About time I heard an album with so much consistency.
After much and long awaited demand, rapper Pusha T released his debut solo album, “My Name is My Name.”
And man, it was awesome.
With Kanye West as Executive Producer, a collaboration list that ranges from 2 Chainz, Kelly Rowland, Pharrell, and Kendrick Lamar, and Pusha being one of rap’s best wordsmiths out right now, the album is arguably one of the best and most authentic rap albums of the year.
Personally, Pusha’s album illuminates what rap albums should sound like: a conglomerate of eccentric beats, lyrics, flow, and storyline.
The beats are modern and minimal with a hint of experimentalism, which yells Yeezus all over. The lyrics include major wordplay, such as the double-entendre of “PJ” on the song “Hold On”: “My mind wanders on a PJ, my momma brought me up in the PJ’s, in the club sippin' on P&J on the same arm as my Piaget.” It also includes across the board references, from Abraham Lincoln in “40 Acres” to Trayvon Martin in “Pain.” Pusha’s flow is smooth and yet domineering, a style most famously used by 90’s rapper Ma$e (remember, “Mo Money, Mo Problems”?). You can hear the flow the most on “Let Me Love You” with Kelly Rowland. And at last, the storyline and theme deal with the formalities of Pusha’s former crack-dealing life; from “King Push”, to demanding “40 Acres,” and ending close friendships who someone who joined the police force on “S.N.I.T.C.H.”
My favorite song off the album is “Nosetalgia.” On it, him and Kendrick Lamar, who delivered one his best guest collaborations so far, gave insight into black America and the drug culture in the 80’s, with Pusha being “King” and Kendrick’s childhood being torn apart by the drug. It has no hook, bridge, or chorus. The song leaves you in chills.
Other notable songs to check out are “Numbers On The Boards,” “Pain,” “Suicide,” and “S.N.I.T.C.H.”
As half of rap duo Clipse and part of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music crew, Pusha T has officially made his name in the rap game with MNIMN. Personally, I give the album three out of four stars; whether you want to hear an album for beats, lyrics, flow, or theme, you’ll find it all on this album. I highly recommend it.
