Albums Boldy James x Nicholas Craven - Penalty Of Leadership (Discussion Thread)

[Piff Perkins]

I like this a lot, perhaps better than Boldy's last project with Craven. Beats are less hit/miss on this one. Craven's style feels very imitative at times. All My Tokens is straight up Alch shyt, Straight As reminds me of various Rocafella producers, Jack Frost gives me Harry Fraud vibes, Early Vibes reminds me RZA (drums feel like the original Ghost Deini) etc. His most individual presence seems to be in the beats with samples that don't sound like anything you'd expect to be sampled. Some of the more low tempo stuff where the loops are less interesting.

Boldy doing his thing. Some of the "hooks" are ehh but rapping wise he sounds so well in most of the beats, fit rights in.

 

[GreenGhxst]

that's what I've heard too but I'm not sure. After his accident there were pics of him in the hospital with just her and his son and Alchemist there. So if she was his sister that'd make sense.

They've been collabing together for a long time too.

Yeah has to be

She went off on this joint if you ain't heard it

She had a better verse than Rome it's a close call with Boldy but could go either way

 

[GreenGhxst]

Craven is a low budget Alchemist. He can’t attain the heights Alchemist does with his best beats but I think Craven does have a lot of dope production that is better than a number of Alchemist worst beats

The funny thing is that I thought Fair exchange no robbery was a bad album but going back to it

It has to be one of my favorite Boldy projects

It's definitely in the realms of the Price of Tea in China

I wouldn't call Craven a low budget alchemist because Fair Exchange no robbery sounds different than his alchemist collabs

His beats were what originally turnt me away from that album, but like I said... Going back... I realized it was damn near a masterpiece

They do have similarities, but most producers in this lane have that

 

[GreenGhxst]

I like this a lot, perhaps better than Boldy's last project with Craven. Beats are less hit/miss on this one. Craven's style feels very imitative at times. All My Tokens is straight up Alch shyt, Straight As reminds me of various Rocafella producers, Jack Frost gives me Harry Fraud vibes, Early Vibes reminds me RZA (drums feel like the original Ghost Deini) etc. His most individual presence seems to be in the beats with samples that don't sound like anything you'd expect to be sampled. Some of the more low tempo stuff where the loops are less interesting.

Boldy doing his thing. Some of the "hooks" are ehh but rapping wise he sounds so well in most of the beats, fit rights in.

First impression.... It feels like Craven was more conservative with his beats this time around

But Boldy rapping his ass off makes up for it

Still need more time with this project, but yea I feel like Craven held back a bit

You are right about the obscure samples, which is what made Fair Exchange no robbery such a good album for me

The sound of the samples on this one is a bit more orthodox

 

[diggy]

Album is dope to me and it sounds clean in the earphones

 

[Heavy_Handz]

I don't think they sound that similar at all. I think Craven's more like a Jay Versace or a low budget Roc Marci if anything.

Yes, Al has some beats that are loops without drums, but the drumless loop thing is Craven's main style. Al has more choppy beats, more layered samples, and way more drums. Craven also samples heavy in genres that Alc doesn't touch as much as he used to. Al got less into the soul bag like 10 years ago give or take, and Craven's deep in the soulful crates.

All My Tokens on this this new project does kind of sound like an Alc beat though.

I’m saying, don’t act like you don’t hear it

 

[Izanami]

The funny thing is that I thought Fair exchange no robbery was a bad album but going back to it

It has to be one of my favorite Boldy projects

It's definitely in the realms of the Price of Tea in China

I wouldn't call Craven a low budget alchemist because Fair Exchange no robbery sounds different than his alchemist collabs

His beats were what originally turnt me away from that album, but like I said... Going back... I realized it was damn near a masterpiece

They do have similarities, but most producers in this lane have that

Honestly I can’t stop playing Straight & Tall, Stuck In Traffic, Town & Country, Designer Drugs and 0 Tre Nine. The album really grew on me too. Copped the vinyl a few eeeks ago.

 

[Izanami]

Yeah has to be

She went off on this joint if you ain't heard it

She had a better verse than Rome it's a close call with Boldy but could go either way

She bodied both on this. My first time hearing her and I was extremely impressed

 

[The War Report]

I've been listening to most of Boldy's albums from like 2020 on up. The Price of Tea in China is my favorite and Bo Jackson.

 

[AAKing23]

Coldest nikka out right now, I couldn’t stop playing his last Nick Craven tape Fair Exchange No Robbery and now he drops this

 

[AAKing23]

Speedy Recovery The sample flip

 

[AAKing23]

Murderous Tendencies is ridiculous

 

[Ironman]

I forgot this dropped there's so much music

 

[Ciggavelli]

I'm not a big fan of Craven, but it's a good album.

 

[The War Report]

These beats are uninspiring. Feels like a novice put them together. Just copying and pasting samples.