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Grieves
Together/Apart


2.5
average

Review

by kingsoby1 EMERITUS
December 19th, 2011 | 47 replies


Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist


Together/Apart is a manifestation of Rhymesayers Entertainment's marketing department and their seemingly neverending quest to homogenize hip-hop. Their understanding of the 20-something white male psyche is unrivaled in this industry. It is unfortunate; Grieves has the makings of a multi-dimensional vocalist with a pleasant voice and something of substance to say with it. There aren't technically complex multi-syllabics to be had here, just pure introspection. "On The Rocks" hearkens backs to previous releases and almost recalls what could have been amidst a catcy hook and producer Budo's (previously) typical electro-funk.

But Grieves presses forward almost too awkwardly with a poorly executed spoken word vibe-come-Brother Ali preaching made more obvious by their phoned in duet on "Tragic". The production suffers more, taking [mis]cues from nearly every Rhymesayers Entertainment release over the past 5 years. Most of the tracks emulate what could be B-Sides of a post-Lemons Ant, doing nothing so groundbreaking as regurgitating mid-90's soul. Budo was never an incredible producer in the past, but did just enough to shine a spotlight on Grieves' strong personal narrative. It is in that regard that Together/Apart reeks of compromise and mimicry.

Recommended Track: "On The Rocks", "Bloody Poetry"



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Comments:Add a Comment 
cvlts
December 19th 2011


9938 Comments


keep seeing this in record stores and assume its some Mac miller-esque rap.

didn't know he was rhymesayers though...

Deviant.
Staff Reviewer
December 19th 2011


32289 Comments


mult-syllabics


Missing an I there

kingsoby1
Emeritus
December 19th 2011


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

boom, nice soundoff



i think the next step is rating only

gabethepiratesquid
December 19th 2011


4522 Comments


It's not Mac Miller-esque, but it's almost as generic Rhymesayers as Brother Ali.

HenchmanOfSanta
December 19th 2011


1994 Comments


I have Irreversible by this guy and it's okay I guess. He really is the stereotypical Rhymesayers act.

LastEpic
December 19th 2011


35 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Liked it

MCGF
December 20th 2011


361 Comments


yeah between this and evidence and the shitty blueprint record and the shitty atmosphere record... not a good 2011 for RSE.

MCGF
December 20th 2011


361 Comments


oh I guess hail mary mallon was on RSE, that was good.

linkjerk
December 20th 2011


311 Comments


nah, didnt really it like that much, neither did i Evidence

gabethepiratesquid
December 20th 2011


4522 Comments


oh ho ho ho that was pretty witty

HenchmanOfSanta
December 20th 2011


1994 Comments


Doomtree is on Rhymesayers, right? No Kings was pretty solid.

Tyrannic
December 20th 2011


3296 Comments


so rhymesayers are the rappers that all my white friends claim are the next coming of (insert influence)?

J0ckstrapsFTW
December 21st 2011


3797 Comments


Some songs are really good... others not so much but its a 3 in my book

lancebramsay
December 21st 2011


1585 Comments


never been a big fan of grieves but he is good

review is mediocre but definitely not bad

Spare
December 21st 2011


5567 Comments


you probably write better than any other staffer tbh

kingsoby1
Emeritus
December 21st 2011


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

thanks. i cant stand multi-paragraph reviews! :]

lancebramsay
December 21st 2011


1585 Comments


I just feel like this is an incomplete

sixthgoldenticket
December 22nd 2011


1176 Comments


growing pains is pretty good but otherwise this is boring

kingsoby1
Emeritus
December 22nd 2011


4970 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

sorry lance!

Inveigh
December 23rd 2011


26877 Comments


yeah I had no interest in this album before reading this, nor do I after. well-written as always Sobhi.

Rhymesayers have sucked outside of P.O.S. since about 2005.



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