Tyga: Hotel California Review Released under YMCMB on April 9th Aaron Parker, Co-CEO of UpNorthBeats Blogs

-Tyga strays away from the style of conception he employed in his freshman effort. The result: A bumpy album that provides a plethora of Young Money style bravado-

Hotel California Review 7.2 Individual Track 500 Degrees- 4 Dope- 7 Get Loose- 7 Diss Song- 8 Hit Em Up- 6 Molly- 7 For The Road- 8 Show You- 8 It Neva Rains- 7 MOE- 9 Hijack- 8 Get Rich- 4 Enemies- 8 Drive Fast, Live Young- 9 Palm Trees- 7

Dads Letter- 7 Don't Hate The Playa- 8 Switch Lanes- 8

If you expected Tygas sophomore effort Hotel California to outshine Carless World: Rise of the Last King you are in for a disappointment. With a lack of clear number one song unfortunately the album as a whole lacks luster. The album starts with wannabe-banger 500 Degrees featuring Young Money honcho Lil Wayne. Tunechi delivers a typical performance we are accustomed to hearing, rhyming primarily about "eating pussy." Tyga did nothing to impress on the track giving a weak hook with similar lyrical content boring the listener. The lead single Dope featuring Rick Ross witnesses both rappers deliver good performances. A lack of a clever lyrical scheme holds the track back from being THE song of the album. Get Loose was a well-produced track; delivering a very catchy beat with an unorthodox hook (Money buy the power i could buy all the real shit I aint never been a liar; nigga talk shit I pull out the fire). Its not until the bridge where we hear the title. It's definitely a song to "get loose" too, which plays to Tygas strength of being able our emotions despite simple lyrical content. Diss Song was Tygas first attempt at delivering meaningful message through his lyrics, a style that was at a premium on Careless World. He confronts his former friend who is hating on him by saying in the hook that it is "not a diss song" but reconfirms that if you don't like him, dont buy it.. The message was received as Tyga pulls through in this hidden gem of HC. Hit Em Up enlists Jadakiss on the record but it wasn't enough to produce a track that lives up to the hype that such a duo can create. With the 2pac sample failing to clear; the track resembles a mixtape- like song, being very repetitive lyrically. It's a passable song, but I expect more from a Tyga who seemed to be above-par in the creative department in his first LP. Next is "Molly," which seems poised to be the "club song" of Summer 2013. Wiz Khalifa is enlisted to help deliver the message of the new craze "Molly," the urban dictionary definition for ecstasy. Star power and a catchy beat make this track another highlight of the album. For the Road is the "love song" of the album as Chris Brown delivers an exceptional hook set upon a slow tempo beat that fits perfectly for the r&b star. Tyga rises to the occasion to tell his story for the ladies on this track. Show You is another sensually based track where we get a typical performance on the hook we come to expect from Future, who uplifted Lil Wayne's "Love Me." Tyga once again speaks to the

ladies with proud eloquence, conveying a desire to "show you off."

It Neva Rains goes out to all the people in California, using a retro vibe as Game is asked to jump on this beat and it is a good switch up for the song. MOE is the real gem of the album as Tyga and Wiz Khalifa deliver the message for the acronym meaning Music Over Everything. Wiz assassinates the song on his verse reminding us about his love of Mary. The hook (also Wiz) was perfect for the track with the repetitive "MOE, MOE, music over everything." Tyga shows how much Weezy's worldplay has influenced him in Hijack. This recordanother "banger" delivering the message that Tyga will "steal your bitch, call it Hijack." 2 Chainz delivers on his verse a more up tempo style not typical for him, despite this Tity Boi still outshines Tyga, Get Rich is a weak track. A very techno sounding beat annoys the listener and Tyga talks up his wealth. Overall bad song that shows us rappers can no longer get by on far-out beats and basic, cocky rhymes. Enemies shows you that Tyga can still deliver by himself. The beat gives the listener a "Careless World" like feel and the hook only reconfirms the feeling with the lyrics "I put my faith in God, you put your faith in me, now I'm just trying to keep my sanity." Tyga doesn't enter the Neo-Emo subgenre of rap often, but when he does the results are underrated. Drive Fast, Live Young is the most meaningful track on HC. This gem states that Tyga is still young and he has accomplished more than the typical person. Tyga's ability to take simple concepts and delve deeper within them is displayed here. "Palm Trees, fuck everybody" Tyga says. By this the YMCMB artist means that he's talking up his lifestyle and he has no concern over anybodies opinion. The cliche nature of the song might seem annoying at first listen, but the typical cockiness we are grown to expect from TRaww seems genuine enough to equal a decent track, Dads letter confronts Tygas lack of a father figure growing up. The anger in his words is felt in this very good track, showing us once again that Tyga can show emotional dexterity when he needs to assert that he's not just a "party-rapper." Don't Hate tha Playa is another "banger." Well produced and one of the best beats on HC. A track that anyone could have jumped on and killed; despite this Tyga held things down nicely. Switch Lanes is a rather old track off Tyga's Well Done 3 mixtape. Good track, typical beat Tyga would go in on. Mid tempo song. Nothing special on the track.

The Verdict Hotel California was a good album, but given the lack of a big hit it will likely be forgotten as soon as the next album drops (Born Sinner by J. Cole is quickly approaching). HC lacked the star power Tyga received in Careless World. The albums contains typical lyrical content containing the usual drugs, money and sensual based lines. HC is a good start to what is supposed to be a good year for hip-hop albums, but it will not be even close to the best album released if the hype for what is coming is real.