Unkle - Psyence Fiction: I first got the album many months ago, and it didn't really make an impression on me outside of a couple tracks (Gunz Blazing and Rabbit in Your Headlights). I decided to give it a try again after liking Entroducing. There are a couple tracks I'm not into but overall I'm really digging this.
Eminem - Marshall Masters LP: Pulled it out in light of new, disappointing Em shit being released lately. I couldn't help but find it hilarious that Britney Spears, Justine Timberlake, Christina Agulara, and a few other former targets have grown substantially more as artists than Eminem has. smh
Rick Ross - Deeper Than Rap: Hmmm, NY Times giving it praise, Pitchfork saying it's good, friends with good taste saying it's good...so I decided to check it out myself. Most of the praise I read centered around the claim "Ross can rap now" which is true: his flow has improved...er well he HAS a flow now. The production is pretty good, very lush sounding with more live instruments than looped soul loops. But overall the album is pretty...ok; there are some very catchy songs, and lots of meh. Too many "for the ladies" tracks, too many guest appearances, and the "I got money" mentality gets tired after a couple songs. Of course I went into the album seeing through Ross' ridiculously fake gangster persona, which still manages to be entertaining due to his charisma and hilarious boasts ("once the car needs an oil change I buy a new one"). RZA shot someone in the face before 36 Chambers came out. Ross was a CO before his first album came out. That kinda explains the gangsta fantasy on this album, verses more gritty/authentic coke rap lol.