Album Mode

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Beyoncé's eighth studio album 'Cowboy Carter', pandering to white people and her approaching Michael Jackson status. Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 7.5 / 10 The Love List: BODYGUARD, YA YA, RIIVERDANCE, II MOST WANTED, LEVII'S JEANS TIMECODES:  4:32 - A teenager in 2024 listening to Beyonce for the first time 5:29 - Features we haven’t heard before 5:5...

Sean 'Diddy' Combs just got his houses in LA and Miami raided by Homeland Security, does that mean he's done for? Also Demar and Adriel take sides in the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef, ranking the so-called 'Big 3'. TIMECODES: 00:50 Diddy’s House gets Raided  6:50 Diddy is going down  12:12 Kendrick Lamar shoots at Drake  18:18 Remembering 2013 Hip-Hop Twitter  24:20 Kendrick Lamar is more critica...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Future and Metro Boomin's collaborative album 'We Don't Trust You', Metro Boomin being a top 10 producer in hip hop history and Kendrick Lamar's instant classic diss verse on 'Like That'. Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 7 / 10 The Love List: Like That, Type Shit, Claustrophobic, WTFYM, Cinderella TIMECODES: 3:42 Past reviews/collaborations  9:10  2 Intr...

The US government wants to ban TikTok or at least have an American company own, what does that mean for music creation and discover? Demar and Adriel break it down. Vybz Kartel, the Jamaican Drake, just won his murder conviction appeal but that doesn't necessarily mean he's getting out. The duo talk about what it means if he does. P.S. Chinese national security laws require that all Chinese compan...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Justin Timberlake's sixth studio album, whether we should care about his music anymore and if the rest of music has lapped him creatively. Démar’s rating: 4 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 5.5 / 10 The Love List: Technicolor, Sanctified, Flame TIMECODES: 4:50 - Similar to the 3-point shot 8:00 - Démar loves all women   9:35  - The direction of the slower singles 10:00 - JT...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Flo Millis second studio album, her playful yet gritty songs and the art of the remix. Démar’s rating: 8 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 7 / 10 The Love List: Never Lose Me (every version), Edible, Can't Stay Mad, Life Hack, Understand TIMECODES: 2:43 - Flo Mili fans around Adriel’s orbit 6:23 - Bryson Tiller has the best verse on Never Lose Me 6:55 - 3rd version of the so...

James Blake and Kanye West are on a rampage. Blake has joined the choir of artists to denounce Spotify and lament the streaming ecosystem, saying it doesn't pay enough and that listeners have been brainwashed into thinking music is free. Kanye is thinking of putting Vulture 2 out but not on streaming. Demar and Andriel break it down and wonder if it's even possible to escape streaming today. TIMEC...

This week, Démar and Adriel discuss Ariana Grande's seventh studio album, 'Eternal Sunshine', her competency but lack of risk-taking and her influences bleeding through all of her songs. Démar’s rating: 6.5 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 5 / 10 The Love List: eternal sunshine, the boy is mine, don't wanna break up again TIMECODES: 3:42 Made for a group class of elderly’s 4:01 GTA music 4:38 Harry Styles co...

A second person has come forward against Diddy with accusations of  sexual assault, illicit behavior Demar and Adriel give their thoughts about the whole ordeal. Also, Meek Mill is somehow the butt of the joke despite Diddy's alleged acts, the duo tackle the news. TIMECODES: 1:30 Lil Rod accused Diddy of assault 3:25 Twitter jokes 3:47 Adriel reading tweets / AK 6:44 Meek Mill has been embarrassin...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Schoolboy Q's sixth album, 'Blue Lips', his status as a blog era legend and his adoption of jazz into his dark, muddy sound. Démar’s rating: 7 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 9 / 10 The Love List: Pop, Blueslides, Cooties, oHio, Movie, Lost Times TIMECODES: 1:10 - TDE inverted 03:09 - Crash Talk 03:38 - Demar didn’t get Schoolboy Q 06:57 - Collard Greens 10:34 - Legend of...

Because Adriel shut him down in the past, Démar is doubling down on his Yeat-SGA take while also drawing some other comparisons between the hip hop world and the NBA. It's a fun one, strap in P.S. This was recorded before the additional Diddy allegations. That episode will be dropping on Wednesday TIMECODES: 0:45 All-star weekend 02:42 - SGA is higher than Yeat 05:15 - Lil Baby is D Rose 07:04 - I...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss MGMT's first album in 6 years, 'Loss of Life', the maturation of their listeners and it's pump fake in production. Also, is it possible for a song to be both properly written and underwritten? Démar’s rating: 8 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 7.5 / 10 The Love List: People In The Street, Bubblegum Dog, Nothing To Declare, Phradie's Song, I Wish I Was Joking P.S. I know it'...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Yeat's fourth studio album '2093', its novel cyberpunk aesthetic and whether he's jumped ahead of Travis Scott and Playboi Carti. Démar’s rating: 9.5 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 6 / 10 The Love List: Psycho CEO, Shade, ILUV, As We Speak, Power Trip, Stand On It P.S. I'm not backing down from my score, I'll see y'all in 2025 when you agree with me, as usual - D. Also Te...

Demar and Adriel react to the Super Bowl halftime show, reminisce on the best Super Bowl in history and who should do the next one. Taylor Swift is probably gonna be in the building for the next one so... I guess it's an easy call to make? Maybe even Drake? The duo also talk about Little Simz's latest EP 'Drop 7' and albums their looking forward to coming this year. TIMECODES: 04:23 - There is dan...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's collab album 'Vultures 1', whether its possible to divorce the art from the artist and how Kanye became deadweight on his own album. Démar’s rating: 2.5 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 4 / 10 The Love List: BURN, FUCK SUMN, VULTURES P.S. For new Album Mode listeners, the NBA Youngboy zone is when we no longer review an artist's music. For Y...

Demar and Adriel recap the Grammys and breakdown why the award continues to lose relevance. Also the duo catch up on the TikTok and UMG negotiation breakdown, independent artists are up! P.S. Hard times for Drew Walls and his content with the UMG negotiations, keep him in your prayers TIMECODES: 0:58 - Grammys who cares 8:10 - Rod Wave should be considered a mainstream artist 9:58 - Understanding...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss The Last Dinner Party's debut studio album 'Prelude to Ecstasy', their tug of war between sexuality and religion and their industry plant allegations. Démar’s rating: 9 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 9 / 10 The Love List: Sinner, Burn Alive, Prelude To Ecstasy, The Feminine Urge, Nothing Matters TIMECODES: 2:39 - Just a band 4:03 - Industry plant allegations 7:40 - Hip-Ho...

We've got beef again! Nicki Minaj is livid over a few sneak disses from Megan Thee Stallion in her single 'Hiss'... In response she dropped 'Big Foot' and it's one of the worst diss track in hip hop history. Let's discuss. TIMECODES: 1:00 Don’t know if it’s real beef 5:50 Demar needs to cut this part (finding info) 7:05 People are selective on what lines get a rise out of people 7:42 Big Foot 12:1...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Benny the Butcher's fourth studio album 'Everybody Can't Go', building a bridge between mainstream and underground production and leveling up as an artist. Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 8.5 / 10 The Love List: Jermaine's Graduation, BRON, How To Rap, One Foot In, TIMECODES: 1:30 - Demar can’t stand Westside Gunn's voice 3:22 - 2000’s style coming back...

We've somehow come full circle in Drake's career and old heads are calling him "not hip hop" again. This time is Yasiin Bey / Mos Def who can't grasp versitility. Also, are Playboi Carti's new singles just 2015 Future knock offs? The duo breakdown and respond to the discourse. *NOTE*: This episode was recorded before Pitchfork's layoffs were announced or there'd be a lengthy conversation. Pitchfor...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss 21 Savage's third solo album 'American Dream', his constant improvement and how he's finally found a way to incorporate his love for R&B in his music. Démar’s rating: 7 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 6.5 / 10 The Love List: all of me, n.h.i.e., prove it, dark days TIMECODES: 6:30 the trailer 9:20 21 being born in Uk 10:50 collaboration projects 15:08 favourite 21 song...

In the era of TikTok songs and sporatic singles you know we had to give our top 10 singles of 2023 2023. Adriel and Démar list their best singles of the year and come to realize there's a difference between music listeners who are 'outside' versus 'inside' it's a weird discovery, so strap in for the last pod of the year. P.S. If Boy's a Liar isn't in your top 10 we need to have a serious conversat...

Finally the episode you've all been waiting for, the top 10 albums of 2023. Adriel and Démar list their best albums of the year and hand out some supperlatives to cap off 2023. There's some surprises in both lists so strap in for our year-ender. TIMECODES: 2:46 - #10’s 6:50 - #9’s 7:00 - Jessie Ware is the Jimmy Butler of music 10:05 - Demar has been saying Yeat's name for years 12:03 - #8’s 19:23...

This week Démar and Adriel discuss the sequel to Nicki Minaj's influential debut album, Pink Friday 2 and scourge of lazy samples in modern hip hop. Démar’s rating: 7 / 10 Adriel’s rating: 7.5 / 10 The Love List: RNB, Everybody, Red Ruby Da Sleeze, Pink Birthday, Cowgirl TIMECODES: 3:20 - Women in hip-hop 3:52 - Nicki top 50? 5:09 - Popstar Nicki 6:50 - Monster 8:04 - Good Friday’s 12:25 - Demar l...

The Music year is nearly over so Demar and Adriel recap their favourite stories. Taylor Swift, Diddy, DJ Envy, Tory Lanez all included and Frank Ocean catches another stray. TIMECODES: 4:55 - Redefining what success is 9:37 - A lot of it is noise 12:15 - We have the same 3 / DJ Envy 15:50 - Breakfast Club documentary (we gotta do it now) 17:23 - DJ Envy is going to be fine 18:30 - 2000s mindset 19...