Album Mode

This week Demar and Adriel discuss SZA’s second studio album ‘SOS’, what SZA’s return means to R&B and whether dabbling in different genre’s make sense for her. Demar’s rating: 6.5 Adriel’s rating: 7.5 P.S. SZA is back baby! The Love List: Kill Bill, Blind, Seek & Destroy, I Hate U, Gone Girl Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Metro Boomin’s second studio album ‘Heroes & Villains’, Why he might be top 5 hip hop producers ever and his ever present themes. Demar’s rating: 8.5 Adriel’s rating: 8.5 The Love List: Creepin’, Metro Spider, Walk Em Down, Umbrella, Feel The Fiyaaaah Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Stormzy’s third studio album ‘This Is What I Mean’, it’s personal message and Stormzy’s continual drift from traditional hip hop to gospel. Demar’s rating: 8.5 Adriel’s rating: 8 The Love List: Need You, My Presidents Are Black, Holy Spirit, Hide & Seek Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom:...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss BROCKHMAPTON’s final albums ‘The Family’ and ‘TM’, what made BROCKHAMPTON so special, potential solo careers for the members and the legacy of BROCKHAMPTON’s run. The Family: Demar’s rating: 4 Adriel’s rating: 6 TM: Demar’s rating: 5.5 Adriel’s rating: 4.5 P.S. BROCKHAMPTON forever. The Love List: All That, NEW SHOES, KEEP IT SOUTHERN, DUCT TAPE, The Ending, The...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Nas’ sixteenth studio album ‘King’s Disease 3’, if this is the best trilogy in hip hop history, and why it’s less about how Nas raps but what he raps about now. Demar’s rating: 8.5 Adriel’s rating: 8.5 *NO SKIPS* The Love List: Ghetto Reporter, Thun, I’m on Fire, Til My Last Breath, Michael & Quincy Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmi...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Drake and 21 Savage’s collab album ‘Her Loss’, why this sound more like Drake featuring 21 Savage, Drake concentrating on one sound and Drake’s habitual line stepping. Demar’s rating: 7.5 Adriel’s rating: 8 P.S. Zesty Drake is best Drake. - D The Love List: Rich Flex, Spin Bout U, Pussy & Millions, Middle of the Ocean, Broke Boyz Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ T...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Smino’s third studio album ‘Luv 4 Rent’, his everchanging vocals, Smino’s conversation with blackness, and whether he’s underground. Demar’s rating: 9 Adriel’s rating: 9 P.S. Kendrick Lamar is definitely scare the hoes music The Love List: 90 Proof, Pro Freak, Settle Down, Pudgy, No L’s Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album ‘Midnights’, her punchline focused lyrics and lack of moves left as an artist. Demar’s rating: 6 Adriel’s rating: 5.5 P.S. Taylor Swift needs a Drake feature. The Love List: Karma, Vigilante Shit, Anti-Hero, Snow on the Beach Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Gree...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Lil Baby’s third studio album “It’s Only Me”, its repetitive production and feeding his fan base. Demar’s rating: 3.5 Adriel’s rating : 6 Love List: Real Spill, Forever, California Breeze Follow us: Instagram/Twitter/TikTok @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileydotcom @DemarJGrant Clubhouse/Greenroom: @Demar @AdrielSmiley

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Willows fifth studio album ‘’, Willow’s transition to rock and Paramore’s unrelenting influence. Demar’s rating: 6.5 Adriel’s rating: 6 The Love List: it's my fault, WHY?, hover like a GODDESS, Falling Endlessly Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileydotcom @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @adrielsmiley

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Freddie Gibbs’s latest studio album ‘$oul $old $eparately’, which album is Gibbs’ best album and what the bunny motif means. Demar’s rating: 8.5 Adriel’s rating: 8.5 The Love List: Couldn’t Be Done, PYS, Gold Rings, Grandma’s Stove P.S. Shoutout to the Dinner Party group chat. Alfredo is still the best Gibbs album. – D Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @Alb...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Ari Lennox’s second studio album ‘age/sex/location’, what it’ll take for Lennox to really pop and her lowkey explicit lyrics. Demar’s rating: 9 Adriel’s rating: 9 The Love List: POF, Leak It, Waste My Time, Pressure Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @adrielsmiley

This week Demar and Adriel discuss DJ Khaled’s thirteenth studio album ‘GOD DID’, its lack of creativity and whether DJ Khaled is in on the joke. Demar’s rating: 4 Adriel’s rating: 5 The Love List: GOD DID, BILLS PAID, THESE STREETS KNOW MY NAME Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @adrielsmiley

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Aitch’s debut studio album ‘Close to Home’, where Aitch fits in the UK music hierarchy and whether he’s a singles or albums artist. Demar’s rating: 5.5 Adriel’s rating: 6 The Love List: 1989, Baby, 100x, Fuego Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @adrielsmiley

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Megan Thee Stallion’s second studio album ‘Traumazine’, Megan's stature among hip hop's elite rappers and the project's overshadowed features. Demar’s rating: 8 Adriel’s rating: 7.5 The Love List: Anxiety, Flip Flop, Ms. Nasty, Plan B, Her Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @adrie...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Calvin Harris’s sixth studio album ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2’, whether he’s DJ Khalid East and why important artists like Tyler the Creator or Doja Cat aren’t on the project . Demar’s rating: 3 Adriel’s rating: Incomplete The Love List: New To You Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Beyoncé’s seventh studio album ‘Renaissance’, her unchallenged stature in music and how she’s maintained relevance over a 20+ year career. Demar’s rating: 7 Adriel’s rating: 7 **NO SKIPS** (Sorta) The Love List: CUFF IT, BREAK MY SOUL, CHURCH GIRL, THIQUE Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroo...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Lizzo fourth studio album ‘Special’, its relentless optimism and how nobody in the industry can do what she does. Demar’s rating: 9 Adriel’s rating: 8 **NO SKIPS** The Love List: About Damn Time, Naked, The Sign, Everybody’s Gay, Birthday Girl Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @a...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Brent Faiyaz’s sophomore album Wasteland, what the Bren Faiyaz sound is and how toxic a person can really be. Demar’s rating: 9 Adriel’s rating: 8.5 The Love List: LOOSE CHANGE, GHETTO GATSBY, PRICE OF FAME, DEAD MAN WALKING, ADDICTIONS, ROLE MODEL Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @dem...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss what they deem to be the best albums of 2022 so far, why Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Mr. Moral & the Big Steppers’ isn’t on their lists and their anticipation levels for the rest of the year. Honorable mentions (00:01:50) Top 5’s (00:11:25) Follow us: Twitter / Instagram / TikTok @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileydotcom @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / SpotifyLive @Demar @AdrielSmiley

Album Mode is officially 100 episodes deep! Adriel and Demar do some reminiscing about their journey to where the pod is now, their favourite reviews and how CJRU was fertile breeding ground for a bunch of journalist's ideas.

EPISODE 100 IS HERE!! This week Demar and Adriel discuss Giveon’s debut album ‘Give or Take’, the idea of a Giveon “sound” and his specific brand of toxicity. Demar’s rating: 6 Adriel’s rating: 5.5 The Love List: Let Me Go, Make You Mine, dec 11th, Tryna Be, Remind Me Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @adrielsmile...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Drake’s seventh studio album ‘Honestly, Nevermind’, Drake finally being unpredictable and him returning to being an artist rather than a scientist. Demar’s rating: 6.5 Adriel’s rating: 6.5 The Love List: Massive, Texts Go Green, Jimmy Cooks, Flights Booked PS. Is there a single song that’s more out of place than Jimmy Cooks on this album? It’s a great song, but u...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss Post Malone’s latest album ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’, the deterioration of his sound and whether he needs to lean back towards hip hop. Demar’s rating: 3.5 Adriel’s rating: 5 The Love List: Cooped Up, Lemon Tree, I Like You, Love/Hate Letter To Alcohol (kinda) P.S. Had to knock this one down an extra .5 after listening to it a few more times after the pod - Demar...

This week Demar and Adriel discuss UMI’s debut album ‘Forest in the City’, its remarkable cohesion and themes of energy transfer. Demar’s rating: 8.5 Adriel’s rating: 8.5 The Love List: what would u do?, whatever u like, bird’s eye view, wish that i could Follow us: Twitter / Instagram/ TikTok: @AlbumModePod @AdrielSmileyOfficial @DemarjGrant Clubhouse / Greenroom: @demar @adrielsmiley