Let’s Talk! Best Seasonal Rap-R&B Albums_欧洲杯决赛竞猜app_欧洲杯足球网-投注|官网

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Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:00:58 +0000
Let's Talk!, Let's Talk! Podcast Collective

Let’s Talk! Best Seasonal Rap-R&B Albums

Summary: This episode of ‘Let’s Talk’ features Hip-Hop/R&B Aficionado Ricardo Bravo who sits down with his longtime friend Gabe Wightman for a seasonal deep dive into the best Rap/R&B albums. They touch on everything from an album’s production, cover art, and how each track shapes the overall feeling of: Fall, Winter, Spring, & Summer.??

Hosted By: Ricardo Bravo

Guest Speakers: Gabe Wightman

Produced By: Let’s Talk! Podcast Collective

Audio and Transcript Editing: Miri Newman, Ricardo Bravo

Web Hosting: Eugene Holden

Released on: 11/21/2025

More resources at our home website.

Episode Transcript

Transcript edited by Ricardo Bravo

Guest Introductions

Ricardo: Hello everybody. My name is Ricardo Bravo with the Let’s Talk PCC Podcast Collective. Today I’m joined by my good friend and guest Mr. Wightman.?

Gabe: Hey guys.?

Ricardo: We’re adding a new addition to the podcast called “The Rap Sheet“. For our first episode, me and Gabe are gonna be talking about the best seasonal Rap & R&B albums that you should be listening to right now. Gabe, do you wanna go first??

From CHROMAKOPIA to King’s Disease III: Fall Essentials

Gabe: I can go first. I could name Tyler the Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA” album for the fall. A very solid pick for the fall. It hits all those notes. Maybe it’s because it came out in October.

Ricardo: Last year actually, to be exact. Are there certain songs, production choices that he took on that album that remind you of okay, this is fall.

Gabe: Oh, I don’t know, I think the album as a whole is pretty good. There’s some songs that definitely do not fall. Thought I Was Dead Is not a fall song. Get your blood going and hyped. As far as Fall goes, I would probably say some of his softer songs where it’s more acoustic. Hey Jane, or Judge Judy. I’ve been listening to it and honestly, I can see where you’re going. If you’re listening to a fall album. You can’t go too harsh with it. He has some very good fall songs on the album.?

Ricardo: When it came to listening to this album. There’s a couple of songs that I could talk about, Hey Jane, that’s obviously one of them. Just how calming and soothing it is, from the bridges in the end. That carries throughout the entire song. He’s a great producer, honestly.?

Gabe: It’s like each album improves. His music’s been going up.?

Ricardo: You could probably also talk about, aside from Hey Jane, maybe Darling Eye. But when I hear that song, to me it feels like a prom song. Maybe it’s the piano melodies, the bouncy synths that go back and forth in the beginning. That, to me, feels like a coming of age, prom love story in a way. I’m looking at the track list right now, here, guys. I hope you find your way home and could make that as well.?

Gabe: Honestly, I think that fits that category for sure.?

Ricardo: It could be that one. When it comes to CHROMAKOPIA, it’s like certain songs that I’m looking at: Okay, this is fall. But for the rest of the other songs: Sticky, Thought I was Dead, Balloon. These are party anthems, more hype, more energy.

Gabe: I think you pretty much covered it for the most part. Looking at the album cover, I know there’s a concept. The colors and everything, gives a little bit of fall vibes. It has those colors which are soft, mellow. It’s a good fall album. But, like you were saying, it does have those songs that don’t really fall, they’re more an anthem like Sticky, Thought I was Dead, and Balloon.

Ricardo: When it comes to Tyler, I don’t think he ever holds back. When I listen to him, just like I listen to Kendrick or Ye. They have variety when it comes to their music. It’s almost like you’re going to a buffet. There’s different types of plates for everybody. Different sounds, different pockets, production styles You got CHROMAKOPIA, which is good I’ll give it to you, but talk about Flower Boy. I was getting into Tyler’s music last year. Seeing Yonkers for the first time. Eating a cockroach bro. The black Eminem right here. I was like: what do I actually wanna listen to? Who do I wanna listen to? I didn’t have a lot of curiosity on getting into this guy. I don’t know if his music’s gonna be good. A couple years passed by and then I finally get into him last year I got to this album in the fall. A month before he was gonna drop CHROMAKOPIA. I’ve heard a lot of great albums this year, but this album is beautiful. This, to me, is his best album. I know a lot of people are gonna say, IGOR, I understand you. I don’t care. Flower Boy is his best album. Everything from the album cover is just screaming fall at you. This sunset, orange sky, you have the sunflower field, the rainbow. This is a fall album. You cannot look at this and tell me this is not even just taking songs like Boredom, Garden Shed with Estelle, 911. The production on these songs, they’re screaming fall at you. I remember listening to Boredom when I was working at Amazon in the fall last year. This is the perfect scenario for what I’m talking about. Looking at the sunset, I was in a rural area. Seeing the sunset and then hearing this song, of course the album cover. This is a fall album and it’s maybe one of the best fall albums that I’ve heard, at least in my opinion as of right now.?

Gabe: You did a pretty good job, covering everything. This is a very good fall album. Like you were saying, the album art itself is really good, especially with the bees and clouds. He picked a very specific shade of orange that is basically the embodiment of fall. 9 1 1 is good and Boredom is a really good one. Outside of the fall vibes, it has a very, stacked track list as far as features go. On Apple Music, it’s named as a hundred of the best albums ever. It deserves that title. I know you’re gonna throw some shade at me, but I think IGOR is better, but that’s just me.?

Ricardo: IGOR is another album that I mess with as well. This is not really a fall album. It feels more like, again, prom music. I’m listening to songs like “Running Out of Time”, “Earthquake” ” Gone Gone”. They have this disco ball-esque production. You know what I mean??

Gabe: I can definitely see that. Especially with Running Out of Time or Are We Still Friends?

Ricardo: I still think it’s an amazing album. But, for me, my favorite season is fall so I already have a bias towards Flower Boy easily. IGOR is great. He definitely went more alternative with this. One time he said that “IGOR” is Flower Boy on steroids. You know what I see??

Gabe: Yeah. I could see it.

Ricardo: It’s more like a late night summer album, but how do you feel on it? I’m not sure what season this could be.?

Gabe: I would say a summer album. But I’m a little biased on that just because what you had with Flower Boy is what I had with IGOR. My dad listened to a lot of rock music. So I basically listened to a lot of rock music growing up. Starting high school, I started trying to actually see what music I like. That’s when I got into some of the bigger artists like Drake, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, but then. IGOR came out. I started getting into Tyler and this was his first project I listened to. I really fell in love with this album. It’s one of his perfect projects and he does get really experimental with it. I just remember listening to this album in my computer class I was taking in high school towards the end of spring term. It was just perfect work music, summer music. It was such a good album. Any fan that you talk to and ask: what’s your favorite album of his, every single person is either gonna say IGOR or Flower Boy. It’s not even a debate, just some of his best works ever.?

Ricardo: We’re still in fall though. There’s definitely a couple that I have here, since he just dropped this album. I wanna talk about Bryson Tiller’s Solace. I don’t know if you had the chance to listen to that.

Gabe: Yeah, I listened to it. You start it off, let’s get into it.?

Ricardo: I know he said this was a fall album. He did that Apple music interview. I saw it and he said: I want you to listen to this by yourself, not with your homies, not with your girl. Just listen to it. Listen to what I’m saying. Listen to the words. And I did that. I definitely think it’s way better than vices. The production choices. The concept of course. Just the first song Strife where he talks about how distant he’s been from his daughter and wife. But if we’re talking about fall specific, I definitely do want to talk about star signs in terms of that production, not just his singing, but the way the beat feels. It’s very simplistic. It’s got some moody sense that goes in and out. Bryson Tiller, he’s known for rapping and singing over this very moody trap production, which a lot of people love him for. I’m one of those people obviously. If I had to choose another fall song, I could probably go for “Autumn Drive”, “Workaholic”. But to be honest with you, there’s not too much here that I’m like: this feels like fall. The only song that I really got was “Star Signs.”?

Gabe: Definitely not a bad album. I’ve mentioned this to you before, outside of the season thing. I didn’t like how he did the split cover art image But, that’s just me. Anyways, getting into the actual season part of it. I listened to both. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Vices as a summer album, but we can get into that later. Looking at Solace, I thought it was definitely a lot better than Vices. Especially going off the first track with “Strife”. I think that was a very solid, first track. I haven’t listened to too much Bryson Tiller, but I could maybe say some of his best work is Solace, not Vices. I can’t really say that definitively, ‘ cause I haven’t gotten into too much so I’m sure if I listen to his bigger hits from Trap soul or Anniversary. They’re on my list. My 60 artists list that I have going on.?

Ricardo: Yeah, the whole double album thing threw me off. I’m like: if you wanted to drop Vices. Just make it a separate album. Why does it have to be attached to Solace, you know??

Gabe: Well, what really got me is compared to Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You. If you really wanna think about it, that was a double album because they released We Don’t Trust You whenever that was. I think it was March and then a few weeks later they released We Still Don’t Trust You. I consider that as a double album because it’s within that same realm. I feel like Bryson should have released it like that: Vices first as just its own thing and then Solace is next.?

Ricardo: I’ll say this though, about, Solace, I think it’s a decent fall album. Definitely not one of the best. It’s not bad though. Talking about “Strife”, “Star Signs”, “Autumn Drive”, they have this very chill, moody production that I could definitely listen to if I was driving on the road, seeing the autumn trees pass me by.

Gabe: I could see myself listening to this too, but I’d probably be the same way where I think there’s maybe one or two tracks that’s a fall vibe, but that’s about it.?

Ricardo: Do you know that he’s dropping another album? He mentioned this in the Apple Music interview. I don’t know if it’s gonna be next year, but he says he’s dropping an album called Serenity. He’s been working on it since 2018.?

Gabe: I’ve seen bits and clips of that interview and I remember I sent it to you. He was saying how, one of his inspirations or something about fall was to listen to For All The Dogs by Drake. That’s a later thing but based on what I’ve listened to and heard from him. It really seemed like this was more of a therapy session to him. It seemed like he really got into a lot of very personal tracks and topics. Stuff that he’s gone through. Overall, I thought it was a very strong album as far as Solace goes.?

Ricardo: Decent project for sure, though. Did you ever get to listen to his Bryson Tiller album?

Gabe: I haven’t listened to the full thing, but I definitely listened to at least half of it.?

Ricardo: That one is pretty good honestly, it took me a while to get used to the whole, robotic futuristic concept he was going for.?

Gabe: It’s a little weird. I’m looking at it right now. And he changed the album art, so now it’s just this, dark pink, neon cover. There is one that I do wanna talk about that is the embodiment of fall. I don’t know if I’ll take your answer at all, but I was gonna go with The Lost Boy by Cordae.

Ricardo: A great fall album.

Gabe: I know I was talking with you a little bit about this one and his album that he released last year, The Crossroads. But I listened to this one the other day and you’re right, The Lost Boy clears. It’s the perfect Fall album. One of the best fall albums you could listen to.?

Ricardo: There’s definitely some songs that offer an alternative to that. “Lost and Found”, “Nightmares are Real”, “We Gon Make It” with Meek Mill, “RNP”. These are summer bangers in a way. But at the same time, he does a good job of blending that summer vibe with that fall vibe. Then I hear “Thanksgiving”, “Winter Time”, “Thousand Words”. These songs feel really melodic. He hits those melodies so well to the point where I can picture that Thanksgiving table, I can picture that Turkey, that stuffing. Those collared greens, the pumpkin pie. He did a really good job with those songs.?

Gabe: You honestly just took the words right out of me. It is one of the better fall albums because it embodies that later time in fall where it’s that transition from fall into winter. Especially with the track “Thanksgiving”, like you were saying: I can close my eyes and picture people setting the table for Thanksgiving, having the song on in the background while you’re eating Thanksgiving is perfect. It is one of the better songs for sure.?

Ricardo: It’s unfortunate because the thing with Cordae, I feel like he’s so underrated. People put him in this box of: oh, he’s just another J. Cole. They didn’t really give him enough time to affirm his position as: I’m, one of the more better modern rappers of this generation,?

Gabe: I would honestly say the same thing. I think he’s definitely underrated. He has a lot of connections with Rap in general. When news broke out that Juice WRLD passed away, Cordae was hit the hardest because he was one of his best friends, like, of all of everyone. So it hit him the hardest. People almost overlook him even though they shouldn’t, but they do. Everybody needs to give him a shot ’cause he’s a really good artist.?

Ricardo: Yes. The album that I was gonna talk about was King’s Disease III.?

Gabe: Interesting pick.?

Ricardo: That one definitely has a variety of production. I remember this dropping November of 2022. SOS by SZA dropped as well. Redveil’s learn 2 swims. Have you listened to that album??

Gabe: No, I really need to. Occasionally, I’ll come across his songs. I need to listen to that album.

Ricardo: Yeah, we’ll get into that, in a bit. But King Disease III. The third installment of Nas King’s Disease album ran with Hit Boy.?

Gabe: He really didn’t miss. Outside of the fall aesthetic, I think King’s Disease II was a little bit overrated but the first one and third one was great.

Ricardo: For me the second one is his best one. It’s the production. The album made me feel like summer. For King Disease III. There’s definitely certain songs that make me feel like fall. Listening to “Reminisce”, “Serious Interlude”, “Get Light”. Those specific songs in general. They have that party bounce, but they still have mellow sounds to them. I had a job as, bottle drop handler where I was going to different stores and clearing out those green bottle drop bags. I was doing this as I was listening to this album and driving to it. Vivid memories of the fall.

Gabe: It’s definitely one of the better runs in hip hop. Besides, I don’t know if I wanna say this anymore. Nah, I’m already here. Maybe next to Lil Wayne’s The Carter series?

Ricardo: Are we talking about one through five, one through three or one through four?

Gabe: I would extend it to four. I think five was his falling off. Good album, but falling off and then six was just trash, I know you’re listening to it right now, but when you get to six, you’ll know six was just bad.?

Ricardo: I’ve been listening to Bryson’s new album, but I’m about to get back to Wayne. I think I’m, still on I’m Not a Human Being II?

Gabe: That one’s not bad. Some of his other projects, they’re not bad. I think everyone, whenever they actually do listen to his discography, listen to the Carter albums for sure.

Ricardo: Yeah. But The Carter albums and King’s Disease. I feel like those first four are super iconic. I don’t know if I’d put Nas’s series in the same conversation. But to be honest, I’m not mad about that. This run is definitely super iconic in terms of his catalog.?

Coldest Winter: Take Care, Recovery, & 4 Your Eyez Only

Gabe: I remember towards the end. He did another series called Magic and he dropped two and three in the same year. I haven’t listened to two or three, but I think he was trying to do a new series and that wasn’t bad, but nothing’s touching his King’s Disease series at all.?

Ricardo: I feel like the Magic series is underrated. Nobody talks about that one as much. That has to be his most hungriest raps ever for the age he’s in. I still go back to the first Magic. Honestly, this will be a perfect segue into talking about the winter. Magic, to me, is a perfect winter album. Have you listened to this one??

Gabe: I’ve listened to a few tracks, but not the whole thing.

Ricardo: If we’re talking about the production, you can go to “Speechless,” “Hollywood Gangsta,” “Wave Gods.” The production feels like it’s winter in New York.

Gabe: Yeah. I could see it.?

Ricardo: This is definitely still the best one. Once you get to two and three, there’s so much bloat. It dies down a little bit. I would say magic is a decent winter album.

Gabe: I would agree with that. Pretty good pick. I wouldn’t say it’d be the perfect winter album, but definitely up there. I think it’s definitely something good to get you into that wintertime mood. Especially with Thanksgiving ending and coming up to Christmas. The snowy nights.

Ricardo: For the winter, now that we’re on that season. What Rap / R&B album do you think is perfect??

Gabe: I have a couple listed. It’s gonna be a weird take: Certified Lover Boy by Drake. I was trying to think and see what other people were saying about winter albums. I did see one person say this album, and I don’t know. But I’ve been listening to it a lot and I could see it. “Champagne Poetry” has that soft melody, that vocal loop going in the background. I’ve been listening to that on repeat lately too. I can see this being on repeat in the winter time. I know a lot of people hate this album.

Ricardo: You’re one of them.

Gabe: No, I’m switching up on this album. I’m starting to like it. I was always that person to hate on this album just because of everything about it. But take off a couple songs to reduce it down to 15 tracks and I would say this is a very solid album. Like “Fair Trade”, it’s not the ideal winter song, but one of the most perfect melodies I’ve heard out of his catalog. The winter melody to it, Travis Scott doesn’t really match that vibe. But it has those softer songs.

Ricardo: You know, when this came out, it was summer. One of the songs definitely reminded me of that late night summer vibe, chilling by the beach. But again, I’ll get into that when we get to the summer season. All right, but we’re still on winter man. Speaking of Drake, if we’re gonna talk about any album being the perfect winter album, we’re gonna talk about Take Care, his best album by far. You don’t agree with me.

Gabe: Don’t get me wrong, it’s the top three albums. But I’m more of a Nothing Was The Same guy. I like fall, winter, but summer hits differently.

Ricardo: When I first listened to it, I’m like: this is definitely a winter album. Maybe it’s just the beautiful piano keys on “Over My Dead Body”, ” Marvin’s Room.” That mellow synth. It’s like snow falling outside, you’re by the fireplace. Drink some hot cocoa, watch a movie cuddled up in your blankets. Songs like “Doing It Wrong,” “Look What You’ve Done, “Practice.” The way he hits these R&B pockets throughout all these songs. This is just a type of album that you could literally get cuddled up in a blanket with your partner and fall asleep to.?

Gabe: Definitely one of his best albums for sure. There’s some songs that I’m not think have a winter vibe. “Crew Love” The Weeknd has vocals that definitely do that. But the beat that has a party, clubbing type beat. Good song but that takes it out a little bit. Maybe “Buried Alive Interlude”, good song, but takes it out. Other than that, it definitely has some hitters. “Marvin’s Room” was a very good pick. Good Winter song.?

Ricardo: A lot of these songs were from “The Weeknd”. He gave him basically an album full of songs.?

Gabe: I think especially with a lot of the events and controversy that’s going around with Drake. This is one of them and some are arguing that it wasn’t, and he was just featured a lot or some were saying that it was. Listening to the album, I could see it being a lot of Weeknd songs given to ’em.

Ricardo: Listen to certain songs like “Crew Love”, those moody R&B synths similar to something that you would hear on TRAPSOUL for Bryson or just R&B in general. During this time, The Weeknd was on his mixtape run with the Thursday albums. I definitely do hear that production style from his music onto this album.?

Gabe: Oh, a hundred percent. A good winter album for sure. It’s another one that’s named a hundred best albums of all time. Very good album.?

Ricardo: It’s interesting too because Drake was mad that The Weeknd decided to not sign to OVO and instead start his own XO label.

Gabe: I could see the potential if he did sign to OVO but I’m glad he didn’t, just because of everything that’s been going on. I follow a lot of the rap news, especially with everything Drake right now. Just with UMG as a whole, they’re a terrible record company. I’m glad he didn’t because the weekend would be more controlled with his music. He wouldn’t be as creative and I don’t think his catalog would be as good if he did sign. Then he would be under UMG and his music would be drastically different.

Ricardo: We’re still on the topic of winter albums. I have to talk about one of Ye’s classic albums 808s & Heartbreak. When this album came out a lot of people didn’t like it because of the autotune. But they were not listening to what he was going through during this time from his mother passing away, the Taylor Swift situation. But, this is a winter album really. Specific songs, ” Bad News,” ” Welcome to Heartbreak,” “Say You Will”. In terms of production, probably the most iconic production styles in Ye’s catalog are easily. He really did a good job on making you feel like: I’m in pain right now and everything’s cold, sad, depressing. He pulled you into this album. Honestly, I have not gone back to this album at all. I can’t listen to a song like “Street Lights”.?

Gabe: I’ve listened to this album once, but haven’t gone back to it because it’s the same situation with Mac Miller. They release new albums which end up being good, but I can’t go back to them because of how serious they are. Even though I have my own thoughts on him as an artist, he does do a good job with his music. This one was definitely a good one, especially for winter.?

Ricardo: I remember seeing a TikTok of songs that I can’t go back and listen to. “Street Lights” was one of them. It’s probably one of the best on this album in my opinion, because of the way it feels. I can really picture vividly in the car, passing all the lights, feeling super bummed, sad.

Gabe: Even has a song called “Coldest Winter”, I think that speaks for itself. A good album to jam to in the winter.?

Ricardo: Recovery by Eminem. If you’ve listened to that one.?

Gabe: I can see it. I haven’t listened to it in forever, but I can see it.?

Ricardo: For me it’s specific songs. “25 To Life”. It has this woman singing in the beginning and it feels very cold, distant, mellow. It makes me feel like winter. But even then, I know this is his comeback album after going on that drug relapse and him being gone for almost five years. Going Through Changes.” Very sad, mellow. It feels like a cold winter album to me.?

Gabe: I could see it. It definitely isn’t the most obvious pick in the world. There’s some others that are: here’s this one. But it’s definitely not a bad pick. I remember I listened to a little bit of the album and I don’t know if you could say: this is a winter song. “Space Bound”. It’s been forever since I broke that record. It’s still not a bad album in general. Winter has a lot of picks. Hard to listen to, but Circles for instance being the open track on the album. It sets the vibe for the rest of it. So I think it’s definitely a good winter pick?

Ricardo: For Mac Miller, the songs that always pop up on my playlist, they’re from Divine Feminine, Swimming, Faces, Blue Slide Park. Those are definitely albums that I still go back to, especially Divine Feminine. Circles is definitely a good pick. Do you have another one??

Gabe: 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole.?

Ricardo: Okay. I’ll give you that one. That always felt like a spring album to me, though.

Gabe: I could see it. I listened to the album again. It has that mellow vibe. “Neighbors” for instance. Listen to that during the winter. I don’t know if that’d be a total winter album.?

Ricardo: Honestly, I can see it. When I listened to this album. It was springtime for me. I was in my junior year of high school when I was getting into J. Cole. The song that made me feel like it’s more for spring, which we’ll get into that season later. It was definitely “Change” with Ari Lennox. But if we’re talking about winter for 4 Your Eyez Only. There’s definitely a couple here. “She’s Mine Pt. 1,” ” 4 Your Eyez Only.” The title track. “For Whom The Bell Tolls”. Those songs definitely feel like it’s cold, snowing outside. He touches on very heavy subject matter, especially in the last song ” 4 Your Eyez Only.” It’s one of the best off this album.?

Gabe: Outside of Forest Hills Drive, a lot of people say that his second best is 4 Your Eyez Only which I can definitely see.

The Spring Bloom: SZA’s CTRL & Baby Keem’s Melodic Blue.

Ricardo: We can talk about spring though. There’s definitely some songs that make me feel: okay, the flowers are blooming. We’re getting into summer, but not quite yet. I have to talk about SZA’s CTRL. The album cover, she’s sitting in a pretty grassy area. This is a spring album. The girls are getting their sun dresses out, the sun’s coming back, and flowers are blooming. I could talk about “Supermodel,” ” Prom,” ” Weekend,” ” Garden,” ” Normal Girl,” and “20 Something.” Front to back, classic R&B album, but those songs specifically. “Prom” has these very bouncy synths that carry you throughout the entire song. “20 Something” where she’s talking about vulnerability, still being young, and not finding love. Sad, but at the same time I can envision myself having a picnic with a girl, sitting in a big, open greenfield.

Gabe: It definitely gives off that feeling and that vibe. You can see it being a summer album, but I can even see it being a spring album. The album art, it’s on the summer side but on the spring where you’re just relaxing, sitting by the water, like he’s on the rainbow. That’s spring vibes. He has some really powerful performances like “Range Brothers” with Kendrick Lamar

Your Summer Soundtrack: Malibu, ASTROWORLD, & Nothing Was The Same.

Ricardo: Into the summer part of this episode? I do have a couple. Drake’s Nothing Was The Same. You have a lot of heavy hitters on here. That straight summer vibe. “Tuscan Leather” is a great example of that. The way he comes in rapping gets you super hyped up, energetic, and it feels like you’re riding in a low rider in LA. Of course, there’s “Worst Behavior,” “Started From the Bottom,” “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” It has more of an evening, summer vibe. You’re on a yacht on the beach. Sun is setting. The smooth melodies Drake tends to hit, “305 To My City.” He has these energetic, hungry R&B, Rap performances that elevated this album to a summer experience. Looking at the cover, he’s got his head in the clouds. Talking about late night songs. “From Time,” “Furthest Thing”. The beautiful piano melodies of from Time. Drake telling this whole story of this girl that I used to be in love with and how we’re growing distant now. Jhene comes in with her beautiful R&B vocals.?

Gabe: One of the more underrated artists for sure.

Ricardo: It’s tough though because everybody’s always talking about SZA.?

Gabe: Since you brought up Nothing Was The Same. I wanted to bring up another classic, legendary album: good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick.?

Ricardo: When I think about good kid, m.A.A.d city, I’m thinking of a movie. I never really thought of it as a summer album.?

Gabe: The album art itself where it has the van on the sidewalk and a blue sky day. That is a good picture of a hot summer day. I want something to cool you off like eating a popsicle on the sidewalk. Definitely not a summer song, but an honorable mention. I love “The Art of Peer Pressure” . It has a very interesting and relatable story to me. It’s a very good song.?

Ricardo: Yeah, man this album, classic.

Gabe: It is. Another two that are actual summer songs are ” m.A.A.d city” and “Swimming Pools”.?

Ricardo: I would say “Swimming Pools” is more like that late, night college party where you’re drinking yourself. I recently got into it actually and I told you about it. Anderson .Paak’s Malibu. I still go back to it. If you ever do get a chance to listen to it, I recommend: “The Season,” ” Without You,” ” Am I Wrong,” “Room In Here”. The melodies and pockets he hits through these songs makes you feel like you literally are on the beach and the sunsets coming down. He did a really good job on creating this summer sunset environment. Just listen to the production and the melodies he hits. I’m telling you, this is a perfect summer album.?

Gabe: Okay, I’m gonna have to listen to this then.

Ricardo: It’s almost like Flower Boy, but in a more summer concert experience.

Gabe: You definitely hyped it up. I’m gonna have to add it to my list. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. I don’t know what it is about it, but he definitely nailed the summer vibe with this one. There’s so many tracks on here. “SWEET” is a good one, “JUGGERNAUT” is a good, hype song.?

Ricardo: I still go back to it here and there. There’s still songs that pop up in my playlist, like “HOT WIND BLOWS” with Wayne. But one that always pops up every time I put my playlist on shuffle, I always get “WILLSHIRE” to pop up every single time.?

Gabe: Oh, an interesting pick that always pops up.?

Ricardo: It’s a great story. He really has me hooked throughout the entire eight minutes, talking about: oh, I met this girl, our eyes met, don’t think nobody noticed. Then, talking about having her in his car, sharing music. Him going on a date with some other actress, but him wanting to go back to this girl and then finding out that this girl actually had a boyfriend as well, but they were still seeing each other. About ASTROWORLD, when it dropped and before I got into Travis, a lot of people were saying that it was still one of his best albums and most iconic. Now I know why, I still have songs popping up on my playlist from this. Definitely “YOSEMITE”.?

Gabe: That one’s a good one. There’s other ones like “5% TINT.” Personally, all of these are fire. I like the bottom three as good closing tracks. ” BUTTERFLY EFFECT,” “HOUSTONFORNICATION,” and people aren’t really crazy about “COFFEE BEAN,” but I liked it. I think it’s a good closing track. I honestly have nothing else to say, it’s a good summer album.

Ricardo: Thank you so much for watching Let’s Talk Podcast Collective. Once again, I am your host, Ricardo Bravo. Gabe, thank you so much for being a part of this first episode of “The Rap Sheet”.?

Gabe: Not a problem. It was nice to be here.?

Kylo: Thank you for listening to Let’s Talk Portland Community College’s broadcast about disability culture. Find more information and resources concerning this episode and others at pcc.edu/dca. This episode was produced by the Let’s Talk Podcast collective as a collaborative effort between students, the accessible education and disability resources department, and the PCC multimedia department. We air new episodes on our home website, our Spotify channel, X-Ray 91.1 FM, 107.1 FM, and KBOO Radio, 90.7 FM.

Tyler, Drake, SZA, & Kendrick Lamar: The Rap/R&B Albums That Define Each Season

Written by Ricardo Bravo

Introduction

Since its inception in the 1970s, Hip-Hop/Rap has always been an important catalyst for addressing social issues like systemic racism, police brutality, & economic disparity among African American/Latino communities. From N.W.A.’s “F**k Tha Police,” to Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.” These tracks have remained timeless, cultural pillars in the fight for social justice. But even before its social, political background, rap was seen by some of its strongest critics like civil rights activist C. Delores Tucker & American Politician Tipper Gore as a genre that wouldn’t last due to its offensive glorification of drugs, women, and money. By 2017, Hip-Hop officially surpassed pop and rock as the most consumed genre in the U.S., cementing its place as a global, cultural movement. Not only did the genre shape the sound of today’s modern music, but it also helped launch the careers of some of the most influential artists of my generation like Tyler The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, J. Cole, & SZA, to name a few. Each of them has delivered timeless albums that only improve with every passing season. So sit back as me and my good friend Gabe break down our seasonal picks for Fall, Winter, Spring, & Summer!?

The Fall Essentials – CHROMAKOPIA & Flower Boy.

Tyler the Creator is an artist who clearly needs no introduction. He’s a Grammy-winning rapper, producer, and fashion icon who’s constantly pushing himself creatively with every album he releases. His eighth studio effort CHROMAKOPIA is no exception. Not only is it a great conceptual project that sees the West Coast MC reflecting on heavy, personal themes such as parenthood, anxiety, and finding out that his father wanted to be a part of his life. But, it also makes for a great fall listen as Gabe states: “There’s some good fall songs on the album, such as Hey Jane & I Hope You Find Your Way Home with their softer acoustics.” Being someone who still listens to this album, I have to agree with Gabe, especially for the track “Hey Jane” with its minimal drums, smooth piano chords, and the subtle horn melodies that flourish gracefully in the song’s foreground. The track feels like the perfect anthem to a windy, fall afternoon with the trees letting go of their leaves. I could say the same thing for the closing track, “I Hope You Find Your Way Home.” A bittersweet, introspective track with its dominant synths, soft acoustics, and piano chords where Tyler reflects on almost becoming a father and his reluctance to start a family. One year after its release, CHROMAKOPIA still stands as a fall staple, offering new meaning with every listen!?

Now, we can’t talk about Tyler’s albums without mentioning the project that served as a major turning point in his artistry: Flower Boy. Released almost 10 years ago on July 21st, 2017, this album is still a genre-defying masterpiece with its beautiful production and emotionally vulnerable subject matter, where Tyler explores themes of unspoken love, loneliness, and gender identity, all while using “driving” and “flowers” as metaphors for escaping his problems and growing as a human being/artist. If you’re looking for great fall music, you’ll find it with this album. I mentioned a couple of my favorite, standout tracks, which include “Boredom,” “911,” & “Glitter” with their mellow guitar chords, colorful synths, light drums, and Tyler’s layered harmonies that feel like you’re driving throughout the countryside, taking in the bright red, orange fall colors in the sky. There’s no debating it, this is one of the best fall albums I have ever listened to, perfect for those slow, quiet evenings. Gabe and I both agreed that the album cover itself is a fall-inspired image. From the warm, textured shades of red & orange to the sunflower field. Not only is Flower Boy an amazing fall listen, but it also stands as a groundbreaking project, both conceptually & sonically. Its emotional depth and rich production paved the way for Tyler’s future releases such as IGOR (2019), CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST (2021), CHROMAKOPIA (2024), & DON’T TAP THE GLASS (2025).?

Winter Reflections: Take Care & 4 Your Eyez Only

When it comes to introducing R&B sensibilities and creating smooth love ballads in Hip-Hop. No other artist comes to mind than Drake. Before beginning his music career, the Toronto native was primarily known for his starring role as “Jimmy Brooks” in the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. He later released three mixtapes independently: Room for Improvement (2006), Comeback Season (2007), & So Far Gone (2009), which was met with critical and commercial success, ultimately catapulting him into the mainstream spotlight. With over 13 number one albums and many chart-topping hits, you can say Drake has released some great albums throughout his career, but no album captures the cold, desolate mood of winter quite like his classic, sophomore effort: Take Care (2011). Whether it’s the beautiful piano chords in the title track “Over My Dead Body” or the hazy synths and soft 808s of “Marvin’s Room” that see him emotionally distant, hoping that the woman he’s interested in would leave her partner to be with him. It’s the frigid, atmospheric ambience and moody production of this album that feels like a cold, snowy night as you’re cuddled up in a blanket with your partner in a luxury condo, enjoying some hot chocolate by the fireplace. Take Care is truly a masterclass of a project that wraps listeners in a warm embrace during the winter season. It’s the kind of album that made Drake a beloved artist from the start, and more than a decade later, it still stands as one of the most defining works in his catalog.?

In the world of Hip-Hop, there’s an abundance of artists who are praised for their introspective storytelling, lyrical depth, and unique authenticity. From Eminem, who wrote the culturally shocking “Stan” to Kendrick Lamar and his heart-wrenching “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” track. Still, there’s only one rapper who continues to deeply connect with the people through his unwithered penmanship: J. Cole. Thanks to conceptually cohesive bodies of work like 2014 Forest Hills Drive & KOD (2018), the North Carolina native has earned a devoted fanbase and widespread acclaim, not just from his peers, but from the entire rap game. Although there is one album in particular that Gabe wanted to mention for our winter segment: 4 Your Eyez Only. He stated: “4 Your Eyez Only has that mellow, winter vibe. The track “Neighbors,” for instance, is pleasing during the cold weather.” For me, this project always felt like a spring album due to the bouncy synths and energetic drums of “Change,” but there are a couple of standout tracks that add credibility to Gabe’s claim, such as the jazz-infused “For Whom The Bell Tolls” with its frantic, chilly strings and horns. As well as the neo-soul inspired “4 Your Eyez Only” with its minimal drums and ambient textures that feel like you’re walking on thick layers of snow. Not only is Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only a fitting winter listen, it’s one of the most powerful and emotionally resonant projects in his catalog. The album unfolds like a personal journal entry, tackling difficult issues like systemic racism, poverty, and the fragility of Black fatherhood. It follows the story of Cole’s late friend James McMilan Jr., who struggled to escape the violent, tumultuous street life behind for his daughter Nina. On the final track of the album, Cole raps from James’s perspective, delivering a heartfelt farewell to her, hoping that she lives a life far better than he did. It’s albums like this that remind us why J. Cole is still respected by fans and peers alike. When he speaks, it never feels like he’s rapping at you; it feels like he’s speaking for you.

Spring Forward: CTRL & The Melodic Blue

So we know that Hip-Hop is the most listened to genre in the U.S., but we also have to talk about the modern R&B music scene, which stands right behind Hip-Hop as one of the most influential genres today. Several artists have been instrumental in keeping R&B not just musically alive, but culturally relevant, such as Bryson Tiller, Brent Faiyaz, Summer Walker, Chris Brown, etc….But no other artist has been more essential to the genre quite like American singer-songwriter SZA. Before signing to independent record label TDE in 2013, she was experimenting with music, self-releasing EPs like See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), as well as performing in front of friends and neighbors. One project in particular that is credited for redefining the sound and tone of modern R&B is her debut album CTRL (2017). Not only is it considered an amazing R&B project, by myself, and by many fans alike, for its raw vulnerability, serene production, and honest storytelling that see SZA explore romantic insecurities, relationships, and self-worth. It’s also the perfect album to ease into the spring season from the bouncy synths & satisfying 808s of “Prom,” & “Garden,” to the calm, guitar acoustics of “20 Something,” where SZA touches on being young, afraid of love, unsure of herself, and still yearning for a connection. An honest and heartbreaking album at times, CTRL is truly a masterpiece. One that makes you step outside, watch the flowers bloom, and makes the girls want to wear sundresses as you’re enjoying a quiet picnic on a wide, grassy hill. Albums like this didn’t just cement SZA as an R&B powerhouse–it proved she’s not going anywhere.?

During West Coast veteran Kendrick Lamar’s creative and cultural peak with the critically acclaimed DAMN album (2017), and his role as executive producer on the Marvel movie soundtrack: Black Panther: The Album (2018). Another artist, closely tied to the Compton legend, was quietly bubbling beneath the surface. In case you don’t know who I’m talking about, I’m referring to Kendrick Lamar’s longtime cousin Baby Keem. Before the creatively unpredictable, high-energy artist stepped into the spotlight, he was already gaining recognition from his contributions on multiple high-profile projects, including Kendrick’s fifth studio album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (2022), Beyonce’s The Lion King: The Gift (2019), Jay Rock’s Redemption (2018), & ScHoolboy Q’s CrasH Talk (2019) where he earned production and writing credits across several tracks. It wasn’t long before he released his debut studio album, The Melodic Blue, on Sept 10th, 2021. I’ve only listened to a couple of tracks from this album, so I’m still getting familiar with it, unlike Gabe, who described its spring energy like this: “I can see this being a spring album from him sitting by the water, relaxing like he’s on a rainbow. It gives off spring vibes.” To an extent, he’s right. From the rainbow-colored boardwalk, Keem lounges on in the cover art to the shimmering synths and melodic loops of the dreamlike closer “16.” The Melodic Blue captures a free, stripped-down musical experience that feels like you and a romantic partner are basking in the spring sun, running through a field of daisies. This project mirrors the wild turbulence of youth, fame, and identity, making Baby Keem a standout voice amongst Gen-Z’s passionate energy.

The Summer Drop: good kid, m.A.A.d city & Malibu

During the 1990s, Dr. Dre helped cement the West Coast’s place in hip-hop with G-funk. A subgenre defined by lush synths, slow-heavy drums, and laid-back grooves inspired by supergroup Parliament-Funkadelic. This sound birthed a wave of classic albums like Dr. Dre’s The Chronic (1992), Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle (1993), Warren G’s Regulate… G Funk Era (1994) and 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me (1996). These albums complemented the region’s sun-soaked, relaxed lifestyle and blended vivid street narratives with smooth G-funk-infused production. Years later, Compton native Kendrick Lamar would inherit that legacy and reshape it for a new generation with good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012). His classic debut that plays like a cinematic short film, tracing the journey of a good kid navigating the chaos of his environment. Gabe calls it a great summer album: “like you’re eating a popsicle by the sidewalk with the van and the blue sky on the cover.” The project does echo that warmth. But beneath the surface lies a heavier narrative that Kendrick unravels: from the adrenaline and imminent danger of “The Art of Peer Pressure” where he and his friends rob someone at their house and end up in a high-speed police chase to the emotional depth of “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” where Kendrick channels the voices of those that have fallen victims to gang violence and prostitution. A somewhat heavy album, but at times, it does offer a warm, summer palette of music from the groovy synths, trap-infused drums, and eclectic melodies of hits like “Money Trees” & “Swimming Pools,” perfect for those late-night college parties or simply going on a road trip with the sun beaming and the music loud. Overall, good kid m.A.A.d city is a generational masterpiece, and it serves as a testament to Kendrick’s greatness, then and now.

After having extensive writing & production credits on Dr. Dre’s Compton (2015), The Game’s The Documentary 2.5 (2015), & working extensively with ScHoolboy Q & legendary record producer 9th Wonder. Rapper, singer, & multi-instrumentalist Anderson .Paak would release his second studio album, Malibu on January 15th, 2016 to critical acclaim where it was praised for its warm, rich musical landscape of live drums,? keys, and Paak’s soulful harmonies that resemble the eclectic nature of Kendrick Lamar’s performances throughout his 2015 magnum opus To Pimp a Butterfly. I came across Malibu this past May and was absolutely blown away by how amazing it was. This is a beautiful summer project that feels like a 70s classic album from the bouncy guitar chords, bass, and drums of songs like “Parking Lot” that feel like a teenage love fantasy on the beach to the vivid “The Season” track with it’s lopped soul sample, laid back drums, & warm texture that feels like watching a sunset on a summer evening in California. It’s also important to acknowledge Los Angeles-based band The Free Nationals, who are best known as Anderson .Paak’s backing group, largely credited for contributing to Malibu’s sun-soaked sound with their live instrumentation, rich harmonies, and smooth West Coast bounce. In the end, Malibu isn’t just another great summer album, it’s a sun-drenched masterpiece bathed in love, struggle, and personal self-discovery. It highlights .Paak’s rare gift for crafting timeless music rooted in the vintage soul of raw 70s live-band energy redesigned for today’s listeners. A notable achievement that not only defines his artistry, but also cements his place as one of the most compelling voices in modern music today.

Final Words & Thoughts

To conclude, music is a universal language. One that speaks to us in ways words often can’t. Whether it’s the artist, genre, or album, music has a way of making life’s joyful moments feel even better, whether you’re graduating from college, landing a new job, going on a date, or simply matching the mood of the season. There’s something beautiful about being able to vividly describe how a song makes you feel and the special memories it evokes-just from the album cover, the production, or the artists’ performance. If it wasn’t already obvious, I love music. It’s been my passion for as long as I can remember, and writing about the albums and artists that have made me look forward to each season is a gift in itself. Thanks for reading, and here’s to all the amazing albums and artists that have shaped our lives.?