Macklemore really excels as a poet here. Amazing lyrics, a polished flow and infectious choruses. Ryan Lewis is also an excellent producer and created some fantastically fitting beats. All these things bundled with some marvelous guest features leads to one of the best hip-hop albums this year. Mary Lambert on 'Same Love' took the wind right out of me.
Macklemore really shines as a lyricist here. Fantastic lyrics, an improved flow and catchy choruses. Ryan Lewis is also a great producer and created some wonderfully appropriate beats. All these things coupled with some awesome guest features leads to one of the best hip-hop albums this year. Mary Lambert on 'Same Love' blew me away.
I really had to stop listening when he started victimizing himself for being white. I mean Thrift Shop and Make the Money are okay, but Same Love's awful nursery-rhyme like piano is enough to sabotage its good message into ridicule and the rest of the songs seem to follow along Macklemore in his crusade to be the voice of change. Delivering intellectual proverbs in a half-assed cocky swagger really isn't appealing.
production sounds nice but overall pretty bland and unoriginal...macklemore sounds white af on every song and overly enthusiastic to the point where it's really irritating.
macklemore was right to put ryan lewis' name on the front cover. the production by him and the lyrical content by macklemore really elevate this album from otherwise getting lost in the midst of hip hop. it's a pretty good outcome for them both. anyway, instead of writing full on reviews, i do more of a sketch outline of the albums i listen to. easier and quicker to digest i think. you can find that over here at http://simmserely.blogspot.com/2013/01/macklemore-ryan-lewis-heist-album-sketch.html
Within the first half of "The Heist" listeners really get more of the same from Seattle emcee Macklemore. Though garnering the attention from black hippy's own Schoolboy Q led to one of the best rap duets of the year in "white walls". The track itself with its catchy chorus and explicit lyrical content is very out of the ordinary for Macklemore given his previous repertoire. This track along with the entire diverse second half of "The Heist" proves that Macklemore is not only expanding his lyrical themes, but broadening his overall accessibility as a rapper. With this in mind listeners should stay tuned and keep their ear on the talented emcee.
