Welcome to the Afterfuture

What the fuck was that

2 ⭐️

This album was frankly just too late, as there is some part of me that wants to respect the abstract choices made with this album; the ambient tracks, the spoken word that feels more like poetry than anything hip hop related, and the lyrical concepts are generally something that would fit well on some sort of concept album. However, most of the album I was only thinking that these concepts and styles had been done before relatively recently upon this album's release, and it makes Mike Ladd unfortunately look like a copycat at best, a complete poser at worst. This isn't really fair to Ladd, but it doesn't mean this album magically becomes timely or really all that well-thought-out. A major issue this album possesses is that it often feels like it can't balance the ambient instrumentals with the rapping parts. Many of the instrumental tracks would make great backing beats, meanwhile most of the actual main beats come off as weak and uninspired. Ladd is also not a great MC flow wise, as even though it undoubtably has to do with the spoken word and poetry influences, it still comes off as choppy, and lyrically it also is reminiscent of a stereotypical slam poetry show; talking. Like. This. To. Make it. Sound... like you're smart. It can just be incredibly goofy. The album does improve upon its growth, with some of the final tracks easily outshining the rest of the album, but at over an hour long it is too little too late. Had this released in the mid 90s, I may be singing a different tune, but by 2000 you had acts like MF DOOM, and while again it isn't Mike Ladd's fault that this has aged like milk, it can be hard to return to, I imagine, five years later, let alone nearly twenty-five.

A new name in hip-hop for me, but who had worked with a bunch of names I know. I can see why he had so many top collaborators, but not quite sure why he didn't break through - unless he didn't want to!

It sounds like an episode of a cartoon that shows you how monotone the future will be and it plays you a song with an instrumental that has no sense. Didn't like it

I wanted to like this album more than I did. I really enjoy underground hip hop, but this one just seemed a little boring. I don’t know, it’s fine. I’m really torn. I don’t want to give it 2 stars, but I’m just not sure it’s good enough for three. I would give it 2.5 if I could. Since I can’t, I have to go with 2 stars because I was just bored.

It's... alright? Not something I would really recommend.

A very unique sound. I really enjoyed a lot of it, but there was just enough that I thought was too out there or too avant garde that I am not sure I would go back to it again.

Interesting sound, Different. Not for me at all though. Struggling to find a favourite song from this. If i had to pick blade runner is OK.

I gave the album 2 listens to see if i changed my mind and didnt. I cant believe it made the top 1001.

Favorite song: Blade runner
Least favourite song: most of the album
Album artwork: No idea what this is

Taas liian pitkä ja epätasainen. Oli siellä joku kiinnostava biisi mut muuten jää kakkoseksi.

Never heard of this artist. Hoped it had stayed that way.

Honestly pretty good

Not quite sure what I feel about this one yet; I think I need more time, and more listens for it to settle in first. I'm going to give it a 3, because I quite enjoyed it, but I think that could change by +/-1 in the future

The sampling on this record is the most expiramental I have heard to date, while still being in service to a hip hop beat. Its an out there record, and the lyrical themes are a little hard for me to grab, but i am also quite distracted by work this morning, so probably worth a revisit.

Did I listen to the right album? Sounded like a lot of low-fi mumblings. Picked up in places, still didn't like it.

Een combinatie van rap en rustige, maar soms speelse, elektronische muziek (Triphop-achtig). Beide lijken soms wat zelfstandig te functioneren. Toch is dat niet storend. Wat dat betreft doet het me wat denken aan Rudeboy. Maar dan wat rustiger.

Given this one a few listens, but really not doing it for me.

Nice surprise to see this hear. I bought this back in the day from a second hand CD shop as I was a big Company Flow fan, but it didn't do a great deal for me at the time. 20 years or so later it's much more resonant with me and still stands up remarkably well - a golden era for underground hiphop

Exploring, pushing, and in some places blasting past the established boundaries and assumptions of hip-hop at that time. How this guy and his collaborators were able to capture the sound of 20 years of hip-hop music to come, is really amazing.

Average late 90s indie hip hop. Really doesn't do much for me. 1.5/5

I like the beats but I don't like his voice so I'll split the difference and call it a 3. He doesn't sit well in the mix and sometimes sounds like he's just reading poetry over music rather than actually flowing with the beats. It ends up leaving me feeling exhausted.