#jameshudson

“What a lovely day!” is how I was feeling walking into the movie theater getting ready to watch this continuation of the classic series from the 1980s. After the end credits rolled, I was not feeling exactly the same way. I guess I must like the original story better than this adaptation. 

As far as the special effects and visual aesthetics go, this movie is phenomenal. But, if you wanted to base this movie off of the character portrayal it would not be Tom Hardy’s best effort. He does the role justice, he just has very few lines throughout the movie. He narrates the movie in parts but he grunts for most of the movie. This is exactly what was needed to make Max look like the dog that he is in this scenario but a little more dialogue would have been better for my taste. I’m just one critic though!! It was an excellent movie and I enjoyed it. Charlize Theron, as usual was great as Imperator Furiosa.

Action Bronson is an entity that many people are still unaware of, for whatever reason. The dude can rap, and apparently act, because all of his music videos are great. Mr. Wonderful is an album that strays from his original approach on Dr. Lecter or Well-Done. Many of the beats come from a producer named Party Supplies who helped Bronson to make both Blue Chips and Blue Chips 2. Both mixtapes are tremendous and deliver classic samples of people like Tracy Chapman and other obscure legends. 

Mr. Wonderful is a combination of Action Bronson’s hope to be mainstream but also to maintain his Hip-Hop mafioso persona. Tracks like “Baby Blue” which features Chance the Rapper and “Thug Love Story 2017″ accentuate Bronson’s BC feel. Bronsoliño extends his hand into the Hip-Hop melting pot and provides his unique non-perfectionist style. Many of the tracks are obviously finished tracks but on some he begins by exclaiming things like “Fuck, I’m sorry.” But, this is not a negative mark on Bronson’s rapping capability. Everyone knows he can rap but he shows the process of making a record to the very core. It’s similar to when Michael Jackson would have the demo versions of his songs on Off the Wall or Thriller.

From the moment you unseal the packaging of this album, you’re in for a treat. A$AP Rocky gives his most complete approach musically on At.Long.Last.A$AP with numerous features from many legends. A posthumous verse from Pimp C on “Wavybone” shows why he is missed. The song mainly about making money is still a great lyrical approach at that motif. Other great tracks include “Jukebox Joints” which features Kanye West and “Back Home” which features Flacko Senior (Mos Def).

Drake is a mainstay in the Hip-Hop community. Most of the time it’s a black/white issue (even though he’s mixed..ha), you love Drake or you hate Drake. His most recent release is no different in that there are two camps. People either love the whole thing or think that it’s garbage.

The unbridled truth is, this mixtape is alright. That’s it, alright. There’s no evolution from Nothing Was The Same and there’s some downfall from that same project. The beats are excellent, while the lyrics are lackluster. 

Kendrick Lamar has found a true niche with his most recent effort, To Pimp A Butterfly. He is the closest comparison to Tupac Shakur today. Conceptually, Kendrick consistently pushes the racial envelope. “King Kunta” is here because he has got a bone to pick and therefore this album is well-timed. With all the negativity between races in recent months and years, this album is another soon to be classic. Although it is not Kendrick’s best album, it is still necessary for the constant evolution of Hip-Hop.

The few tracks that are less than phenomenal still have great lyrical content. The interludes, “For Free?” and “For Sale?” extend Kendrick’s parameters in the genre of rap. He uses horns and spoken word in “For Free?” and “For Sale?” is the most atmospheric Kendrick song since “ADHD.” Some of his tracks come off as whiny and overachieving and therefore, the project lacks the wholeness that previous albums have.