Better Than Basic Review

Hello my fellow readers,

RetroGrav here with a review on the highly underrated album CD "Better Than Basic" from the group Eli$ha & JpJiggs.  Eli$ha is also known as Elias Ellis who is the star of Teenhood as Alex Simpson and Youtuber. This hip-hop rap album was released in April of 2016.

Better Than Basic 2016 Itunes Album Cover.

The first track is titled "Rich and Dangerous" It is kind of hip-hop trap song that is a slow jam opening to the album and has Eli$has vocals unedited it seems like and very raw. The opening version on Track one is decent however when another artist "Jewelslaya" joins in the song is improved. I think its a pretty decent opening track for the album with the short version however the duet version is way better. My rating for this song is 6 out of 10.

On the second track on the album titled "Better Than Basic" this is the anthem and theme song to the album in my opinion. The beat and groove of this song is one of the best beats ever it is some analog dub-synth type of trap beat. The lyrics for this song are sassy, confident and straight up in your face and I love it. When I first listened to this album this easily became my favourite track and gives a first good impression on Elias Ellis if you want to be left with a positive feeling, it sticks in your head, it truly defines music of this decade and will never be forgotten. My rating for this song is a 10 out of 10.

In the third track on the album titled "Wannabe" had a hip hop street music vibe being more quick and snappy with his lyrics. I believe this song was a single or a promotional single before the album came out something like that, it has many remixes I suggest the Rich Rich remix. If he was to make a music video out of this song I would pick that remix. My rating for this song is a 7 out of 10.

Then in the fourth track on the album titled "Do It Right" an intimidating trap rap song that gives you this "I am the best don't fuck with me" type of vibe. This is probably my favourite song on the album because it is so well composed and I could listen to this over and over again 100 times. The beat in the chorus is perfect with the lyrics and fast paced. I feel this should be in a rap musical or something. If anything I hope he would make this song a single and make a music video for this. I get an Iggy Azalea or Lady Gaga vocal influence from this track. My rating for this song is a 10 out of 10. Perfection. "Your A Mess Loser Compressed!

Another duet pops up on the album which is with "Jewelslaya" with her very raspy vocals performed in the fifth track "Ratchets Walk My Way". The song starts off with her rapping with Eli$ha then there is the chorus where it is a cute fast lullaby type of chorus "All The Ratchets Walk My Way". While it is cute and friendly it does get a bit irritating after a while where its a song that becomes too much. This is probably my least favourite song off the album. My rating for this song is a 3 out of 10. 
The seventh track on the album "This Is Trap" is a very experimental song where you could tell Eli$ha wanted to just have some fun and rap his heart out. It is a very short track I don't know if I consider this an album track or interlude it sounds more something that is to transition the album into another part. My rating for this song is a 4 out of 10 as an album track, but 6 out of 10 if its an interlude.

On the eighth track on the album "Pay For This" is a street type hip-hop trap song and this is where the album becomes more versatile. All the tracks prior were about "being sassy" and "giving attitude to 'Basics'" by this point it becomes more connected with reality wether then social media and teen slang. Pay For This a very universal song that everyone can relate too and probably a stand out track from this album. My rating for this song is a 9 out of 10.

Then we have the ninth track "Attitude" a club dance hip-hop rap track where it is kind of to a funky beat reminds me of a Daft Punk meets Iggy Azelea. Attitude is bringing the sassy back however in a different style which doesn't get as repetitive musical wise, lyric wise maybe but this album is called "Better Than Basic" after all. My rating for this song is 8 out of 10. 

Next track is the tenth one which is "Teach" where orchestral synthesizers get used within the album. This is the perfect closing song on the standard edition to this album because lyric wise it is saying "I am the master so you learned" type of message I get from this song. It is quite brilliant. My rating for this song is 8 out of 10. 

Now onto the bonus tracks the 11th track "Overrated" where it becomes more intense and more experimental. This song makes me feel like I am in some trance or crazy dream and its perfect for a bad dream sequence on a show or something for a character to be running through a nightmare. This song is amazing it could be a single in my opinion too. Everything about this track is perfection in my opinion. Pure Perfection! For a track that is titled "Overrated" it is definitely underrated. My rating for this song is 10 out of 10.
And finally the 12th and final track on the album "Frosted" a fun chilled out upbeat rap song which is the perfection closing for deluxe. It is about Eli$ha and JpJiggs finding a new friend to hangout with who fits into his "league" which is the perfect close to the album. It is a type of track that is like "you finished the mission with success".  My rating for this song is 7 out of 10.

Overall, to sum up the album it honestly is a pretty decent/average hip-hop rap album. I give it a 6 or 7 out of 10 in general. It is the start of Elias Ellis music career which I feel this was a sneak preview to something even better from humours I heard  of Paradox coming out soon which we are all excited for just from the fabulous "Loving Me". I don't know the whole background behind this album but I heard this was released as a joke in my opinion it can be entertaining with the way Elias raps and what he's rapping about, but the music is really good and its cool that Elias Ellis is very diverse with his music. I think with his diversity he will go far to continue to regenerate himself after every album and name he goes through. Just like how other Drakoloid stars have developed musically. Another thing to note is I like how this rap album didn't have explicit lyrics and was friendly it is good for the younger audience at Drakoloid to listen. I highly suggest anyone who likes friendly fun comedic hip-hop and rap music to get this album. 

Hope you bloggers enjoyed reading my second retro music review and please spread the word about my blog.

Sincerely,

RetroGrav