Those Hip Hop Guys: Abrupt album reviews of Eminem, N.E.R.D., G-Eazy, Jeezy

Damon 'Jank' Joy
Special to the Journal Sentinel
This photo provided by Interscope Records shows rapper Eminem new album, "Revival," his ninth studio album.

So many albums dropped this week that I didn’t know where to start. All I know is that Eminem dropped, and any rapper who dropped on the same day clearly doesn’t care about his/her numbers. 

Eminem: 'Revival' 

I’ve decided I’m going to discuss the good things about this album instead of the bad, since it’s mostly trash. I found two songs on “Revival” that reminded me of the Em we all knew and loved. “Framed” and “Offended” took me back to the grand ol’ Slim Shady days. Other than that, it’s a discourse on America (and its president) with a plethora of women singing overly dramatic hooks. I know I said I wouldn’t concentrate on the bad, but can we all now admit that Rick Rubin has been making the same rap song for 30-plus years? I’m going to stop there before the hipster tears start to fall.  

N.E.R.D.: 'No One Ever Really Dies' 

I’m almost positive these guys watched "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou" stood up, walked into the studio and made "No One Ever Really Dies." I can hear components of "The Life Aquatic" throughout N.E.R.D.’s new work and I love it. Whether it was on purpose or not, it works. It’s pop without being corny and theatrical without sounding like a Nike commercial. Also, Andre 3000. 

G-Eazy: 'The Beautiful & Damned' 

I don’t want to like this album. I’ve seen G-Eazy perform with Britney Spears and other pop icons, and my inner backpacker has his nose in the air. However, this album slaps. G-Eazy easily separates himself from most trap rappers as he is a seasoned lyricist. You have to put the Fonzie look aside and give it a listen. 

Jeezy: 'Pressure' 

This is your average Jeezy album. Jeezy is so far removed from his days trappin' in the bando (drug dealing) that it’s sort of hard to believe. That said, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar appear on "American Dream." Guess who destroys the track. Wrong; it was J. Cole. 

After I finished listening to all those albums, I realized there’s a six-degrees-of-separation thing happening. Eminem features Ed Sheeran. Ed Sheeran is also featured on N.E.R.D.’s album. Kendrick Lamar is a feature on N.E.R.D.’s album. Kendrick is also on Jeezy’s album. I think there is more, but I just gave myself a headache thinking about it.