? Hip-hop is art.
I’m not the only one who thinks hip-hop deserves a spot next Renaissance paintings and Greek sculptures; just ask Naledge. The Kidz in the Hall founder is readying the world for his debut solo album with the release of his mixtape Chicago Picasso, a work of art that not only further cements the Chi’s status as the most lyrical city in the country (Lupe/Kanye/Common, etc.), but should firmly plant Naledge on every “rapper to watch out for” list. In fact, Chicago Picasso might just be the best mixtape of the year.
Like its namesake artist, Chicago Picasso is a fiercely creative work, a mixtape that pushes every boundary it can find, rising and falling between bangers and smoothed out summer anthems. I’ve been listening to Chicago Picasso almost non-stop since it first touched my speakers, and in retrospect it was Standing on Sofas that got me hooked. Over a beat built around a marching band horn line, stuttering percussion and an Oprah-themed hook, Naledge manages to reference Mozart, golfer Nick Faldo and rocker Tommy Lee. It’s a lyrical feat as amusing as it is impressive. On second thought, as dope as Standing on Sofas is, it was Focus that sold me. Along with a gripping guest verse from Consequence, Naledge absolutely owns the pounding Focus. It’s the definition of rewind-worthy. Actually, that’s a good example of what it’s like to listen to Chicago Picasso on the whole: nearly every track is your favorite, until the next one hits. Cool Relax is your new joint until The Beat Goes On drops, and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous is your new favorite until Futuristic S**t starts pacing through your headphones. The rest of the country needs to step their game up, because the Windy City’s killing everyone right now. (That’s right, I’m looking at you Boise.)
Am I going overboard in my praise of Chicago Picasso? Probably, but you know what? F**k it. Lord knows plenty of uninspired and commercially motivated music gets shoved down out throats everyday, so when I get handed a piece of legitimate art I feel almost obligated to over-hype it. With that in mind, Naledge’s greatest strength is probably his versatility. While nearly every track I’ve mentioned so far falls on the harder end of the spectrum, Naledge is equally comfortable slowing down the pace and dropping tracks like the slowly unwinding Star Struck or the soulful It Is What It Is. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some weaknesses. Based on the disappointingly un-obscene Look At Them Hips it doesn’t sound like he has a stripper anthem in him (which is fine considering Pitbull is single handedly keeping strip joints in business), and it’d be nice to see a true party jam from the man, but in the end they’re barely even complaints. No one can do everything. Except for Jay.
I’ll make this real simple for you. Go get Chicago Picasso right now, or miss out on the chance to say “I was bumping his early s**t” when his seemingly inevitable rise through hip-hop’s ranks comes to fruition. Ultimately, there’s nothing better than watching an artist do what they love. It’s why we watch Lebron ball and Eva Mendes act (or, you know, just stand there), and it’s why I can’t stop playing Chicago Picasso. Hip-hop is art, and Naledge is an artist - in the truest sense of the word.
Listen to More: Naledge Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 3
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
Rating:
Holy S**t, I didn't see this guys coming at all. Wow, you're right Nathan this is the best mix-tape of the year, right along side of "So Far Gone". But wow, I encourage all of you to go and BUY this mix-tape (you won't be able to get it for free since it's on iTunes) and listen to it over and over again. Best new artist of the year...I'm calling it.
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| Posted on Jul 07, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
Man i havent listened to any of this, but when the @*#$! is the booth putting ACE HOODS AND MAINOS ALBUMS ON HERE?????????????????????????? i wanna see what kind of reviews they get
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| Posted on Jul 08, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 56 |
Rating:
Never head of Naledge or any of the guests on this mixtape. But damn. I mean DAMN. Nathan wasn't kidding--this guy and his mixtape as a whole, is fire.
Its not just that Naledge's flow is smooth and intelligent, the production on some of these songs is spectacular. Its chill; and no other songs on this mixtape define it better than Southside and Cool Relax. You'd be doing pretty well playing these songs at a slick summer party, or just rolling down the streets on a hot summer day with the sunroof open and the windows down, heads bobbing for sure. Looks like Naledge is up and coming so I'm assuming not a lot of people are aware of his talents. One thing I like about the booth is that it looks like they try their best to separate the quality from the massive quantity of hip-hop out there--no matter what commercial level an artist resides. Naledge is an example of this trend, so thanks for what you're doing. I'll take this guy over Ace Hood any day. And keep up with the reviews Nathan; love them. |
| Posted on Jul 08, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 7 |
Rating:
Absolutely ridiculous album!! 5 spins!
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| Posted on Jul 10, 2009 |
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