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
1w ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Kendrick Lamar's sixth studio album 'GNX', Kendrick Lamar allowing himself to make music without an overacrching concept and Kendrick taking his LA centric sound to an international audience.
Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7 / 10
The Love List: wacced out murals, squabble up, peekabo, hey now, luther, gloria
TIMECODES:
2:17 Jack Antonoff
5:00 At a place where we don’t have to make any myths
5:21 2 years removed from Morale
5:46 N95
11:49 Biggest surprised drop since _____
14:09 Best feature
16:29 GNX
18:50 The intro
19:58 Spanish influence
25:3 ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
The allegations are flying in. Diddy is facing more allegations in civil court, and the number of allegations is staggering. The patented duo breaks things down.
TIMECODES
4:50 120 allegations coming forward
7:03 Going after the accomplices
11:03 Put doubt in celebrities
11:52 Trump comparison
12:18 Power dynamics
13:48 Every time their phone rings, their heart drops
14:59 Diddy’s name is so corrosive
17:29 What is going to be the burden of proof
17:36 50 cent + Ma$e on the right side of history
18:32 Who will get the pass and who won’t
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Album ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
Kendrick Lamar has finally dropped his reply diss track to Drake, 'Euphoria' and it's everything we thought it'd be and more. Join us as we bask in the heat of Kenrick Lamar cooking Drake for 6 straight minutes.
TIMECODES:
0:15 - Intro
1:30 - Euphoria is officially out / The oven mitts are out
3:10 - Kendrick Lamar is up right now
3:50 - People catching strays
4:23 - Kendrick Lamar's approach
5:33 - Demar is everyone's opp
6:42 - Diving into the diss track / Kendrick Lamar's musical density
8:41 - Is replay value important?
11:30 -The internet is judging Kendrick Lamar
12:00 - His Toronto Ac ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
Drake has responded to Kendrick Lamar in emphatic fashion with his unofficial track 'Push Ups (Drop & Give Me 50)'. We breakdown the lyrics and really discuss if this beef is winnable for anyone involved.
TIMECODES:
0:17 - Intro
3:54 - Thinking Drake's diss is AI
5:56 - What's Beef sample?
7:46 - Kendrick is at a disadvantage
8:47 - Contract discussions
9:46 - Distract lyric breakdown
12:36 - When is the Kendrick track dropping?
15:20 - Drake's writing speed
18:19 - Did Kendrick expect Drake to reply?
19:45 - Adriel is worried for Kendrick
2 ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Cordae's third studio album 'The Crossroads', why what he raps about hasn't changed since his debut and his features being the stars of his album.
Démar’s rating: 6 / 10
Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10
The Love List: No Bad News, Syrup Sandwiches, Summer Drops, Saturday Mornings
TIMECODES:
4:01 - How many Cordae songs do you have liked
7:00 - Young Nudy vs. Denzel Curry vs Cordae
10:44 - The intro/artist that doesn’t exist in hip-hop anymore
11:31 - What is the budget for this album?
14:45 - Being autobiographical sets him apart
15:20 - Best ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
The latest Grammys nominations just dropped so you know we had to make some predicitions. Since Adriel and Demar have lost all hope in the Grammys ever getting it right, we predict who we think is going to win in the most cynical fashion.
TIMECODES:
2:10 - Who was the Grammy’s fav white woman?
2:40 - Context going into the Grammy’s where race does matter
3:08 - Album of the Year always feels like a popularity contest
3:30 - Adriel is guessing Cowboy Carter wins
4:22 - Demar takes a victory lap with BRAT
4:55 - André 3000 getting on this list is dubious
5:38 - live show gave ..read more
Album Mode
1w ago
Drake's AI diss track 'Taylor Made Freestyle' is out but is it in good taste? We're talking about beef but are there some technological lines that you just don't cross? Also, Chris Brown and Quavo are beefing and its gone to blows over diss tracks. We're here breaking it down and laughing at the absurdity.
TIMECODES:
1:56 - Drake AI
3:30 - Taunting Kendrick Lamar
3:50 - One of the largest artists in the music using AI
4:08 - Using Tupac’s voice
6:28 - Demar thinks it’s wack
7:44 - Even Kendrick fans say he has to drop soon
9:44 - can’t have 3 weeks between every record
12:58 - Drake's strate ..read more
Album Mode
3w ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss SahBabii's fourth studio album 'Saaheem ', how amazing the prodcution is and his influences have become an unbearing weight around his music.
Démar’s rating: 6.5 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 4 / 10
P.S. Belt Boyz, Belt Boyz, Belt Boyz, Belt Boyz
The Love List: Belt Boyz, Viking, Mirror Picz, Sylvan Rd Ridin Down Dill
TIMECODES:
2:56 - Confused to how we got here
4:42 - Diehard fans
5:46 - artificially pushed to album mode
8:08 - The lyrics are not why we’re here
8:54 - Expected loops
9:32 - What is a belt boy
10:48 - Young Nudy comparison
11:29 - 2009-2013 Lex L ..read more
Album Mode
3w ago
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lil Uzi Vert's fourth studio album 'Eternal Atake 2', how the rest of rage (and hip hop in general) has passed them by and if they can ever recover from being Kid Cudi'd .
Démar’s rating: 3 / 10
Adriel’s rating: 3.5 / 10
P.S. Meteor Man has gotta be Uzi's worst song ever... Right?
The Love List: We Good, Chips and Dip, Space High
TIMECODES:
1:06 - Demar not looking forward to EA2
1:48 - Lil Uzi’s best album?
5:25 - Debut album numbers
6:50 - Lil Uzi being left behind
10:45 - Liked Songs on Spotify
11:53 - Past Lil Uzi Reviews
13:01 - Big Time Rush
16:55 ..read more
Album Mode
1M ago
Somehow we've made it to 200 album reviews on Album mode! Shoutout to everyone who's been following us since the days of only video and shoutout to everyone who's subscribed since we've made the jump to YouTube. Here's to 200 more!
TIMECODES:
3:14 - Taylor Swift is one of the more interesting ones
4:11 - Cleo Sol/biggest regrets
7:18 - Leaders on the Nas resurgence
8:05 - Separating the narrative from the artist
10:48 - Kawhi Leonard’s album
11:34 - NewJeans
12:49 - Démar congratulates himself
13:22 - Vince Staples
13:57 - High on Gunna
14:57 - Post Malone
15:52 - Adriel ta ..read more