It’s interesting listening to The Family, I really like it but it’s also incredibly sad from the perspective of Kevin watching this thing he helped build fall apart like it did.
As somebody that has been following Kevin's career since 2014 and basically watched this whole thing grow from the ground up, The Family is fucking astounding. So incredibly honest and emotional, I feel so fulfilled as a longtime fan with this ending, he really did an incredible job with this. When I heard it was just Kevin I was disappointed like everyone else, then when I heard that there was a second group album coming out tonight I questioned why this wasn't just a Kevin album, but after listening, this could not be more of a BH album. I've never heard anything like this before in my life, what a fucking inspired idea to have the founder of the group just lay everything out like this. The production is fucking amazing too, who knew bearface had it in him to channel early Kanye so well. I was looking forward to him presumably being an alt-pop artist but now I just want him to keep making rap beats. And this is easily Kevin's best rapping ever, he is such a special artist that has a long and incredible career in front of him
feels like I listened to different albums than y'all lol, I really wish I was hearing what you're hearing there's def some great moments though. the end of Crucify Me with the piano going off is wild, unlike anything else they've done. I'm absolutely going to edit these into one great album
TM definitely feels more like a final parting gift after the big finale of The Family but I still really really enjoyed it. After hearing that it was mostly made of songs they did in 2021 that they then went back and finished for this release I lowered my expectations a bit and expected it to sound kind of all over the place but I actually think it's super cohesive and even has its own sound and aesthetic like all the other ones do, it's almost like they mixed Ginger and Iridescence with the super poppy influences combined with some abrasive and weird production and vocal effects. The fact that there's no Bearface, barely any Merlyn and Joba doesn't really show up until halfway through makes it a little bittersweet (and I could honestly do with less Jabari, I'm not a big fan of what he started adding as a vocalist) but I still think it's a really great listen and I'm so glad they decided to drop this too. Man on the Moon especially is one of their best songs in a long time, and I love how much Matt sings on this whole thing. If this really is the end, which it definitely seems to be (at least for the foreseeable future), I think they went out amazingly. The Family really nails the emotions of the whole situation and TM is a really nice bow to wrap everything up with. I'm really gonna miss what these guys do as a group together but now I really can't fucking wait to see what they all do as solo artists
"Crucify Me" is great, so nice to hear Joba play piano again. And "Duct Tape"...heavy stuff @OhTheWater I know you're kinda checked out, but would be curious to hear your thoughts on these last two projects. Helps that they're both about 35 minutes long lol
I liked some of what I heard on The Family. Didn’t get to the other one yet. Always liked Kevin’s stuff and the ear for melodies. Nothing mindblowing or good enough to revisit (All That’s beat is cool), but it isn’t bad A group built from a r/hiphophead side forum having an annoyingly too-online ending is apt, but it’s not for me haha. I tired on them pretty quickly. One, because I think they went back to the well far, far too many times without really expanding on their sound. And two, because everything just seemed so manufactured and planned out. Even the “messiness” seems a bit artificial and forced. Idk, I always said I wish they tapped into the pop songwriting that they had in them and I don’t think they ever really harnessed it
I’m confused by the references Kevin makes to Ameer, is he cool with him again? That sucks if so. I haven’t kept up with the drama lol