As we approach the end of the year, I find myself with a backlog of at least 30 albums from 2023 that I haven’t had a chance to listen to yet. It’s time for another volume of Album Backlog, and interestingly, all of these releases are from March 2023 (which wasn’t intentional). Let’s dive right in.
Release Date: March 24, 2023
I really wanted to like this album a lot. I’ve been a fan of Danny Brown since The Hybrid, but I only started listening to JPEGMAFIA with LP! in 2021 (he made it to my Best of 2021 list). So, when these two rappers teamed up for Scaring The Hoes (which, by the way, has one of the best album titles ever), I was excited. I’m all for experimental music and artists trying something different, but I didn’t enjoy much of it here. Interestingly, the duo released some bonus tracks (DLC) for this project, and I actually liked all those songs. I’m still looking forward to the sequel.
Notable Song: “HOE (Heaven on Earth)”
Release Date: March 30, 2023
After taking some time to think about it, I’ve come to the conclusion that The Alchemist is probably my favorite producer. Consequently, whenever he releases a project, especially an album with a rapper, I make it a point to check it out. It’s challenging to find anything negative to say about Larry June and The Alchemist’s project, The Great Escape. I enjoyed nearly every track, found all the featured artists impressive (I see you, Big Sean), and, as expected, the beats were top-notch. I get the feeling that if I were into smoking weed, I would appreciate The Great Escape even more, but even without it, I already like it a lot.
Notable Song: “Barragán Lighting” (feat. Joey Bada$$ & Curren$y)
Release Date: March 31, 2023
I initially wanted to consider DJ Drama‘s latest album in comparison to whatever DJ Khaled is doing (to be honest, both can be quite boring). However, I’m Really Like That might be worth a quick listen, especially if you’re into rap. The first track features Tyler, The Creator, which I assume is his response to what DJ Drama did on Call Me If You Get Lost. If you’re interested in hearing posthumous verses from Nipsey Hussle and Trouble or experiencing an average (and kinda old) song featuring Rick Ross and Westside Gunn, you’ll find that here. However, most of the album falls into the category of being rather unexciting, which is why this project has come and gone somewhat unnoticed.
Notable Song: “Legendary” (feat. Tyler, The Creator)
