Album Review: GRIP – “STILL (5 & A F*** You)”

GRIP – STILL (5 & A F*** You) (Deluxe) – Album Review 

Artist: GRIP
Album: “STILL (5 & A F*** You) (Deluxe)
Release Date: July 7, 2023
Label: Shady Records/Stray Society
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Rating: ★★★★★★★★★✩ 9/10

Atlanta rapper GRIP is back again after releasing his very well received album “I Died For This!?” 2 years ago, followed by the lesser noticed but worth your time “5 & A F*** You” last year. GRIP is known for being a gritty-flowed new school artist that doesn’t have to rely on whatever sound is currently trending. In my opinion, this makes him very under-rated as an artist. It’s criminal that he’s not blown up internationally yet.

Now GRIP is back with a short and sweet, 11-track Deluxe/Follow up album to compliment the first “5 & A F*** You” project. Maybe “sweet” is the wrong word to describe this one. This might be the most I’ve ever seen GRIP let go of his inner aggression and let everything loose. If the title didn’t already make it clear enough, you’ll understand once you push play on track one.

  1. Intro

The album kicks off with an intro that sets the tone for an intense, open and honest journey of musical gritty wordplay. The track begins with a cold, haunting atmospheric instrumental. The combination of eerie synths and deep basslines do their part in drawing the listener in. Something about GRIP’s immediately flow gives off a slightly defeated vibe. By the end of the track, his tempo picks up in such a commanding way. By the end of the track I can’t help but feel personally charged by the Contagious energy spewing from all aspects of the intro. As far as an intro track, it does a great job hooking listeners and demanding their attention for the next 30 minutes.

  1. Fetch

I love the hard-hitting drums on this one. The extra buoyant basslines are infectiously pleasing as backdrop for the song. In terms of lyricism, GRIP’s clever wordplay is on full display as he carefully weaves together punchlines and metaphors.

  1. Numbers 

The Fast-flow rap thing has been done a million times at this point, but it can still be done without being overdone. This track is an example of that. My knee-jerk reaction is to say I hear a bit of JID influence in the flow. Maybe it’s the laid-back but somehow energetic delivery that I’m such a sucker for. Either way, the key strength in this track lies within the versatility of GRIP’s flows. On top of that, the song deserves praise for being able to paint vivid pictures with words while maintaining the focus of even the most casual listeners.

  1. SS 

“SS” is the biggest standout track on the album so far. The unapologetically commanding presence and style of this track gets a chef kiss from me. GRIP could have just thrown down flashy bars and called it a day, but the way he switches his flow so effortlessly is magical. I love everything about this track, down to the gritty flow and the well-placed vocal samples.

  1. Bare 

This might be the most emotionally vulnerable state I’ve ever seen GRIP in. It’s hard not to feel your heart strings being pulled by the raw, emotional lyrics. Much like the track’s name, beat is very stripped down without feeling skeletal. The delicate piano is stands out carefully because of how muted the rest of the instrumental sounds. It’s beautifully crafted in such a captivating way. I can’t believe this track ends with “I wrote this sh_t while I was taking a dump” and it didn’t do anything to take away from otherwise tear-jerking track. Could this be some of Eminem’s trademarked writing style rubbing off on GRIP?

  1. Keys 

Keys mostly takes a well needed breather from the heavier subjects some of the previous tracks dealt with. It leads with a slower, mesmerizingly swimmy beat. Although the instrumental is subtle, the lyrics live into themes of struggling with identity and dealing with choosing the correct paths life gives us. It can also be seen as a celebratory track. When you’re looking at it in that light, it becomes a song about GRIP looking back on his success and what it took to get here.

  1. Time 

The melodic instrumental on this track is so incredibly soothing.  I feel like my eardrums are gently receiving a sugar scrub massage. The female vocal samples that dip in and out tie the production together perfectly.  The song’s structure adds an extra layer of depth to “Time.” The verses gradually unfold, building on one another and unraveling different aspects of the theme. This track is yet another testament to his storytelling abilities and mature growth as an artist.

  1. Hyperbole

Honestly, I wasn’t sure where this track was going when it started with a raspily delivered “B–ch!… B–ch. B–ch!!”.  It’s definitely not a track for GRIP’s easier listening fans. This is probably the most acidic, hard to swallow track on the album. It’s also quite a banger! Fans of “Aight!” by Westside Boogie will probably enjoy this one.

  1. Angels

This is my favorite track on the entire album; easily.  As the track title suggests, “Angels” musically transcends earthly limits with it’s powerful, soulful production and meaningful lyrics. The track is nothing short of masterpiece. GRIP’s super organic, realistic delivery adds that much more to already Aw-inspiring song.

  1. Still 

Still deals with the frustrations that come with being better than most of your hip-hop colleagues, without receiving nearly the same amount of respect. As a hip-hop head myself, it’s not hard to see his point with this one. It must be awfully tempting to sellout when it seems like that’s the only way to make a big name for yourself in hip-hop. This track is the unfinished story of an underdog/rags to riches story that hasn’t been completed yet. This is a “just wait and see” kind of track.

  1. You

As we reach the album’s conclusion, we come to the track “You”. The production of “You” sets a melancholic and atmospheric tone right from the start. The album is fittingly ending on a very self-reflective track. GRIP wonders how his life could have played out different if he would have made a name for himself sooner. On the same token, he imagines the hundreds of ways he could have wound up dead. I suppose within this track, GRIP is happy for the life he has when he considers how it could be. In a clever way, he’s using this song as a sort of letter filled with advice to his younger self. 

From the thought-provoking Intro track to the soulful finale “You,” GRIP takes listeners on a deeply personal journey through themes of self-discovery, love, and vulnerability. At this point, GRIP deserves to be brought up in every conversation revolving around the best of this generation. 

Written by: CeaTee Reviews
Instagram: CeaTee_Reviews
Threads: CeaTee_Reviews 

Watch: Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine & Paul Rosenberg surprise 50 Cent at his birthday party

Fiddy might have rapped about partying ‘like it’s your birthday’, on his iconic single “In Da Club,” from Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ album but it appears 50 Cent favors a more low-key approach when it comes to his own born day.

West London locals were no doubt rather surprised to see the musician and actor, who was in London to perform at the Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park on Saturday, enjoying a belated birthday celebration at Somalian restaurant, The Village, on Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, on Sunday evening.

Friends, including music moguls Dr. Dre, Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg, Fredwreck and Jimmy Iovine who co-founded the Beats Electronics brand in California in 2006, put on a surprise belated birthday bash for the star, who actually turned 48 on July 6, 2023. Unfortunately, Eminem was missing.

Check out pictures and videos below:

Will.i.am wants to produce for Eminem

Will.i.am has recently sat down with DJ Whoo Kid on the fifth episode of Whoo’s House Podcast where the two briefly talked about Eminem.

DJ Whoo Kid: You stood up for Eminem in the past. Any projects you ever worked with him? How far is he from you?

Will.i.am: We just toured together in the beginning. Never really had the opportunity of really going in the studio with the dude. He’s…

DJ Whoo Kid: Can we start that now? Can we put that out there?

Will.i.am: I mean, I make beats! I make beats and right hooks. This dude is like…

You can watch the interview below:

50 Cent to go back to India first time after 16 years

Get pumped, 50 Cent supporters! As part of his gigantic global Final Lap Tour, the American rapper and entrepreneur has announced a big event in Mumbai for November 25. After more than 15 years, he is making a triumphant comeback to India to perform at perform at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

He took to his official Twitter handle to share this exciting news with his fans. Fiddy posted a video of him, along with the caption, “What’s up India! I’m coming your way to Mumbai on November 25th for for The Final Lap Tour. Pre-Register your tickets: 50CENT.com”

In the video, he said, “Namaste, India, It’s your boy 50 I got crazy news for you. I’m coming to Mumbai, India in November. It is going down.”

Check out the announcement below:

Tony Yayo talks about Eminem on Drink Champs

In the latest episode of Drink Champs,  Tony Yayo joins N.O.R.E and DJ EFN to share his incredible journey in the music industry. From his early days with 50 Cent and G-Unit to his experiences with iconic artists like Jay-Z and Nas, Tony Yayo provides an inside look into the challenges, triumphs, and controversies that shaped his career.

At one point of the interview, he also talked about Eminem.

“The wildest s–t I know about Eminem is ‘Many Men,’ he knew the footsteps in ‘Many Men’ came from poltergeist. Eminem is the type of ni–a who stays in the studio. Eminem is the type of ni–a that has a diss record against you and you won’t even know. And he’s a humble guy. He’s just one of them ni–as who really care about the music.” said Tony Yayo

Then he continued: “We came in the game with beef. We came beefing with The Source magazine. Benzino. So ni–as will say this about Eminem, that about Eminem. This motherf–ker white boy. Culture vulture. But he’s the ni–a that put the ni–as on. You never forget the ni–a who turned the lights on bro. No matter what color or what race he is. I love Eminem.”

“Ni–as be like ‘yo, we do not listen to Eminem in the street club. We don’t listen to Eminem in the car’ but you go to Spotify and he’d still be the number one ni–a in twenty years.” he added.

You can watch the interview below:

New Album: GRIP – “STILL (5 & A F*** You)”

Shady Records’ GRIP releases “STILL (5 & A F*** You),” the follow-up of his 2022 project “5 & A F*** You.” Unlike the first installment, the new project comes with no features.

“STILL (5 & A F*** You),” which is a deluxe version, includes 11 tracks. Production is done by Scalez, TU!, DG, Super Myles, Swoope, Came One, Leon Michels, Marco Benevento, Reggie Gordon, Tae Beast and Chris Keys.

You can stream the album below and don’t forget GRIP is on ME VS ME tour which started on July 1 in Calgary, AB and ends on July 23, Brooklyn, NY.

James Gunn says “Superman: Legacy” film will not feature Eminem’s “Superman”

American filmmaker and studio executive James Gunn, who is best known for moving to the superhero genre with Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, is directing “Superman: Legacy” movie.

“Superman: Legacy tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.” reads the movie’s official synopsis.

Written and directed by James Gunn, “Superman: Legacy” is expected to enter production in early 2024 ahead of its scheduled theatrical release on July 11, 2025.

The movie, which stars David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, will mark the first live-action, big-screen project to be green-lit and produced under Gunn and Peter Safran’s regime as co-heads of DC Studios.

James Gunn has recently answered fans’ questions on Twitter and revealed the songs that won’t be featured in the film, including “Superman” by Taylor Swift, “Superman” by Goldfinger, “Superman” by Eminem, and “Sunshine Superman” by Donovan.

Check the screenshot below:

[VIA]

Layzie Bone says Bone Thugs-N-Harmony reunion will happen only if Dr. Dre get involved

According to Layzie Bone, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony would immediately reunite for new music if Dr. Dre was involved.

In an episode that was released on Wednesday (July 5) of The Digital Soapbox Network, the Bone Thugs member was a guest and talked about how the group never got a chance to jump on a Dre beat.

Despite their affiliation to the legendary producer through being signed to Eazy-E, he explained what prevented them from doing so in the past, and added that if Dre was to call right now then all five members would be right there.

“I got couple of tracks from Dre that I was never really able to to use but Dre thing was when the opportunity was presenting itself, we was internally f–ked up. And that ni–a Dre was like, ‘If I can’t have all five of y’all, I ain’t f–king wit y’all. And that was that. So hopefully one day hell get it. I know all of us individually tried. I mean, that’s Dre. Who don’t want a Dre beat? We all tried to go individually but the way the word got back to me was like, ‘Dre said if he can’t have all y’all, it’s no beat.”

At the suggestion Bone Thugs-N-Harmony get together with Dre now, Layzie said: “Wassup Dre? One call from Dre, watch how fast all five ni–as get together. Let’s preach on that. I’ll drop everything I’m doing for an opportunity to work with Dr. Dre. I’m pretty sure my ni–as feel the same way.”

You can watch the interview below:

Earlier this year, Layzie Bone sat on Surreal Talk Radio where he revealed his wish to have Eminem on Bone Thug’s Legacy album.

“I probably want that Eminem feature more than fans do. C’mon man, cause that boy is the GOAT. He must have been practicing because that boy is doing his thing. We all gonna come team ready. That will blow this world’s socks off.”

[VIA]

Danny Brown and Logic discuss “old and new Eminem”

In the latest episode of The Danny Brown show, Danny Brown is joined by Logic! The two jump right into their shared experiences with anxiety while on tour and performing. Logic has always been very open about mental health and Danny finds out more about his philosophy on anxiety, maturing, and the rap game in general. They have a lot of admiration for other rappers in the game, young and old. We get to hear about their thoughts on how hip hop is evolving, in the micro and macro sense. Danny and Logic get into a few Ask Danny questions regarding classical music, relationships, and fan gifts. Logic has some differing opinions on what Danny considers to be white people s–t. At one point, they also talked about Eminem when a fan question came on Slim Shady.

Question: What are your thoughts on Eminem nowadays? Obviously the first three records in Slim Shady EP are instant classics I feel he has moments and decent records since but I feel now he has lost touch in terms of making consistently enjoyable music. There is no doubt he can rap. I was wondering, what is your take on him as an artist these days?

Danny Brown: I think Eminem is having a blast. That’s really what I think. Of course he can quit tomorrow and his legacy is still stamped. But he’s still out here like ‘f–k that, coffee pot.’ He’s still out here like ‘I’mma do what I wanna do, I don’t give a f–k.” I’m pretty sure he knows motherf–kers joking on him and this and that but it’s a fact that he don’t give a f–k. He still keep going. He’s still busting bars. I appreciate that more than anything. People look at this s–t like a young man game and this and that but nah man, let him rock. What if he was caught in the moment of like ‘I gotta make s–t that you all motherf–kers to like.’ I think he’s making s–t that he enjoys. And I feel like he probably was doing that s–t at one point of time in his career where he was like ‘I gotta make a hit song, I gotta do this and that.’ It’s Em. He got a legion of f–king followers. I actually had a pleasure to open for him few times. My biggest show I ever played. F–king Wembley Stadium with Eminem and it was f–king amazing. I can’t never say nothing bad about Eminem. And I got a lot of my style from him. To be honest.

Logic: Eminem is THE S–T bro! I can get what this person just said about his first three albums, like they are instant classics but first of all, they were not instant classics. That motherf–ker was s–t on by everybody. Everybody was s–ting on Eminem. They were like ‘who let the white boy at house party.’ I was there. I remember that. I saw that. I grew up with it. He fought for his place in hip-hop. And I think the music he makes now is grown s–t. He’s talking about real s–t but he’s also having fun. So for this person to be like ‘yo his earliest s–t is the best s–t’ but bro, he’s new s–t now has just billions of streams, all the time, when he drops. If it was not good, people would not listen to it dawg. I love when Eminem…we gotta song called ‘Homicide’. THAT’S THE S–T I LOVE FROM EM. When he’s f–king rapping mannequin! I love it.

Danny Brown: Me personally, I think the second one, Slim Shady, that was instant classic. But I think that was his most commercial attempt. There was a lot of Dre s–t. But to me, my favorite Eminem is the fourth one. Encore! That’s the one I f–king identified the most because he was talking about Detroit, and you gotta think me being from Detroit, Eminem was pretty much our first big rapper. Detroit didn’t have a lot of f–king rappers. When he first came out we were supportive of him all day.

You can watch the interview below. The Eminem talk starts at 38:10.

Stretch Money gives his Top 4 Detroit Lyricists, talks about Eminem

Detroit rapper Stretch Money has recently sat down on MOGUL STATE OF MIND where he briefly talked about Eminem and Royce 5’9.”

“My top four Detroit rappers… Esham, I throw Marshall (Eminem) in there. I’mma throw Nickel (Royce Da 5’9”) in there and Herk. Esham, Marshall, Royce Da 5’9″, Big Herk! But Esham is over them all. Get f–king clear on that. He’s first. He’s the first of the mutants. Esham is is the top no matter the conversation. Everybody’s opinion is valid but that’s mine.” said Stretch Money.

Then he continued: “I worked with anybody but Marshall. I don’t know why. I never met him. If I had a conversation with Eminem right now what advice would I give? I would not give him no motherf–king advice. Eminem is a lord. He does not need no motherf–king advice from me. For real, for real. That’s real big head man. Let’s be clear who the f–k we talking about. Regardless the stigma and don’t nobody know him, that’s my honest to god answer to that. Why we ain’t never work? Because we ain’t never met. I don’t know that motherf–ker.

“I could work with Royce like I could leave from here today, drive to the studio and be like ‘ey, what’s up’ and sit in that bi–ch all night. You feel me? It’s like that but like I said I don’t know Eminem dawg.” he added.

You can watch the interview below:

Nicki Minaj passes Eminem with her new top 10 hit

Nicki Minaj is back inside the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts this week with her latest single titled “Barbie World,” featuring Ice Spice, which debuted at number 7.

Achieving this accolade is always a cause for celebration for any musician, but this latest success holds particular significance for Trinidad and Tobago-born rapper. Not only does it mark her return to the competitive region, but it also helps her surpass some of the greatest and most influential hip-hop artists of all time.

With “Barbie World” becoming her 23rd top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, Minaj has joined a select group of musicians who have amassed such an incredible record. This latest achievement helps Nicki leave behind both Eminem and Jay-Z each with 22 top 10 hits, and now she claims the third place with the most top 10 hits among rappers on the US Billboard Hot 100 history.

While Minaj’s accomplishment is noteworthy, she still has a considerable distance to cover to catch up with the reigning champion of the hip-hop genre, the one and only Drake. Throughout his career, Drake has charted an astounding 68 top 10 hits, not only surpassing his fellow hip-hop musicians but also claiming the title of the artist with the most top 10 hits of all time.

Standing just ahead of Nicki Minaj on the list is her another label mate Lil Wayne who has landed 25 top 10 hits on the Hot 100 charts.

“Barbie World” is the second collaboration between Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice following their collaborative April 2023 track “Princess Diana.” This piece places its spot in Barbie: The Album. It samples the 1997 song “Barbie Girl” by Aqua and was officially released on June 23, 2023.

[Via]

Here is how much Eminem’s Bored Ape NFT costs now

It was January of 2022, and non-fungible tokens  known as NFTs were all the rage. So much so, Eminem decided to buy a ‘Bored Ape’ token for 123.45 Ether — approximately USD 462,000.

The constantly decreasing interest in NFT and the plunge in trading volumes have strongly affected all the celebrities, including Eminem in terms of their digital art purchases.

Eminem purchased Bored Ape 9055 for 123,45 ETH or $462,00 at the time. Fast forward 18 months, the value for said token is now $59,210. Losing more than $400,000.

Moreover, Slim Shady even teamed up with another NFT collector –  legendary Snoop Dogg – to create a BAYC-themed song, “From The D 2 The LBC,” from Curtain Call 2 compilation album. The two even dropped music video directed by James Larese. The animated video shows Em and Snoop imagined as NFT-esque avatars in a comic book.

On the day of the single’s release, Snoop Dogg and Eminem performed the song live at ApeFest 2022, a festival held in New York for Bored Ape NFT holders. In summer they also performed the song live at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey.

After all the promotion, the NFTs world still seems to be struggling.

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