"Death Grips"
They came on the scene not too long ago, forming in 2010. I'm not going to go too much into their history, but I'll mention that the group consists of three: MC Ride (the vocalist), the producer, and a drummer.
You might know about these guys, you might not. But regardless of either circumstance, these guys are fairly well-known and have somewhat of a cult following on the internet. Death Grips's experimental sound and belligerent, loud demeanor culled a large and enviable crowd from along the breadth of the internet, a crowd that they have maintained throughout the years. As a last, more somber note, the group disbanded this year in the midst of a tour. Exmilitary was their first big release, with only an EP coming beforehand. It propelled them onto the scene because of its experimental, loud nature, and was generally received well by critics.
But I'm here to tell you like it is, from one ninja to another ninja.
Content:
I'm going to start off by exclaiming to everyone that Death Grips is not your average rap group in any possible iota. This isn't wickedshit, this isn't really even underground - and some would say that it's not even rap. Death Grips is similar to nothing in particular, and they are a terribly unique entity in whatever genre you decide they belong to. I want to just establish that fact so you know what you're walking into if you decide to give these guys a listen.
This mixtape is a lot to take in, and I don't mean that in length. At thirteen tracks, this mixtape has a moderate length that suits it well. At times this album seems nothing more than a headache, with cacophonous mechanical production that grates the eardrums, and loud, nonsensical yelling on part of the MC. My feelings on this album vary - there were some times that I could hardly even stand to listen to the screeching coalesce of the grating beats and the belligerent exclamations of the seemingly-addled MC, while other times I mentally praised the recondite production skills of whomever was behind the scenes, making this thing happen.
In essence, the true nature and true quality of this mixtape is not for me or any critic to decide. While the medley of loud vocals and the robotic dins of experimental production can often be off-putting, there are some that revel in the bass-heavy maniacal exclamations and thumping production. The ultimate verdict on the quality of this album must be determined by the listener, because of how far outside the norm this group is. I encourage you to take a listen and decide for yourself.
But personally, it's not my thing. While this album is unique musically-speaking, the unintelligible vocals and experimental beats don't quite sit very well with me. I respect Death Grips as a group for being unique and garnering national attention through their haphazard talent, but I am personally not a big fan of their music at a baser level.
Ninjas, this album is free, but it's also really fucking weird. This might be worth your time, it might not be. If you're interested in contemporary pseudo-music - the kind that tends to pick up fans with alien production and unfiltered weirdness, then I'd say this album is worth giving a look at. But if you're just an average listener who's looking to slam some new shit in the whip for a while, turn the fuck back and walk away from this. It's not for you.
Here is a download link for this mixtape:
http://thirdworlds.net/files/Death%20Grips%20-%20Exmilitary.zip
JRH gives "Exmilitary" by Death Grips a: 2.2/5
(I've bumped better)
Strong points:
- Starkly unique sound that can easily capture the ear of a wandering listener
- Great production, seriously. Whoever is behind these beats has some real talent
- The belligerent yelling and in-your-face attitude just might be your thing
- Terribly unique; this sound stands out like a sore thumb in comparison to most rap
- The tracklist has a pretty nice flow, and doesn't seem choppy or anything like that
Weak points:
- While the noise can seem very well-orchestrated and skillful, it can also seem like a cacophonous shitfest of angry screaming and heavy basslines. The same themes that can make this album great are also its worst flaws.
- MC Ride is unique in that his manner of rapping is very strange and follows no particular set pattern, but he tends to yell a lot. Instead of sounding skillful and avant-garde, it often seems like he just has no idea how to truly vocalize.
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