rapper’s best friend 2 6000 V+/(#K()*,#)7!(*#*(0(),+%8#'+,#$*,!#/"05.(#"7#Rapper’s Best Friend instrumental tracks, the producer who has cut for the likes of Nas, Raekwon, Lil Wayne and Linkin Park is back with another collection. Rapper’s Best Friend 2 is a mix of gritty >()!,#='(#?0<'(.+,!#<"%<"<!(&;#,".(#"7#-'+<'#'(#')&#.)&(#7"*# other artists’ songs and some newbies for this production. The ,)%,S0K*+<,#,"%8,#)*(#6(*7(<!#7"*#*'K.+%8#"/(*#w#"*;#&)*(#H#,)K;# <"50&#(/(%#>(<".(#)#*)66(*I,#>(,!#7*+(%&9 “Perfection,” which was the tune for Rick Ross and Meek Mill’s “Perfectionist,” has a range of honeyed keys between blaring '"*%,9#='+,#,!)%&,#+%#,!)*@#<"%!*),!#!"#E=(%#A"00)*,;i#)#.(%)<+%8# rhythm that Capone-N-Noreaga snatched for his song “Follow !'(#A"00)*9i EW)%8,!(*#J'+!#D!9#`i#)%&#ED!9#Pi#')/(#650,)!+%8#F)]]K#25!(,#)%&# strange laser noises, with “Pt. 2” pacing at a slower grind, but %5*,+%8#!'(#,).(#/"<)0#,).60(#),#ED!9#`9i
hand, showcases a dark, blaring buzz, and tinkling keys are the only things to keep the beat 7*".#8(!!+%8#!""#2)!9 “Whole Lotta Thug,” has a taste of reggaeton, and aspiring LC,#-'"#-+,'#!"#,'"-#"77#!'(+*#<'"6,#<)%#,5>.+!#)#/+&("#"7# !'(.,(0/(,#*)66+%8#"/(*#!'(#!*)<@#7"*#)#<')%<(#!"#-"*@#-+!'#='(# ?0<'(.+,!#)%&#*(0(),(#)#!*)<@#!'*"58'#'+,#0)>(0;#A(<"%9 The album as a whole crawls with creepiness, with its rolling >),,#)%&#'K6%"!+<#,"50#>()!,;#>5!#='(#?0<'(.+,!#)&&,#60(%!K# of huge drums to add some punch. The producer experiments with a brew of tasty beats and mesmerizing synths to make an (N60",+/(#)0>5.9#G)66(*,#-+00#$%&#<)!<'K#+%,!*5.(%!)0,#!"#,6+!# "/(*;#)%&#%"!;#+%#!'+,#<),(;#"%9 kaitlyn SCHNELL
“Wet Wipes” is one of the most contagious tracks off the album. H!I,#)#-+*(&#F).#!')!#C).I*"%#5,(&;#-+!'#)%#",<+00)!+%8#8*""/(# that stammers at the end of each loop. “Pain,” on the other
6900
ghostory
I’m not gonna lie, Ghostory is probably my most anticipated release of the year (so far), so it has a lot of my preconceptions !"#0+/(#56#!"9#H#')&%I!#(/(*# '()*&#"7#J<'""0#"7#J(/(%#M(00,#ceJaHHMI#7*".#'(*(#"%#+%d#5%!+0#H# stumbled across their single for the new album, “Lafaye.” I was instantly hooked. Ghostory couldn’t come out soon enough. H#-),#,"#(N<+!(&;#+%#7)<!;#!')!#-(%!#)%&#0+,!(%(&#!"#JaHHMI,#"0&# albums, only to be met with disappointment. I didn’t like them! ?';#>5!#!'(*(#-),#,!+00#'"6(g#b%(#"7#!'(#"*+8+%)0#>)%&#.(.>(*,# 0(7!#>(!-((%#JaHHMI,#6*(/+"5,#)0>5.#A+,<"%%(<!#V*".#A(,+*( and Ghostory, so perhaps in her absence the band would 2"5*+,'#)%&#$%)00K#6*"&5<(#)%#)0>5.#H#(%F"K(&g• In short, they did, but it could be better. Well, comparing the album to the initial impression garnered from “Lafaye,” it’s a bit of a disappointment, but compared to their old albums, it rules. So what separates Ghostory#7*".#JaHHMI,#"0&(*#-"*@;#>(,+&(,# the lineup change?
Not a lot, honestly. The changes are pretty subtle. There are points on Ghostory that )*(#)88*)/)!+%80K# similar to their old albums, but there is also some cool new stuff too. b/(*)00;#!'(#+%,!*5.(%!)!+"%#+,#7)+*0K#,6)*,(;#-+!'#!'(#6(*<5,,+"%# )%&#A('(])I,#/"<)0,#0)*8(0K#<)**K+%8#!'(#)0>5.;#)0!'"58'#!'(K# &"#')/(#,".(#<""0#>)<@8*"5%&#85+!)*#)%&#@(K>")*&#(77(<!,h melodies here and there. The production is also top-notch, and it sounds like they learned a lot about mastering from dream6"6#7)/"*+!(#Lo[9#='(K#.+N#56#+%,!)%!0K#<)!<'K#!*)<@,#0+@(#E='(# Night,” “Lafaye” and “When you Sing” with slower, tranquil !*)%,+!+"%,#0+@(#EX"/(#D0)K;i#EG()66()*i#)%&#EJ'"-#L(#X"/(9i The album begins and ends strongly, and only a few tracks feel 0+@(#$00(*;#>5!#%"!#+%#)#>)&#-)K9#Ghostory is more of a strictly &*().S6"6#6*"F(<!#!')%#!'(+*#()*0+(*#(77"*!,;#,"#%"!#(/(*K#!*)<@# %((&,#!"#>(#)%#+%,!)%!#'+!#)%&#')/(#)!!(%!+"%S8*)>>+%8#0()&,9# The slower tracks on the tail end of the album are much more 0)<@)&)+,+<)0#)%&#<"%!(.60)!+/(;#)%&;#)0!'"58'#,+.60(;#)*(# ,""!'+%8#!"#0+,!(%#!"9#A"+%8#'".(-"*@#!"#Ghostory is awesome, 5%0(,,#K"5#@((6#8(!!+%8#!')!#+!<'#!"#*(60)K#EX)7)K(i#)8)+%9#?%&# )8)+%9#?%&#)8)+%9 pat CASSIDY
A 57