Album Mode
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Welcome to Album Mode where Toronto Star staff reporter, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist's path to its release.
Album Mode
2d ago
Video has finally emerged showing some of the physical abuse Cassie has endured and Diddy thought an video apology was an appropriate response to that... You're only apologizing because the video is public, not for anything else...
TIMECODES:
00:16 - Intro
01:26 - The Sickening Video
04:10 - Diddy felt untouchable
06:09 - Why does this video still exist?
09:42 - Media Members defending Diddy
13:43 - Diddy involving his son
16:15 - The Oldheads in Hip-Hop
20:05 - Is J. Cole the only good guy left?
22:00 - Tyga & Kylie
24:42 - Will Jay-Z be next?
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YOUTUBE:
https://www.yout ..read more
Album Mode
2d ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Billie Eilish's third studio album 'HIT ME HARD AND SOFT', Eilish's versatility accidentally causing her to make blander music and her ever-stellar songwriting.
Démar’s rating: 6 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 6 / 10
The Love List: LUNCH, L'AMOUR DE MA VIE, THE DINER, BITTERSUITE, BLUE
2:07 First time hearing Billie
5:08 Happier than ever left Demar underwhelmed
7:05 What she said about the project and the title
7:53 Liking her popular songs
10:06 Skinny as the introduction
13:40 Not as many songs that are unique to her
15:43 Drake issue in reverse
18:35 Soun ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
DJ Akademiks's fat is back in the fire after a string of hip hop sexual misconduct allegations that have been plaguing 2024. Ak is facing a new lawsuit accusing him of rape, sexual assault, and defamation by Fauziya “Ziya” Abashe for an alleged incident in 2022. The duo breakdown what it means for Ak and hip hop as sexual misconduct allegations continue to pile up against men in the industry. Then we talk about what we've been spinning lately and possible song of the summer candidates.
TIMECODES:
3:18 - Ak and a lot of venom for Rory
3:55 - Usually when Reddit is right about something it is n ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Gunna's fifth studio album 'One of Wun', its surprisingly impressive production and Gunna never killing the vibe.
Démar’s rating: 3 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 5.5 / 10
The Love List: hakuna matata, back in the a, whatsapp, one of wun
TIMECODES:
5:41 - Demar’s favourite Gunna song
8:30 - Very little hype around this album
9:45 - Is there another hit we can find
10:45 - Gunna is somehow getting better
12:00 - Title track - I understand why you like listening to it
12:50 - Production is the best part of the project
15:10 - Still bangs without knowing the wo ..read more
Album Mode
2w ago
Kendrick Lamar has obliterated Drake in the beef with the hit diss song 'Not Like Us' with 'meet the grahams' to set it up. Drake had a chance in this beef but it look like that time is over and he's left to salvage what's left of his reputation. Adriel and Demar analyze how Kendrick dismantled Drake in the beef, whether the pyrrhic victory is worth it and if Drake is still too big to fail.
TIMECODES:
4:20 - Demar is always right
7:05 - Mistake with family matters (20v1)
9:10 - The Nuke didn't nuke
9:40 - New Ho king
11:48 -It’s almost as if Family matters didn’t happen
14:16 - Kendrick Lama ..read more
Album Mode
2w ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss 4Batz's first mixtape 'U Made Me a St4r', Aaliyah's sound inspiring another R&B revival and whether 4Batz is just Brent Faiyaz with a mask on.
Démar’s rating: 7 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 8 / 10
The Love List: act i: stickerz "99", act ii: date @ 8, act vi: made man, act v: there goes another vase, get out yo feelings ho
TIMECODES:
5:44 Do we need to see 4batz face?
10:25 OVO deal
13:12 2000’s R&B is making a comeback
14:57 Sounds more like real instruments
15:40 Innovations on Aaliyah's sound
21:35 How much can he really sing?
25:26 He is open to bein ..read more
Album Mode
3w ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss PARTYNEXTDOOR's fourth studio album 'PARTYNEXTDOOR 4', circling back on his sound and whether he's the forefather of toxic R&B.
Démar’s rating: 4 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 8 / 10
The Love List: Cheers, Stuck In My Ways, Make It To The Morning
TIMECODES:
3:07 - Favorite from the PND series
6:54 - Cheers single
8:57 - Album for the hardcore fans
9:17 - Control intro
12:03 - Image that is a part of their music
14:18 - Same beat as Lose My Mind
17:33 - The production can be soft but the drums hit heavy
19:30 - Who does his sound as good as him
21:01 ..read more
Album Mode
1M ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Taylor Swift's 11th studio album 'The Tortured Poets Department', the boring production, Taylor's hyper-literal lyrics and her minimal singing range.
Démar’s rating: 3 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 3 / 10
The Love List: Florida!!!, I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can), thanK you aIMee, I Look in People's Windows
TIMECODES:
2:10 - Drake should write for Taylor
3:28 - Previous scores
6:27 - Competent group
7:44 - No single
8:16 - Shrinking the world
9:46 - Slow album
12:09 - So boring Demar had to stop listening
14:20 - Carly Rae Jepsen copycat
16:11 - Swearing ..read more
Album Mode
1M ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Future and Metro Boomin's collaborative album 'We Still Don't Trust You', Future's strained vocals and Future being one of the rappers with minimal skill at rapping.
Démar’s rating: 4 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 7 / 10
The Love List: We Still Don't Trust, Nights Like This, Nobody Knows My Struggle, Crossed Out, Red Leather
TIMECODES:
1:54 - First album was the single for the 2nd album
2:52 - Future establishing himself as an album artist
6:54 - This is what we have been begging Drake to do
09:34 - Future got the Weeknd pack
11:24 ..read more
Album Mode
1M ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss J. Cole's surprise mixtape 'Might Delete Later', his Kendrick Lamar diss, his apology to Kendrick Lamar and how he's destroyed the bravado in his music.
Démar’s rating: 6 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 9 / 10
The Love List: H.Y.B., Stealth Mode, Stickz N Stonez, Pricey
TIMECODES:
2:25 Surprise drop
3:54 Demar was in bed
5:40 Pre-apology J. Cole
10:07 The music sounds different and hollow
11:40 People not living their rhymes
12:25 Connecting his first song with his last song
14:58 Apologizing is not hip-hop
15:42 Drake the shop comparison
21:54 The free ..read more