Dak Pickscott
Shout out to Dallas my bih is a star
Compromised is artistry at it's final stage 
Albums RANSOM - "No Rest For The Wicked" [DISCUSSION THREAD]
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ReasonableMatic
................................
In the middle of strife,
I appear calm
Same shirts that I stain with blood,
I'll be wiping these tears on
Don't steer wrong..
I'm a felon - no RIGHTS, but I bear/BARE ARMS
Get flared on, I bet you thought
you was FIGHTIN' a mere con/AMIR KHAN
- Ransom (Beautiful Gravesites)
A mere con/Amir Khan?! C’mon man
Dufflebag Ran been keepin my hiphop heart fed for 20 years
Son deserves all the praise
I appear calm
Same shirts that I stain with blood,
I'll be wiping these tears on
Don't steer wrong..
I'm a felon - no RIGHTS, but I bear/BARE ARMS
Get flared on, I bet you thought
you was FIGHTIN' a mere con/AMIR KHAN
- Ransom (Beautiful Gravesites)
A mere con/Amir Khan?! C’mon man
Dufflebag Ran been keepin my hiphop heart fed for 20 years
Son deserves all the praise
Last edited:
TheObserver
Is In a Race against Time.
Ranson fan.. but I think the production made this a 1 time listen.. Cool Project though..
I don't get this Craven guy at all.
Grabbed the Splatter 2
Starting off the album with a bang is the triumphant intro, “The Hawk”. This is my favorite song on the entire project. The track began with a clip of Nicki Minaj publicly denying the ghostwriting allegations that Ransom had exposed all those years prior. Nicki told the paparazzi that Ran was wack, desperate, and lying on her name just to never become successful in this industry anyway. She couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s hilariously fitting that the theme of the track centers around the sport of boxing, because that jab at her wasn’t subtle at all. It’s also fitting because his career mirrors that of a boxing match, as Ransom has metaphorically had his back against the ropes; even having to stand up and beat the count after getting knocked down on the canvas time after time. He’s a Rocky-esque champion of Rap and takes pride in showcasing it. “The Hawk” actually refers to the nickname of the former junior welterweight champion out of Cincinnati, Aaron Pryor. As a Cincinnati native and great-grandson of a professional boxer, I greatly appreciate Ransom acknowledging Pryor in this fashion (Ransom also considers him to be the pound for pound GOAT). Like Ransom, Aaron Pryor’s career was filled with bumps in the road, inhibiting his own potential while fighting drug addiction, criminal charges, and health issues before ultimately turning his life around and becoming the best version of himself. Ransom brilliantly parallels his own journey with Aaron’s in a lyrical onslaught over ambitiously inspirational instrumentation, filled with punch after punch (pun intended). The soundscape belongs in a Rocky 4 training montage. I feel like I could take down Drago myself after listening to it.
The second track is titled “Rituals”, with a fire feature from one of Ransom’s closest collaborators, 38 Spesh. The production sounds like a unique mix between 80’s progressive rock and modern Griselda-esque trap. Ransom begins the track reminiscing about the horrific nature of his former life. He describes the PTSD that he experienced in his nightmares, before comparing it to the dream job that ironically prevents him from ever sleeping. He then goes on to clarify that he’s not trying to start a conflict when he speaks his mind, he’s just getting his thoughts off his chest before moving on. Each artist provides their own chorus, with Ransom melodically rapping, “Maneuver with the sharks but you don’t feel the bites yet/ On that deep end tryna swim with no life vest”. This vivid imagery symbolizes the uncertain perils of street life where you never know exactly what to expect. 38 Spesh, as consistent of a rapper as you’ll find, does his thing, as per usual. He begins the verse explaining his experiences with street etiquette. He recalls times where the Feds were out to get him, even bugging his home. Yet they never had enough on him to catch him. He gives the Feds a proverbial wink with the bar, “Another n***a that ain’t fit the glove/ That means the evidence presented is not enough to convince the judge”. Bringing his signature wordplay to the table, he raps, “N***a, this is what ambition does/ I put a brick in the door and the dash, but I don't deliver grub”. Neither of these men mince words when it comes to the brutality and grim nature of life in the streets. For better or worse, they recognize how integral it was to becoming who they are today. Both lyricists end their respective choruses repeating the title of the track, saying that even if you’ve partaken in low level street activity, you still don’t know the rituals.
Backed with a strong feature verse by The Game, “Circumstances” sees Ransom reflecting on his life and embracing the role as the protector of his family. He says that he was built for that responsibility because he’s stronger than most. He clearly takes this obligation seriously, saying that the fate of his family is in his hands and that they’re depending on him. These themes coincide with the name of the song that this track samples, “That’s the way Love is” by 70’s Soul artist Luther Ingram. The Game exudes a vulnerable, somber tone in his verse. He fondly remembers his dead homies, saying that he’s covered the funeral expenses for people that weren’t even his actual family and constantly feels empathetic towards them. He seemingly snaps out of his introspective daze and finishes his verse with a sense of paranoia, threatening anyone who wants the smoke with him. Ran adds a second verse where he continues to share the wisdom that he’s accumulated through out his life, graciously speaking about surviving into his 40’s (something that is far from guaranteed as a black man in America), as well as admitting that his previous life experience has helped him live more fearlessly than he had in the past.
The second track is titled “Rituals”, with a fire feature from one of Ransom’s closest collaborators, 38 Spesh. The production sounds like a unique mix between 80’s progressive rock and modern Griselda-esque trap. Ransom begins the track reminiscing about the horrific nature of his former life. He describes the PTSD that he experienced in his nightmares, before comparing it to the dream job that ironically prevents him from ever sleeping. He then goes on to clarify that he’s not trying to start a conflict when he speaks his mind, he’s just getting his thoughts off his chest before moving on. Each artist provides their own chorus, with Ransom melodically rapping, “Maneuver with the sharks but you don’t feel the bites yet/ On that deep end tryna swim with no life vest”. This vivid imagery symbolizes the uncertain perils of street life where you never know exactly what to expect. 38 Spesh, as consistent of a rapper as you’ll find, does his thing, as per usual. He begins the verse explaining his experiences with street etiquette. He recalls times where the Feds were out to get him, even bugging his home. Yet they never had enough on him to catch him. He gives the Feds a proverbial wink with the bar, “Another n***a that ain’t fit the glove/ That means the evidence presented is not enough to convince the judge”. Bringing his signature wordplay to the table, he raps, “N***a, this is what ambition does/ I put a brick in the door and the dash, but I don't deliver grub”. Neither of these men mince words when it comes to the brutality and grim nature of life in the streets. For better or worse, they recognize how integral it was to becoming who they are today. Both lyricists end their respective choruses repeating the title of the track, saying that even if you’ve partaken in low level street activity, you still don’t know the rituals.
Backed with a strong feature verse by The Game, “Circumstances” sees Ransom reflecting on his life and embracing the role as the protector of his family. He says that he was built for that responsibility because he’s stronger than most. He clearly takes this obligation seriously, saying that the fate of his family is in his hands and that they’re depending on him. These themes coincide with the name of the song that this track samples, “That’s the way Love is” by 70’s Soul artist Luther Ingram. The Game exudes a vulnerable, somber tone in his verse. He fondly remembers his dead homies, saying that he’s covered the funeral expenses for people that weren’t even his actual family and constantly feels empathetic towards them. He seemingly snaps out of his introspective daze and finishes his verse with a sense of paranoia, threatening anyone who wants the smoke with him. Ran adds a second verse where he continues to share the wisdom that he’s accumulated through out his life, graciously speaking about surviving into his 40’s (something that is far from guaranteed as a black man in America), as well as admitting that his previous life experience has helped him live more fearlessly than he had in the past.
Next up is “Overnight success”, a title that is intentionally ironic. “It took me years to get success overnight” he raps on the hook. Often times in the music industry, artists dream of immediate validation. Building a career over time doesn’t appeal to our instant gratification society. The A&R process has been expedited. This lack of a foundation eventually becomes a pitfall for so many. The introduction of social media has only exacerbated this new reality, as it's a rapidly evolving landscape that has become increasingly onerous to navigate. The dream of becoming a “lottery ticket winning” artist is an easy sell. You can go viral and land a record deal, no matter how predatory, just from one TikTok video. You can amass thousands of listeners in one day. Becoming a one hit wonder is easier than ever due to trend-based publicity. And while the term “industry plant” is still semi-commonly used as an accusation, the dynamics of the industry have shifted to where networking is no longer a necessity to be heard. “Who you know” isn’t the only way to get played on the radio. Hell, the radio is no longer even the primary platform to have your music heard. On the other hand, the evolution of an artist’s reach is independent of consumer behavior. Audiences still dictate both the ceiling and the staying power of certain genres and sub-genres. Both Street rap and Conscious rap have historically struggled to meet the required radio friendliness or pop appeal that cater towards the mainstream. Due to this, lyricism-heavy rappers generally have had an uphill battle to climb in regards to achieving a certain level of success within the music industry, with the exceptions usually being accompanied by a distinct niche that separates them from the pack i.e. Eminem or Lil Wayne. Ransom is an example of this uphill battle. He could have become yet another underground casualty and succumbed to the obstacles that an artist of his mold often fails to overcome. “I'm the real thing and that's no slight to them bros hyped” he confidently states, showing that he believes his skill and resilience will outlast many of the substance-less trendy artists that get more buzz. He continues by saying “You gotta work if you believe in planning, cause you'll never find your greatness on the beaches tanning”, further expressing the sentiment that persistently working and executing a blueprint is the only chance of finding and sustaining success rather than just reaping the fruits of your labor after achieving only mild success.
Ransom continues to reflect on where he is now compared to where he came from on “Compromised”. He starts the first verse off with a warning to those that plot on his demise, saying that he doesn’t compromise due to his prideful nature and beefing with him will only lead to you and your brother’s demise. His pride remains boisterously evident for the rest of the verse. He’s proud of the fact that he no longer has to trap or chase women being that he has a wife and a stable career. He raps, “What’s a plug to an outlet?”, a clever double entendre essentially saying that being a drug dealer (a plug) pales in comparison to a real outlet (allows the electrical current to flow) that provides generational wealth and comfort for him and his family.
He continues to drop gems on “Makin’ it”. He’s adamant that life is what you make it. That life will do you no favors and if you want something, you have to go and take it yourself. We all have our doubts, as well as doubters, and we have no choice but to overcome them and prove that we belong. He’s unwavering in his belief that you just have to keep going, that you could go from being a nobody and having nothing to having the world in the palm of your hand. Simply wanting something isn’t enough, in order for your greatest aspirations to come to fruition you have to have a focused approach and take disciplined action. This hustler mindset is best exemplified by the bar: “Grind hard, gotta make sure that the team glitter/ Cause the only thing that comes to a deep sleeper is dreams, n***a”. He takes on a tone of reassurance over the course of the track, but it’s almost as if it’s just as important for him to reassure himself as it is to enlighten the listeners.
“Redemption” rolls out the red carpet for him to display his ridiculously well-crafted penmanship. He gives us a nearly three minute long verse without a single hook. All of the previous themes that we hear throughout the album seemingly come together on this track. The title of the song further signifies his redemptive arc, both as a man and as an artist. He agains shows his pride by saying that he gave others hope and advice without expecting anything in return and that he’s proven his detractors wrong by accomplishing everything that they said he couldn’t. He also shows his growth as a person, showing a level of maturity that his younger self perhaps did not have, by becoming hesitant to use his weapon, potentially to rob someone or to start a shootout, being that the reward isn’t worth the time that he’d lose by going to prison again, or even worse, dying. Later in the verse he says that he used to think that if one suffered in life, it was because they were poor. His perspective on human suffering then changed when he saw a rich man commit suicide. The psychology of the human mind intrigues him, but also scares him. Though he also admits that regardless of this shift in perspective, he still doesn’t find it coincidental that those with nothing to offer financially still tend to suffer the most mentally. “I’ve studied the human mind and it's never fun to explore but it's funny what you will find when the cup has nothing to pour”.
“Captions” is, in my opinion, the most creative effort on the album. Ransom attempts to tackle and dissect the current social environment that is the internet. He begins the song by rapping, “When your fantasies hit reality/ When fans become critics, analytics predict your salaries/ Sick of all the analogies, the fallacies/ N***as online that's grieving their casualties/ Happily tweet foul shyt and say that they hacking me/ The savagery, everyone here's living so lavishly”. Those lines alone give us so much to un-pack. First, he starts off by unmasking the internet as if it were a Scooby-Doo villain. The internet is a muddied place, where you never know what is real and what isn’t. Reality becomes blurred, intertwined with fanaticism. He then brings up how data and analytics determine one’s worth now that everyone can voice their opinions in a public space about an artist’s work. Public opinion and behavior drive the topics of conversation, which drives the level of engagement, which then determines relevancy. Public discourse is full of inaccurate comparisons, whataboutisms, analogies, and other fallacious reasoning; all of which Ran is disgusted with. Some people also carry over their dissatisfaction with their lives and create toxic personalities online. They vent by posting disrespectful content and spamming others, often passing it off as trolling or claiming that somebody hacked them. The last line examines a larger scale/macro dynamic, and that’s that people use social media to portray a better life than they actually have. We all know people on Instagram who post as if they’re always on vacation, or the seemingly perfect couple that actually has relationship issues behind the scenes. It’s easy to lie or fabricate the truth when you control your own narrative. He also shares an observation that everyone has turned into “experts” regarding every single topic. Whether it be politics, medicine, social dynamics, environmental issues, music, sports, what to do in fight or flight situations, etc. You name it. He ends his verse criticizing the phenomenon of groupthink, as well as the lack of independent thought that the internet has enabled; declaring that hardly anyone is innocent. The second verse is a guest verse by Tyrant, and frankly, it’s one of the best guest verses I’ve ever heard. I would quote the entire verse in this review if I could. The subject matter is exactly in line with the themes of the song and the lyricism is top notch. In the first part of the verse, Tyrant raps, “Oh, I get it, it's all about likes, it's all about follows/ Through all of our plights and all of our sorrow/ As long as you clean with the metal and bottle/ It's really no need for a better tomorrow/ It's really no meaning to death and survival”. He can't help but hide the fact that he's ashamed of humanity. Tyrant encapsulates the direness of the reality of the current situation and contrasts it with the apathy and misguided nature of man, particularly in the black community. People have prioritized artificial constructs such as internet validation, as well as substance abuse and the facade of security, over meaningful progress and sustainability. He further expands on this thought by rapping, “Use memes to escape from the mind/ Dancing on TikTok, bruh, we in the race against time/ Flee from this racist facade, jeans from an ancient design/ They seen it engraved in the mind, the schemers that make us divide /You n***as jaded, our independent thought was did away with”. Tyrant is practically pleading for the unaware to stop mindlessly wasting their time on the internet by partaking in meaningless trends when they’re still actively being oppressed and programmed. He wants people to realize that it’s all part of the grand plan by those in power so that their quality of life continues to worsen. Towards the end of his verse, he boldly claims that he cannot and will not accept his current destiny as it currently stands. “I can't live if Hell is in the game plan and Heaven's full of slaves, man/ Tryna find my way, I'm Magellan in a vague land/ Compared to what these lames said/ Cut from a different cloth but they just read it (Reddit) on the same thread/ shyt, artificial intelligence is made man/ Can't go live on smartphones then literally go brain dead”. This track is as honestly good as it gets. The writing, social commentary, self-awareness, consistency with the content matter, and sense of urgency evoked through tone and delivery make this a perfectly written song.
He continues to drop gems on “Makin’ it”. He’s adamant that life is what you make it. That life will do you no favors and if you want something, you have to go and take it yourself. We all have our doubts, as well as doubters, and we have no choice but to overcome them and prove that we belong. He’s unwavering in his belief that you just have to keep going, that you could go from being a nobody and having nothing to having the world in the palm of your hand. Simply wanting something isn’t enough, in order for your greatest aspirations to come to fruition you have to have a focused approach and take disciplined action. This hustler mindset is best exemplified by the bar: “Grind hard, gotta make sure that the team glitter/ Cause the only thing that comes to a deep sleeper is dreams, n***a”. He takes on a tone of reassurance over the course of the track, but it’s almost as if it’s just as important for him to reassure himself as it is to enlighten the listeners.
“Redemption” rolls out the red carpet for him to display his ridiculously well-crafted penmanship. He gives us a nearly three minute long verse without a single hook. All of the previous themes that we hear throughout the album seemingly come together on this track. The title of the song further signifies his redemptive arc, both as a man and as an artist. He agains shows his pride by saying that he gave others hope and advice without expecting anything in return and that he’s proven his detractors wrong by accomplishing everything that they said he couldn’t. He also shows his growth as a person, showing a level of maturity that his younger self perhaps did not have, by becoming hesitant to use his weapon, potentially to rob someone or to start a shootout, being that the reward isn’t worth the time that he’d lose by going to prison again, or even worse, dying. Later in the verse he says that he used to think that if one suffered in life, it was because they were poor. His perspective on human suffering then changed when he saw a rich man commit suicide. The psychology of the human mind intrigues him, but also scares him. Though he also admits that regardless of this shift in perspective, he still doesn’t find it coincidental that those with nothing to offer financially still tend to suffer the most mentally. “I’ve studied the human mind and it's never fun to explore but it's funny what you will find when the cup has nothing to pour”.
“Captions” is, in my opinion, the most creative effort on the album. Ransom attempts to tackle and dissect the current social environment that is the internet. He begins the song by rapping, “When your fantasies hit reality/ When fans become critics, analytics predict your salaries/ Sick of all the analogies, the fallacies/ N***as online that's grieving their casualties/ Happily tweet foul shyt and say that they hacking me/ The savagery, everyone here's living so lavishly”. Those lines alone give us so much to un-pack. First, he starts off by unmasking the internet as if it were a Scooby-Doo villain. The internet is a muddied place, where you never know what is real and what isn’t. Reality becomes blurred, intertwined with fanaticism. He then brings up how data and analytics determine one’s worth now that everyone can voice their opinions in a public space about an artist’s work. Public opinion and behavior drive the topics of conversation, which drives the level of engagement, which then determines relevancy. Public discourse is full of inaccurate comparisons, whataboutisms, analogies, and other fallacious reasoning; all of which Ran is disgusted with. Some people also carry over their dissatisfaction with their lives and create toxic personalities online. They vent by posting disrespectful content and spamming others, often passing it off as trolling or claiming that somebody hacked them. The last line examines a larger scale/macro dynamic, and that’s that people use social media to portray a better life than they actually have. We all know people on Instagram who post as if they’re always on vacation, or the seemingly perfect couple that actually has relationship issues behind the scenes. It’s easy to lie or fabricate the truth when you control your own narrative. He also shares an observation that everyone has turned into “experts” regarding every single topic. Whether it be politics, medicine, social dynamics, environmental issues, music, sports, what to do in fight or flight situations, etc. You name it. He ends his verse criticizing the phenomenon of groupthink, as well as the lack of independent thought that the internet has enabled; declaring that hardly anyone is innocent. The second verse is a guest verse by Tyrant, and frankly, it’s one of the best guest verses I’ve ever heard. I would quote the entire verse in this review if I could. The subject matter is exactly in line with the themes of the song and the lyricism is top notch. In the first part of the verse, Tyrant raps, “Oh, I get it, it's all about likes, it's all about follows/ Through all of our plights and all of our sorrow/ As long as you clean with the metal and bottle/ It's really no need for a better tomorrow/ It's really no meaning to death and survival”. He can't help but hide the fact that he's ashamed of humanity. Tyrant encapsulates the direness of the reality of the current situation and contrasts it with the apathy and misguided nature of man, particularly in the black community. People have prioritized artificial constructs such as internet validation, as well as substance abuse and the facade of security, over meaningful progress and sustainability. He further expands on this thought by rapping, “Use memes to escape from the mind/ Dancing on TikTok, bruh, we in the race against time/ Flee from this racist facade, jeans from an ancient design/ They seen it engraved in the mind, the schemers that make us divide /You n***as jaded, our independent thought was did away with”. Tyrant is practically pleading for the unaware to stop mindlessly wasting their time on the internet by partaking in meaningless trends when they’re still actively being oppressed and programmed. He wants people to realize that it’s all part of the grand plan by those in power so that their quality of life continues to worsen. Towards the end of his verse, he boldly claims that he cannot and will not accept his current destiny as it currently stands. “I can't live if Hell is in the game plan and Heaven's full of slaves, man/ Tryna find my way, I'm Magellan in a vague land/ Compared to what these lames said/ Cut from a different cloth but they just read it (Reddit) on the same thread/ shyt, artificial intelligence is made man/ Can't go live on smartphones then literally go brain dead”. This track is as honestly good as it gets. The writing, social commentary, self-awareness, consistency with the content matter, and sense of urgency evoked through tone and delivery make this a perfectly written song.
The outro, titled “Beautiful Gravesites”, has contributions from J. Arr (who happens to be one of my favorite young artists in the game right now. This was actually my introduction to him) as well as a spoken word verse from Black Chakra. I was unable to find the sample, but the Kanye-influenced chipmunk soul style melody immediately sets the tone for the track in such a soothing manner. It's called Soul for a reason! J.Arr puts on a youthful, witty display of lyricism before passing the baton to the more seasoned Ransom, who effortlessly keeps up the momentum. Black Chakra then comes in and gives us a powerful spoken word poem that feels even more impactful to hear just days after MLK day. The chipmunk soul vocals in the background boosting every word that he spoke reminded me of J. Ivy’s slam poetry on The College Dropout. I just envision Black Chakra with his eyes closed, not just merely reciting lyrics that he wrote, but letting the spirits of his ancestors speak through him. “Where they killed for power until ghosts would form, homies I'm supposed to mourn but pardon this postpartum of this martyrdom where they're birthed into a revolution that they never chose”. So powerful. It’s a fitting swan song to this uniquely spiritual album.
Young Aaron Pryor with felonies on the wire,
Fair desire, man, I'm really too old to be airin' priors
True story, you got no drive for the lane I'm swerving in
I been a star but they labellin' me a journeyman
Don't leave it to the judges, I raise my hand when the word is in - “The Hawk”
Seein' this life got my vision a daze
No more livin' afraid, got rid of my frivolous ways
Speak with the soul of indigenous slaves
Your religion is vague
Would you plant a tree if you knew you couldn't sit in its shade? - “Circumstances”
Why us? The question we all ask, the Lord has
Rain, sleet, and snow on us, forecast of a hard past
Life's real, stay on your grind, try to create your wealth
And try to stay with amazin' health
When they try to manipulate you, just remember
Never be so loyal that you betray yourself - “Makin’ it”
Fair desire, man, I'm really too old to be airin' priors
True story, you got no drive for the lane I'm swerving in
I been a star but they labellin' me a journeyman
Don't leave it to the judges, I raise my hand when the word is in - “The Hawk”
Seein' this life got my vision a daze
No more livin' afraid, got rid of my frivolous ways
Speak with the soul of indigenous slaves
Your religion is vague
Would you plant a tree if you knew you couldn't sit in its shade? - “Circumstances”
Why us? The question we all ask, the Lord has
Rain, sleet, and snow on us, forecast of a hard past
Life's real, stay on your grind, try to create your wealth
And try to stay with amazin' health
When they try to manipulate you, just remember
Never be so loyal that you betray yourself - “Makin’ it”
I gotta say this because it bothered me for a minute...the drop off after Ran's vs on Imperial Glaciers bothered me. Ran shouldve just dropped a second verse
Willie on the track
Willie on the track
