Album Review: Kidz In The Hall-"Occasion"

Kidz In The Hall are one of my favorite new groups in hip-hop but I wasn't enamored with either of their last two albums, The In Crowd and Land of Make Believe. Despite their underwhelming releases since signing with Duck Down, I'm excited to hear this album because Naledge and Double O have been on a roll recently with the "Brain Candy" series and this album's pair of infectious singles, "Break It Down" and "Pour It Up". Does Occasion meet my high expectations or will the Kidz let me down again?

1. Real Life

An upbeat intro with heavy bass kicks, 808's, and synths out the ass. Naledge provides his signature braggadocios raps to top it off. So far, so good.

2. Occasion

A very mainstream sounding party anthem of sorts. I could see this getting some spins on the radio but then again I haven't listened to the radio in years.

3. Break It Down

This was the first single off the album and with good reason. The brilliant use of the Guns N' Roses "Sweet Child O Mine" sample and thumping bass line make this one of the best songs to drop this year.

4. That Good (Feat. Esthero)

Speaking of mainstream sounding, this could just as easily be a Maroon 5 track. In my opinion these kinds of songs were the downfall of those last two albums but that probably has more to do with my propensity for '94 boom bap than anything. Or maybe this is just really gay.

5. Make It Up Tonight (Feat. Sulaiman)

Another song about going out and getting fucked up which apparently is the theme of this album.

6. Crash Dummy (Feat. Killa Kyleon)

Double O really went all out on this album. It's not even that the beats are so great but they all have crazy bass and drums and like twelve different synths that come and go at different times.

7. Pour It Up (Feat. Bun B & David Banner)

I listened to this on repeat when it came out and I still can't get enough of it. The bouncy instrumental is incredible and Naledge compliments it with one of his best verses evar. David Banner and Bun B, who was conspicuously absent from both the Drake and J. Cole albums, make guest appearances.

8. She's Smokin

Double O slows it down as Naledge hollas at his shorty. Maybe it's because I just reviewed Take Care, but this actually sounds like a Kidz In The Hall version of one of those Drake songs but with a robot auto-tune effect instead of the muffled, singing-in-a-tunnel effect. You know what I'm talking about.

9. Player of the Century (Feat. Freddie Gibbs)

Another slow-paced track, this one inspired by old school South beats complete with a chopped-and-screwed chorus. This was fucking great.

10. Star (Feat. Tabi Bonney & One Chance)

More raps about drinking and bitches over blaring trumpets. Not terrible but not a standout by any means, especially with the number of songs on this album that sound like this. However, it should be noted that Naledge manages to drop Bill Cartwright and Mookie Blaylock references in the same verse. Props.

11. Won't Remember Tonight (Feat. Marsha Ambrosius & Anton Genius)

Double O provides more horns for another one that could easily get lost amongst all these other songs about partying.

12. Friends

Another pop song, this one with a bizarre chorus. As much as I like the Kidz In The Hall in general I just can't get on board with shit like this.

13. Walk On Air

Basically the same deal here. It's a shame because Naledge spits fire but I can't appreciate it because I don't like this kind of music.

14. I Swear (Feat. Vic Spencer)

This is more like it. Naledge kills it over what kind of sounds like a louder, noisier version of Drake's "Fear". And I'll fuck with anything that sounds anything like that song.

15. Pledge (Feat. Curren$y & Mikkey Halsted)

This one has been out for a while now but it's a good one. There were a few tracks on the Semester Abroad tape that I liked more but I guess they chose this one because its got Curren$y on it.

16. Here Now (Feat. Anton Genius)

This isn't bad, but as far as upbeat synth tracks about how they "made it" go, this is only like the fourth best one on this album.

Overall: Occasion definitely had its moments but it didn't live up to the quality of the first couple singles and some of the other music they've put out in the past year. As long as they make alternative, pop sounding shit there's just no chance that I'll be able to completely get into a Kidz In The Hall album. That said, throw this shit on at a pre-game and you're good to go. I guess that's the point.

Best Songs: "Pour It Up", "Break It Down", "I Swear"

Album Review: Drake- "Take Care"

Since he gave us Thank Me Later last summer, Drake's fame and hype have only grown exponentially. Thanks to a bunch of collaborations with famous singers and "I'm On One", Drizzy has become a fixture of top 40 radio stations and one of the biggest artists in the game. Does his second album live up to the top billing or is it another commercial flop?


1. Over My Dead Body

Drake drops some choice bars on this piano-led intro in the same vein as "Fireworks",  the Thank Me Later opener.

2. Shot For Me

Like any number of Drake's R&B songs but with finger snaps. I think even the grown and sexy would have to admit that this is pretty gay.

3. Headlines

I called this hot garbage when it came out but its beginning to grow on me. Come to think of it, I didn't really like "Over" the first time I heard it either.

4. Crew Love (feat. The Wknd)

This is just an uncomfortable clash of terrible music. Every artsy kid that's into this sort of thing should be smacked.

5. Take Care (feat. Rihanna)

I have to question this one being both the title track and the Rihanna feature. I think I could compose this beat if I sat at a piano for ten minutes. I have a feeling that this will kill it in the club regardless but the duo that gave us "What's My Name" leave some to be desired here.

6. Marvin's Room

I'm sure you've heard this before but it's Drake crooning about girls over a beat that's being played backwards or something.

7. Buried Alive Interlude

This was just odd. Drake must have stepped it up to adult drugs for this album.

8. Under Ground Kings

This is tough but I'm still waiting for Bun B's verse. Maybe he'll hop on the remix.

9. We'll Be Fine (feat. Birdman)

Speaking of Bun B, this sounds just like that one song they did on So Far Gone. Nevertheless this is one of the better songs thus far. In case you were wondering, Birdman doesn't even rap he just talks at the end. Bonus!

10. Make Me Proud (feat. Nicki Minaj)

A great club banger that's even better if you cut it off right before Nicki Minaj gets on it.

11. Lord Knows (feat. Rick Ross)

Drake enlists the help of the new, unlikely duo of Rick Ross and Just Blaze. This is a bit over-the-top and theatrical even by Just Blaze standards but i'll take it any day. The beat drops for Rozay's verse which I suppose had its moments.

12. Cameras/Good Ones Go Interlude

I don't know why they made this an interlude. As far as I'm concerned this is much better than the rest of Drake's slow jams on this album. To that point, the second part of this is another god awful R&B song.

13. Doing It Wrong

Maybe these R&B songs wouldn't be so terrible if they didn't all sound exactly the same? Seriously, I thought this was just a continuation of the last one.

14. The Real Her (feat. Lil Wayne & Andre 3000)

Pretty much the same deal here except Three Stacks lends the third verse and shows Drizzy and Wayne how it's done.

15. Look What You've Done

Its been about 30 minutes since the last rap song and I'm starting to fade in and out. From what I can tell this was a love song over some elevator music.

16. H.Y.F.R. (Hell Yeah Fuckin' Right) (feat. Lil Wayne)

I'm not a fan of synth beats like this but at least it's a departure from the pillowy soft R&B music.

17. Practice

Drizzy's take on Juvenile's classic "Back That Azz Up", one of my grade school favorites. Who would've known back in '99 that Lil Wayne would be the biggest rap star in the world and Juvenile would be...well fuck if I know what he's up to. 

18. The Ride

Drake raps (well sort of) over a soulful beat and vocal sample that's reminscent of "Poppin' Tags" or something off of The Blueprint. However Jay-Z, who was on Drake's first record, does not make an appearence much to my dismay.

19. The Motto (feat. Lil Wayne)

This one took a few listens to get used to what with the crazy bassline and 808 drums but Drake and Weezy pull it off nicely. Possibly the most memorable song on the album.

20. Hate Sleeping Alone

Appropriately, here is the least memorable song on the album.

Overall: As expected, Drake's sophomore album was a mixed bag. For every good song there were two or three slow, mundane R&B songs where Drake whines about college chicks or bourgie chicks or what the fuck ever. Also, the assumed best song on the album ("Dreams Money Can Buy") wasn't even on the album. Weak.

Best Songs: "Over My Dead Body", "The Motto", "Lord Knows"