x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Album Mode

Demar Grant & Adriel Smiley

Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.

music music commentary

All Episodes

48:39

CXLVII. Quavo | Rocket Power

Album Mode ·

2023/08/26

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Quavo's second solo studio 'Rocket Power', whether he's a viable solo artist and if this project is a step back for him.Démar’s rating: 4 / 10Adriel’s rating: 3.5 / 10The Love List: Turn Yo Clic Up, Stain, Focused, GreatnessTIME CODES:1:58 - Who’s Beyoncé3:44 - Adriel never thought Quavo could rap7:46 - Quavo features (was a good singles artist)9:25 - Best song on Rocket Power?10:20 - He’s not smooth12:55 - Hearing them together on tracks ‘4:54 - Shoe on the other

en

30:36

Drake Reveals the 'For All the Dogs' Cover and...

Album Mode ·

2023/08/25

How is Adonis designing covers better than 90% of hip hop right now? People need to step their game up. Also Spotify's top 5 most streamed rap albums of 2023 looks like another indication of hip hop's decline.TIMECODES:0:14 - Start1:13 - New Drake era3:00 - An album that has nothing to do with Kanye5:05 - Changing the album cover game6:20 - Drawing looks sinister8:43 - Drake makes the music when he’s enjoying himself9:14 - Demar liked honestly never mind10:05 - Demar is cautiously optimistic11:59 -

en

27:54

How piracy in the 2000's morphed hip hop and is...

Album Mode ·

2023/08/18

Démar and Adriel discuss how the hip hop developed over the 2000s and how many artists have maintained their relevance beyond the monumental time for the genre. Also remember Limewire? The duo reflects on it's impact on hip hop and how the Touch It (Remix) was one of it calling cards.TIMECODES:1:30 Bling rap era2:25 Soulja boy Gucci head band2:50 Limewire4:00 Touch it remix5:07 Crank that at a wedding Demar is old8:35 Eminem is the Kelly Clarkson of rap09:40 Meg the stallion “pro meg podcast”14:15

en

51:59

CXLVI. Noname | Sundial

Album Mode ·

2023/08/18

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Noname's second studio album 'Sundial', whether she's been left behind by her peers and how her politics fail her in being a conscious rapper.Démar’s rating: 6.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 8 / 10The Love List: boomboom, namesake, potentially the interlude, hold me downTIME CODES:8:10 - Other people killing her on her project9:50 - A lot people like noname11:48 - Production “real instruments”14:20 - Sneaky like a burglar17:15 - She has not evolved18:40 - Refer back to the

en

99:49

Hip Hop 50th Anniversary RETRO REVIEW: Jay-Z | The...

Album Mode ·

2023/08/14

Hip Hop turns 50 this year so Album Mode has decided to look at an album per decade to see how the genre has evolved since that primordial party in New York that started it all. This week Démar and Adriel discuss the GOAT, Jay-Z and his classic ‘The Blueprint’, it’s iconic hits and flooded lyrics. The duo also discuss the legendary producer list and how 'The Blueprint' is a production heaven.Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 8 / 10The Love List: The Ruler's Back, Girls Girls, Girls (Part 2),

en

59:49

Tory Lanez gets sentenced to 10 years and Reason is...

Album Mode ·

2023/08/11

Finally Tory Lanez's sentencing has been announced, the Brampton artist got 10 years behind bars for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. In response the Twitteratti and Instagram comments are on fire, but what exactly did Lanez do to deserve this martyrdom? Also a Billboard article reveals music execs are in the dark when it comes to star-making and Reason is beefing with his label, TDE. Lots of juice and we do the squeezing, Album Mode.Follow us:YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/@AlbumModeTikTok:Album

en

36:35

CXLV. Post Malone | Austin

Album Mode ·

2023/08/04

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Post Malone's fifth studio album 'Austin', whether he's a hip-hop artist anymore and if being a rock artist makes sense for Posty despite being bad at it.Démar’s rating: 5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 4.5 / 10The Love List: Something Real, Texas Tea, Mourning, NovacandyTIME CODES:1:38 - Lyrics about going through it 3:49 - 12k score4:12 - Should he have leaned more into hip-hop?5:40 - Production is good at times6:30 - Mall Rock Renaissance 7:45 - Posty can’t hit some of

en

73:16

CXLIV. Travis Scott | Utopia

Album Mode ·

2023/08/03

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Travis Scott's fourth album 'Utopia', how Scott has maintained relevance despite not dropping an album in 5 years and whether hiding features like Drake, Beyoncé, Playboi Carti, The Weeknd and Bad Bunny is worth it.Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 8 / 10The Love List: FE!N, HYAENA, MY EYES, SKITZO, DELRESTO,TIMECODES:5:19 - K-pop6:57 - new bag8:25 - YBN was still a thing9:23 - able to go away for 5 years and still be a thing11:00 - not a fan of Demar’s

en

50:19

Doja Cat hates her fans and Drake is never doing a...

Album Mode ·

2023/07/27

The duo discusses the promo streak Drake has been on over the past week and why Doja Cat hates her own fans. Drake's latest interview isn't hard hitting but does it need to be anymore? Also, is Nas x Hit-boy the GOAT rapper-producer combo ever?TIMECODES: 1:40 - What Drake is wearing4 :50 - Drake is savvy on who he is around9:05 - Drakes book10:20 - Elliot Wilson run up interviews14:45 - Diva drake getting a drink16:35 - Drake is bi-racial21:33 - Tik-tok revenue share24:30 - Doja Cat v Kittenz37:15 -

en

46:48

CXLIII. NewJeans (뉴진스) | Get Up

Album Mode ·

2023/07/27

`This week Démar and Adriel discuss NewJeans (뉴진스) second EP 'Get Up', who's the best singer in each language, their dream collabs for the group and the project's outrageously short length.Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 6.5 / 10The Love List: Super Shy, ETA, NewJeansTIMECODES:03:40 - The power puff girls12:05 - Get Up stand out13:20 - Demar is in15:05 - 6-song project19:05 - Favourite singers22:35 - Seems like it’s 5 girls hanging out24:12 - Future comparison30:54 - Collaborations32:40 -

en

27:33

NewJeans And PinkPantheress Are Destined to Collab...

Album Mode ·

2023/07/21

PinkPantheress and NewJeans are dropping singles, their sound is soooo similar so we speculate on whether they should collab and why it makes sense. Hip Hop also turns 50 this year and Spotify revealed their top 50 most streamed songs... about 10 of the songs aren't even hip hop.TIMECODES:3:25 - NewJeans & pinkpantheress19:45 - Top 5011:35 - XXXTentacion15:20 - Coolio16:55 - J Cole17:55 - Why does Adriel hate the most popular songs21:05 - WAPFollow

en

59:43

CXLII. J Hus | Beautiful and Brutal Yard

Album Mode ·

2023/07/21

J Hus' third studio album 'Beautiful and Brutal Yard’ is out and up for review! Will J Hus' offbeat rapping translate to North American fans? Will Drake get 'The London' treatment on 'Who Told You'? And Why doesn't J Hus use the deep voice on 'Killy' all the time? Find out in this episode of Album Mode Z!Démar’s rating: 6 / 10Adriel’s rating: 8 / 10The Love List: Killy, Alien Girl, Masculine, Nice BodyTIMECODES:7:00 - Double fist, day party album13:12 - Freeze please section15:05 - Rapping off beat,

en

41:49

Rappers and Their NBA Equivalents and The Grammys...

Album Mode ·

2023/07/13

First Démar and Adriel discuss The Grammys allowing for AI music to win awards. Then the real juice, NBA players-rapper comps! It's free agency in the NBA so we thought it be fun to find NBA star equivalents to some of hip hop's best rappers today.Here's the variety article mentioned in the pod.TIMECODES:05:08 - purist music, computer music 06:22 - Artist on artist crime, bring back bullying09:05 - NBA & rapper comps11:22 - Lebron x Drake16:53 - Ben Simmons x Chance the rapper19:38 - Meg x

en

54:55

CXLI. Dominic Fike | Sunburn

Album Mode ·

2023/07/13

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Dominic Fike's second studio album 'Sunburn’. Is Fike the second coming on Jack Johnson? Is his production putting him in the 'Nas Zone'? Find out in this episode of Album Mode Z!P.S. Mona Lisa is still my song of the summer - DDémar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel’s rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: Mona Lisa, Dancing in the Courthouse, Any Pile, How Much Is WeedTimecodes:6:50 - Demar is a Dominic Fike superfan 11:40 - Demar loves to dance to Mona Lisa - song to frolic

en

56:17

CXL. Lil Uzi Vert | Pink Tape

Album Mode ·

2023/07/06

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lil Uzi Vert's third studio album 'Pink Tape’, whether hip hop anthems are back and Uzi's dilance to rock music. Is Uzi able to make the jump to a completely new genre? idk about that one chief.P.S. Why are we still doing 20+ song albums? WHYYYYY??Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 6/ 10The Love List: Flooded the Face, Endless Fashion, Nakamura, Just Wanna RockTime Codes:7:43 - long albums09:30 - rock & rap11:45 - CS15:45 - Anthems are back18:50 - Good

en

43:33

Best Albums of 2023 So Far and 'The Idol' Season...

Album Mode ·

2023/07/06

Démar and Adriel discuss the best albums so far this year and breakdown the absolutely tragic season finale of 'The Idol'. Also there's been two girls made of "sugar, spice, kanekalon and cinnamon" running viral all over TikTok and giving us all a lesson on viral marketing. The duo decide whether they think FlyanaBoss is a meme or the real deal.Time Codes: 3:13 - top 5 albums7:55 - Dave & CC EP10:47 - Kali Uchis14:20 - Jimmy Butler17:05 - the idol20:10 - offended22:18 - good actors minus the

en

52:13

CXXXIX. Young Thug | Business is Business

Album Mode ·

2023/07/04

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Young Thug's Third studio album 'Business is Business’, whether Young Thug has fallen off and how Thugger's vocal performance circumvents the album's generic production.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel’s rating: 6.5 / 10The Love List: Gucci Grocery Bag, Wit Da Racks, Hoodie, Oh U Went0:00 - Introduction 8:40 - Fav Thug songs14:50 - 21 Savage is like Klay Thompson32:33 - Hoodie sounds like a Izzo (H.O.V.A.) interpolation34:45 - Who gets Lil Baby in the divorce45:30 -

en

32:50

Drake announces a new album, Lil Uzi Vert reveals The...

Album Mode ·

2023/06/28

Démar and Adriel discuss the promo streak Lil Uzi Vert, Drake and Travis Scott have been on over the past week. Adriel keeps wanting to talk about Pusha T and Jim Jones inexplicable beef over the top 50 and a heated debate about whether Future is a top 50 rapper of all time.Time Codes: 0:15 – Introduction4:48 – Drake is a style icon8:15 – Uzi is a Republican13:25 – Jim Jones vs Pusha T14:45 – Jim Jones making the best music of his career19:35 – Why is beef a hip-hop thing?23:40 – Is Future Top

en

46:15

CXXXVIII. Gunna | A Gift & a Curse

Album Mode ·

2023/06/26

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Gunna's fourth studio album 'A Gift and a Curse’, whether it's his best album to date and how leaving the guitar behind has helped his production.Démar’s rating: 4Adriel’s rating: 6The Love List: fukumean, rodeo dr, bottom, p angelsP.S. When we said Young Nudy, we meant Young Thug0:00 - Introduction4:00 - It’s been destitute4:50 - The black Nav6:55 - 69 is a snitch just like Gunna, just less liked 11:00 - Guitar production used by Gunna12:15 - A part of his

en

26:35

Predicting the Song of the Summer, The Idol is still...

Album Mode ·

2023/06/26

Démar and Adriel breakdown episode 3 of the Idol, predict which songs they thing will be the song of the summer and discuss Andre 3000’s alleged album on the way. Don’t believe the hype! Andre 3000 is in the Kanye/Frank Ocean zone, we gotta see it to believe it.Time Codes:0:00 – Introduction2:03 – Being threatened by someone named Abel9:18 – I thought it was going to be way worse11:40 – Our predictions for song of the summer22:08 – Andre 3000 original Frank oceanFollow

en

315 results

Similar Podcasts

Pasquale Maassen Soundcloud

Pasquale Maassen

Marian Klose

Marian Klose

sevenism

sevenism

Dean Delray"s LET THERE BE TALK

Cactus Radio Network

Word In Your Ear

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold