probably the album ive been most excited about thus far in 2010...

i saw him live a couple times at various venues, always the main opening act.

this kid is so talented. almost a one man version of the roots, in the sense that not only is he a talented songwriter/singer/rapper, but he also plays a lot of his own instruments on his production, he manages to put together a well thought out album, spanning and blending a variety of genres into a hip-hop mold. i read somewhere that someone called him a "folk-rapper" in the sense of how he delivers his music.

I haven't bought an actual album in years, but i will pick this up or dl it on amazon even though i have it for free from the leak last night



Tracklist:
01. Don't Let Me Fall
02. Nothin' On You (ft. Bruno Mars)
03. Past My Shades (ft. Lupe Fiasco)
04. Airplanes (ft. Hayley Williams of Paramore)
05. Bet I (ft. T.I. And Playboy Tre)
06. Ghost In The Machine
07. The Kids (ft. Janelle Monae)
08. Magic (ft. Rivers Cuomo)
09. Fame 3:41
10. Lovelier Than You
11. 5th Dimention (ft. Ricco Barrino)
12. Airplanes Part 2 (ft. Eminem And Hayley Williams of Paramore)

if you havent seen him live yet, and he starts touring as a main act, i HIGHLY recommend his live show. tons of energy and he sounds great live, again, because most of his production is himself on his own instruments (guitar/piano, etc)

[Edited on April 23, 2010 at 9:37 AM. Reason : .]

4/23/2010 9:37:08 AM

He opened for Kid Cudi and Asher Roth when we went to see them in Vegas. I like his recordings, but he wasn't very impressive live. He really struggled to stay on beat.

4/23/2010 9:39:59 AM

i think i remember him being a little off on one of the songs he did, but i dont remember which one. it might was one of his May 25th mixtape songs.

4/23/2010 9:49:04 AM

Quote :

"(ft. Rivers Cuomo)"

4/23/2010 9:53:45 AM

^Really? You're more worried about Rivers Cuomo being on the album than the girl from Paramore?

Also, to the OP: If you're going to buy the album, please buy it at Schoolkids. I would consider it a personal favor. It will be $13.99, $4 more than Amazon (without considering shipping), and we should have it on Monday.

[Edited on April 23, 2010 at 1:14 PM. Reason : .]

4/23/2010 1:10:34 PM

i dont live near schoolkids

4/23/2010 1:18:59 PM

Fair enough. If you live near another independent store, then, you should go to them. Not trying to guilt trip you or anything, though, just offering a suggestion.

[Edited on April 23, 2010 at 1:20 PM. Reason : .]

4/23/2010 1:19:16 PM

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=washington%2C%20dc%20to%20schoolkids%20records%2C%20raleigh%2C%20nc&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

if you want to drive it to me and hand deliver it i will consider that a personal favor.

4/23/2010 1:20:25 PM

Why the hostility? I got your point; no nastiness necessary. I just thought you lived in Raleigh. I was wrong. There are definitely independent record stores in D.C., though. Again--just a suggestion

4/23/2010 1:22:23 PM

I'll buy it from iTunes. I don't want a large piece of plastic taking up space somewhere. It's 2010.

We have the technology

4/23/2010 1:45:14 PM

^ Are you being serious?

4/23/2010 2:07:07 PM

lol

go back to fucking empire records kid

you realized blogs replaced you like 5 years ago right?

4/23/2010 2:08:07 PM

Unbelievable. What a hateful statement.

4/23/2010 2:32:07 PM

independent record stores are a worthless middle man jacking up prices on an already overpriced commodity.

4/23/2010 3:52:40 PM

^That simply is not true. Independent record stores do not jack up the price. Big-box retailers slash the prices of new release CDs below cost to try to get people to come in and buy the other stuff they have for sale. Whether intentional or not, the side effect of this is that they have shut down a lot of independent record stores.

Obviously, independent retailers can not afford to undercut cost on new releases. Not to mention the fact that because places like Best Buy can afford to buy tons of copies of new releases and put them on an endcap for $9.99, they get advertising dollars for doing this that are impossible for independent stores to get. It's a rigged game.

With how brazen you were in stating that independent record stores jack up the prices, I assume you already knew this information. So, with this in mind, how are those who work at the independent record stores doing anything wrong by simply trying to survive and by trying to continue to provide people with records they would not be able to get at Best Buy (and, admittedly, keep their livelihood), even as the cards continue to stack against them?

To prefer big-box retailers to independent retailers is one thing--I would love to debate with you about the worth of independent retail if you wanted to have that discussion. To act like independent record stores are ruthlessly jacking up the prices for no reason though is plain ignorance.

4/23/2010 4:19:46 PM

I feel sorry for independent records stores and have nothing against them...but why would I go there and pay a couple extra bucks when I can download it at home or buy it on itunes and burn the cd myself (if I ever needed the CD...which I almost never do).

At some point independent record stores are just going to have to realize that their time has come.

4/23/2010 4:22:42 PM

there is literally no reason to go into a B&M (haha) indie store anymore. the internet is FLUSH with critique, opinion, taste and all sorts of other maven-ish sources which are much more credible than "hey i work in a record store and here is the stuff i listen to dude did you hear this shitty local band?" i can get advice from trusted blogs/critics/etc for free plus get the product i want for less online and digitally.

listen, i deal with a lot of small/community type businesses from a policy perspective on a regular basis, and most will have a niche for many years to come, but its just not a sustainable business model on a countrywide scale anymore.

enjoy working there and all, but dont make me feel bad or pity for you because you cannot ever meet my needs and remain profitable

4/23/2010 4:36:42 PM

I wasn't trying to make you feel bad or pity me.

I don't know what you do, but what if I said, "People who deal with small/community type business from a policy perspective are worthless because technology has progressed to the point that we don't need them at all." Would you defend your livelihood?

Also, there is a reason to go to brick & mortar stores still. As you said, most independent stores survive on a niche, and there is a decent-sized group of people in cities like Raleigh that still like to own physical music. These people are very loyal to customers to a place like Schoolkids, and I imagine they'd be pretty upset if the last remaining independent record store in Raleigh went out of business. Especially the vinyl collectors. Sure, they could still buy vinyl off Amazon, but I guarantee that when it comes it'll be bent up and damaged from shoddy packaging because Amazon doesn't know how to ship records. Every single record I've ever seen anybody buy from Amazon has arrived damaged in some way.

[Edited on April 23, 2010 at 5:17 PM. Reason : .]

4/23/2010 5:06:03 PM

I love his old song in the sky and i love nothin on you. hes like a cross of andre 3000 and kanye west.

Quote :

"Hayley Williams of Paramore"

wow what a track. 3 poles. should be great. can't wait!

4/23/2010 5:58:51 PM

Quote :

"still like to own physical music"

+1

oh, and for the D.C. dude ...

http://www.georgetowndc.com/go/cd-warehouse

I've picked up quite a few albums from there.

http://www.crookedbeat.com/

4/23/2010 6:40:46 PM

lol physical music

4/23/2010 6:51:11 PM

Quote :

"To act like independent record stores are ruthlessly jacking up the prices for no reason though is plain ignorance."

I never claimed that you jacked up your prices for no reason. Independently owned stores have an outdated business model that is much more expensive to operate and thus requires a higher markup percentage than that offered by large commercial retailers and online warehouses. Normally a faulty business model will result in a failed business in a very short time frame, but unfortunately hipsters and store employees continue to guilt people into buying from the independent stores long after it makes sense to actually do so.

Luckily for those of us who make purchasing decisions based on best economic practice, someone has created computer operated warehouses to replace the independent music stores and allow us to purchase a wider variety of music at a lower price.

[Edited on April 23, 2010 at 9:04 PM. Reason : for the record, the hip-hop and rap selection at School Kids has always been dismal]

4/23/2010 9:03:07 PM

Why would you wait to pay for it wednesday at all when you could have it now, free?

4/23/2010 9:16:49 PM

I miss Crooked Beat.

I also miss the north Raleigh Schoolkids and the two-story Schoolkids and the incredibly narrow I<3NYP.

4/23/2010 11:26:47 PM

^^^So many things to address in your post. I'll take them piece by piece.

Quote :

"Independently owned stores have an outdated business model that is much more expensive to operate and thus requires a higher markup percentage than that offered by large commercial retailers and online warehouses"

You have failed to address the factual information I provided regarding how commercial retailers are able to slash prices. It has nothing to do with costing more to operate the business. It has to do with being an electronics store or a department store versus specializing in just music. If you are a straight up MUSIC STORE (regardless of being independent or not--ask FYE, Sam Goody, etc.), it is impossible for you to offer new CDs at $9.99. It doesn't make the $9.99 model the correct or proper business model; not only have they devalued CDs by undercutting cost (sucking the music business dry in the process), the $9.99 model is cheating, and it creates a standard that stores that specialize in selling CDs and records simply cannot live up to. I like to think that one of the reasons people still come into Schoolkids is because music is what we do, we're not just an electronics store that happens to sell CDs (regardless of independent or commercial status). Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and the ilk have made it close to impossible for stores to specialize in selling music. Some still believe in music stores. Speaking of which...

Quote :

"unfortunately hipsters and store employees continue to guilt people into buying from the independent stores long after it makes sense to actually do so"

This argument holds little water. If it were just the guilt placed on them by employees and hipsters, why would they come to the store of their own accord? Wouldn't there have to be someone there prodding, guilt-tripping them all the way into the store? Why would so many people walk into Schoolkids by themselves, without the influence of others, if it were only guilt that drove them into the store? How does that make any sense? I like to think that people are still coming into Schoolkids for a number of reasons:
a)Nostalgia
b)To find records that they can not find elsewhere (except for on Amazon, and I've mentioned the problems with that)
c)To find comfort in their appreciation of lesser-known music, either from the staff or simply from the selection which can be catered to their tastes (I realize that a counter-argument to this could be the "record store snob" argument--that record store employees don't have conversations with customers but are snobbish--but I think this is a bogus generalization; a vast majority of the record store employees I know or have met have been really nice, approachable dudes)
d)To actually browse through stuff that you won't find anywhere else in Raleigh

etc. Maybe these things aren't worth anything to you, but I can attest to the fact that they're still worth something to a nice-sized group of people in Raleigh (there are even people on this board ^ being one that are regular shoppers at Schoolkids).

Quote :

"someone has created computer operated warehouses to replace the independent music stores and allow us to purchase a wider variety of music at a lower price"

I'm not even going to make the "human aspect" argument here that is so obvious to make, because I'm sure you've heard it before if you're this hard-nosed in real life about why little record stores suck and should be wiped out. I am going to point out that, yes, you can FIND a lot of music on the internet, if you know what you're looking for, but it's a lot harder to browse through a selection on Amazon. If you type "The National" into an Amazon search engine, you're going to find all the albums by the National. Then, when you click on an album, there will be a "Recommended if you like" section, but chances are, you'll have heard all the bands they suggest to you. You'll essentially be confining your tastes to stuff that sounds like what you've already bought; you'll be in the echo chamber. If you walk over to the National's section at a record store, maybe you'll see New Order or Neutral Milk Hotel and it'll pique your interest. Amazon isn't going to suggest New Order to you if you search for the National. Again, maybe YOU don't value these things, but that doesn't mean they don't have a place in the democratic society America is supposed to be.

Quote :

"for the record, the hip-hop and rap selection at School Kids has always been dismal"

So, essentially, you don't go to Schoolkids because it's just an outdated, dying business that jacks up prices and guilt trips people into coming in anyway AND you not only think that it isn't worth your time but you think it doesn't even have a place in societ BUT YOU'RE STILL GOING TO TALK SHIT ABOUT THE SELECTION?! How does that make any sense?! How do those two things go together? If you never go to the store how do you KNOW the hip-hop and rap selection has always been dismal? Plus, you spelled Schoolkids wrong. It's clear as day on the sign--one word: Schoolkids. And I GUARANTEE you we have shit in our hip-hop section that Best Buy doesn't have. I'm not saying our hip-hop selection is the best, but if you're into underground hip-hop, it isn't that bad. Do you think you're gonna find The Gift of Gab at Best Buy or Wal-Mart? I suppose there's a chance you might find him at Best Buy, but it isn't likely.

PS-A perfect example of the worth of record stores still today--Schoolkids is the only place in Raleigh carrying a new EP by the very popular semi-local band Future Islands, the In The Fall EP. This is a vinyl-only release that comes with a free digital download. We've had an abnormal amount of people come in to buy it because Schoolkids is the only place in Raleigh that carries this record. It was not released on CD, so if you want to have a copy of it, you have to get the vinyl. And if you want the vinyl from somewhere in Raleigh, you have to come to Schoolkids. Because that's the niche they offer. Once again, you could order it from Amazon, but it's going to arrive fucked up from shoddy packaging.

[Edited on April 24, 2010 at 12:16 AM. Reason : .]

4/24/2010 12:11:22 AM

I actually ordered In The Fall directly from Thrill Jockey.

BUT I did pick up the Dan Deacon/Future Islands split from Schoolkids. I was stoked to see ya'll had it.

4/24/2010 9:12:12 AM

so, back to the OP....

I'm disappointed by this album. awfully formulaic for the first 7 or 8 songs.

4/24/2010 9:20:25 AM

I, too, was underwhelmed by this. Especially after the Andre 3000 comparisons.

4/24/2010 10:13:39 AM

"Ghost in the machine," "5th Dimension," "Past my shades" and "Airplanes pt.2" are the only tracks i'm really enjoying right now. I just hate how many albums have to have the obligatory club song ("Bet I"), the song for the ladies ("Nothin on you"), the overly pop-y song ("The Kids"), etc...

4/24/2010 10:38:46 AM

Also...

Quote :

"i read somewhere that someone called him a "folk-rapper" in the sense of how he delivers his music"

There is not a single folky thing about this album.

4/24/2010 11:04:47 AM

ITT dillydalient cries about why he'll be out of work in a few years.

4/24/2010 11:10:09 AM

Wow...I wasn't crying. I was trying to have a logical discussion about these things. Apparently, you're thinking is at a much more childish level than that.

4/24/2010 11:18:04 AM

/thread reroute

i like airplanes

4/24/2010 11:50:12 AM

^^There's nothing childish about me telling you the harsh reality of the status of independent record stores in the years to come. Your stores have shit selection, they hire opinionated fucktards because they are cheap and not because they are good salespeople, and you don't handle vinyl any better than anyone else.

To top it all off, you are jacking up the prices way over what stuff sells for online. Your comment about how stores selling albums for $9.99 was bleeding the music business dry was fucking hilarious. You are not part of the music industry. The artists are, and the record labels are. They are still gettting the same amount of money, regardless of what it sells for from the retailer. If anything, they are more than happy for someone to come along and cut out the retail markup on their music, because it means the consumers can buy more music with their money now. If anything, YOU'RE the one that's been hurting the music industry all along.

4/24/2010 7:15:34 PM

"Magic" is fucking HORRIBLE

4/24/2010 9:05:26 PM

I hate to continue to derail this thread, but I can't not respond to that. You prove time and time again you have no idea what you're talking about. Not only do we handle vinyl better than commercial stores, we carry much more of it. Best Buy stores have very little to no vinyl selection. And, again, if you buy a record straight from Amazon, they will ship it in a box that is too big for the record, the record will rattle around in the box, and the sleeve will get bent like nobody's business. Sometimes, the record itself even arrives cracked in two. This is not some hypothetical; it happens all the time. Ask anybody who has bought a vinyl record directly from Amazon.

I don't know what your beef is with record stores. If you don't want to go to one, good, join the crowd. But it's silly to argue that they're worthless and that nobody should. It seems to be awfulluy mean-spirited and not really a logical viewpoint.

4/25/2010 12:02:20 AM

I've never had anything shipped by Amazon that was packaged exceptionally well. I don't know how Schoolkids is set up now, but I know they used to store vinyl in the back leaned over at an angle directly under a heat vent. I don't know what you consider to be proper handling of vinyl, but that isn't it.

you're proving over and over again why people are turning away from independent record stores and letting you go out of business. you fail to see the reality of the current changes in the music industry and fool yourself into thinking you provide a unique service that justifies exorbitant markups. maybe instead of arguing with me, you ought to think about finding another job that will still exist in 5 years.

4/25/2010 2:40:06 AM

Quote :

"Electrical Engineering"

^I wondered why you had such a long and pointy stick up your ass when it came to your amazing foresight into "job security".

4/25/2010 5:22:08 AM

can we get back to, or at least try talking about this album?

4/25/2010 11:16:04 AM

have only heard a few songs, but ain't really buying the comparisons to "the roots". sounds more like the typical pop rap that gets plugged these days (a la drake). i dunno, all sounds the same to me. SONGS 4 DA LADIES.

4/25/2010 11:45:52 AM

Looking back in context, the person who called him a folk rapper had to have been talking about his live experience.

I like the album a lot less because it gave me a trojan that I can't get rid of. Now I'll have to buy a 3rd computer in 9 months. (still saved more money than purchasing music and movies)

Airplanes two and beti are pretty awesome.

4/25/2010 12:08:29 PM

I too prefer compressed, lifeless digital music over vinyl.

Besides, music is meant to be played in the background with very little attention paid to it.

Why would anyone ever want to interact with something they appreciate and are proud of.

I'm so glad that I purchased this digital file rather than the record that came packaged with the CD, vinyl and MP3 download code.

4/25/2010 2:01:25 PM

I prefer superior quality digital media to a format that physically deteriorates as it is played and requires bulky equipment to play, limiting me to only listening in a home environment.

4/25/2010 2:38:48 PM

Quote :

"I like the album a lot less because it gave me a trojan that I can't get rid of. Now I'll have to buy a 3rd computer in 9 months. (still saved more money than purchasing music and movies) "

you dont have to buy a new pc ... wow durrr r wow durr

4/25/2010 4:23:40 PM

that's why i don't download pirated music...fuck a virus

instead of that i buy what i want and exchange music with friends, and if there's something that really stands out to me i'll buy it

4/25/2010 4:39:05 PM

I just DOWNLOADED this album and about to check it out...I found nothing on you about 6 months ago and really really liked it and told everyone to listen to BOB

hope the rest of the album lives up to my hype

4/25/2010 4:46:02 PM

well every antivirus i've ran hasn't worked so I'll have to reformat at best-which I don't know how to do or have a disc for.

4/25/2010 6:22:44 PM

Quote :

"I prefer superior quality digital media to a format that physically deteriorates as it is played and requires bulky equipment to play, limiting me to only listening in a home environment."

Quote :

"the record that came packaged with the CD, vinyl and MP3 download code."

Not to mention, there's something satisfying -- at least for a music purist -- to own a record and know your are one of only, say, 250 people who own that record.

Case in point, Record Store Day exclusives.

It's cool is fuck knowing I'm one of only 500 people who will ever own the Let's Wrestle/The Love Language split 7". They may not be your cup of tea, but I will always be one of only 250 people who own I Was Totally Destroying It's The Bleached Margin/Done Waiting 12".

Listen ... I realize how ridiculous it is that I have an entire room of my house devoted to physical media; but I'm proud of my collection, and that will never be something you digital folk will ever understand.

In 20 years I'll put one of my records on my player and hopefully convince my child of the beauty that is vinyl. Perhaps they too will feel that warmth that comes from the antiquated medium, maybe they too will appreciate the effort that goes into crafting the artwork in which the records come.

And maybe they won't, and they'll be just as happy with the digital information piped into the chips implanted into their brains at birth.

4/25/2010 8:02:30 PM

I mean, I don't have a burning need to feel special and unique.

I just want to listen to my music wherever I may be.

4/26/2010 12:42:27 PM

i like this record a lot but he is going to have the Wale problem. a lot of people like him but he's kind of his sounds are too diverse for any one genre of fans to nail down and "claim" him. the rap crowd is going to not like how pop he is, but he's more experimental than pop, so his whole album sounds like one big "Hey Ya", if you will.

i like it because of the diversity of sound essentially filtered through the medium of his rhymes (for the most part), but i can see how it would be an affront to people who prefer pure sounds and stability in what they expect from a "hip-hop" album.

4/26/2010 1:07:10 PM