Reviews (page 6 of 9)
I can't actually think of an album that deserves it's place on this list more than this one. Mike Skinner is a lyrical master.
Rap in slo-mo.
Haven't checked out OPM which might be a better place to start, but idk
I don't really enjoy most of this but one thing I will say is Mike is good at getting you to comprehend and understand his lyrics while keeping them interesting. The singles sound like someone with a more musical ear came in to sort it out.
It is more like spoken word than music, but it was a pretty good slice of life, short story. At first I hated it , but while on a long walk it drew me in. I see it as a one off, I never have to hear anthing like it again,
More like spoken word than rap or hip-hip, and reminds one Biz Markie's jokey raps (or Irvine Welsh's novels) from way back, but this is awfully inventive, quite cleverly observed and good fun most of the way round, as well original/different and rather disarmingly sweet on a few cuts ("Dry Your Eyes"). One's also reminded of the Arab Strap, though this is meant to be funnier, and maybe lighter (like the lighter side of Mike Leigh). Downside would be that it's a little one-note and samey toward the end, plowing a narrow (if credible and believable) row.
Why do people keep asking ne to listen to this? No thanks
I feel like I need to listen to the actual story of the album
sounds like michael rosen rapping
Is this music?
If I ever hear someone pronounce the words "think" or "thing" as "fink" or "fing", I am physically unable to respect them in any way whatsoever ever again. They are forever a clown to me and I can't take them serious. I don't know how I made it almost all the way through this album. It's bad and I hate it
1.5 I both see why this is on the list and at the same time think it's absolute dogshite. I remember when this guy came out and was absolutely massive, even as a 13yr old it felt completely dumbed down, juvenile almost. Room temperature IQ stuff. Overegged cockney accent, to the point it honestly sounds fake, simplistic lyrics that sounds like he wrote the continuous stream of thoughts that came into his head, like an 11-year old trying to get over the word limit on a school report. The mind boggles how this guy sold millions, but conversely I think that's also why it needs to be on this list. A fascinating (but shite) inclusion. I normally round up but teenage me is telling me to vote this guy into oblivion.
i am not a rap or a hip hop hater. i respect game regardless of genre. but is this a joke? this album sounds like a mixtape that some kid in middle school recorded thinking he was the next big name in rap. the beats are really lame, dull, and flat. the rapping on here is dismal. i would love for someone to change my mind but every british rapper i have ever heard has dogshit flow and sounds like the american stereotype of a british person. 'oi i'm right chuffed' type beat. come the fuck on. he's sing rapping and can't even hold a tune. it sounds like when white youtubers did a rap song in the advent of youtube. once again, is this a joke? i can't believe this album was even considered to be held in the same esteem as 99% of the rap on this list. it's an insult to actual rappers. i think this is what rap sounds like to people who hate rap. god this is awful.
Dear god, what horrible noise. I couldn't finish the album. How is this guy an influential British rapper?
Surprising. I don't normally like rap, but this was different, Maybe because there wasn't so much slang it sounds like a different language. Plus the English accent didn't hurt. "Dry your eyes" had me in tears.
Weird mixing; good choruses; great story; voice is ok, don’t like the pronunciation of some words. Heartfelt storytelling and great ending; this album is def gonna grow on me. I’ll give it a 3.5/5
Awful. Less than one star.
Fantastic concept record that works really well when you listen straight through but I still can enjoy songs individually. Probably my favorite of his
It's pretty bad. Maybe can see how this was influential, love the subject matter but the voice is just too grating and uneven. Loaded with dense slang and British street scum vibes that I could maybe appreciate if I didn't have no context for it. Musically it's meh and the recording quality is also meh.
Strong, likeable narrative voice dominates this record. The music is fine, some choruses have real stick, but In not sure how compelling subsequent playthroughs would be once the story’s heard.
I'm a big fan of "Original Pirate Material", not averse to putting on my classics and 'avin a little dance (at least, in 2002). This proceeds in the same vein, but he probably bit off more than he could chew trying to make a UK garage opera. Entertaining for most parts, if clumsy in others.
Chaotic, Not really hearable.
Love a good musical opera and this album is no exception. I find sometimes though the narrative can get in the way of good songs with operas but this album does not suffer from that as every song has good narrative and works well on their own.
I’ll review this album like The Streets would: Dis album is bad It made me quite….. Sad! It’s ova ….. and I’m ….. glad Do ya fink he Eva kneew ‘is dad?
Came here for music that opens new doors and I got it. This is authentic British, fish n chips British. Had me gripped, stories are great and the delivery exceptional. Anti musicality, but it works. What a ride.
One of my favorite things in music is when an artist embraces their ambition and really goes for it in trying to create something great. That’s what’s going on with A Grand Don’t Come for Free. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-a-grand-dont-come-for?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
A very interesting listen. This is like a story that's sort of rapped/spoken/sang over an instrumental backing track. Not quite sure how to rate it as it's so unique. I really like the storytelling, but probably wouldn't listen to this again and the style of music isn't really to my taste. Cool concept though
Classic. Great end to end story telling and extra points for the unique style.
1.5
Rubbish
Não gostei de nenhuma música
A lot of it was bad, some was ok, and blinded by the lights was really good. Rounds out to a 3 star
6.5/10
Still relevant social commentary cleverly woven together in an album length lyrical story of poor decisions, misfortune and small triumphs.
I can’t tell you how much I hated the Streets when I first heard them and for years after… but then I started listening to the lyrics and realised the raps were basically beat port audiobooks. I don’t revisit often, but the record deserves its place here
I knew "Fit But You Know It" and "Dry Your Eyes" but had never listened to this album before. I didn't know that it was a sort of concept album/slice of ife hip-hopera about getting pissed, falling in and out of love, a broken TV, and a missing £1,000. Super fun listen- creative, raw, and goofy.
I was avoiding this album. The streets are so uniquely British that I have no way of really understanding how this is supposed to be listened to. That being said it's incredibly well produced and the lyrics and sounds of life are quite effective. But it all just comes off as a really corny musical. Feels very much outside looking in and really inauthentic. But maybe that's how British listen to rap?
Solid music from the streets of blue-collar England.
I'll never understand The Streets' appeal. Maybeyou have to be British to get it, idk. Musically it's fine but not stellar. File under "Not for Me" but also not wretched. 2.5
This is baaaaaad. Loops, while decent, are still loops, and these ones don't change or develop at all. So throw it all in the trash, imo. The rapping/singing is awful. Like, I've heard greater rappers in rural high school talent shows. The content feels like something a high schooler would rap about to seem like he's older, too. This is bad. The best parts of it were where I got to pause it because someone started talking to me at work. My favorite song was the one that just sucked the least. Favorite Song(s): Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
Julefreden varede ikke så længe, the streets ødelagde den. Jeg kan godt huske, at det her album var en relativt stor deal i 2004, men den er satme ældet som mælk. Repetitive beats og en af de mest anstrengende rapstemmer og flows, jeg har hørt. Iggy Azalea-level "den accent må være falsk"-vibes
Ret sjovt at høre, produktionen er ret dated (i modsætning til hans debut!), men sys det er virkelig fedt hvor dedikeret han er til temaet!
Some bangers here, but also some not quite interesting songs.. 3+
I like it. Some "songs" are more talks, but others are really catchy
It's just not good
Didn't like it that much
A great idea. Sometimes the over-emphasis on exact rhymes made me chuckle, but I have to respect the fact that there isn't anything like this out there.
Hmm very pretty and poetic. I like his accent.
Just terrible.
I was already some what familiar with the streets and very surprised to see an album on this list. In my experience he's a very acquired taste. Loved this album album, start to finish. It told a story, that by the end I was just hanging on to see what happened. I always felt his music itself was on the simpler side of things, but it really gives the vocals and lyrics the chance to shine. The previous albums I knew, I don't recall being a story start to finish, so this concept was unexpected and executed wonderfully.
I would probably enjoy watching this movie but I hated listening to this album.
Fit But You Know It and Dry Your Eyes were massive when this album came out Would I enjoy the rest of this album? No, no I would not 2 stars for those songs The rest of this is the sound of the guy I walk away from in the pub
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free Apparently this is one of the best rap albums of the year according to critics, even though Madvillainy was also made that same year... As a hiphop fan, that first song really gave a bad impression to what I was about to listen, thankfully though, the second half made the album a little bit more bearable to listen. Lyrically speaking, this album tells an interesting story, and while it sounded good on paper, the execution on it was not very good. His rapping was very monotous and didn't have much substance, considering that at that time even british rappers were able to sound interesting, while telling great stories as well. At least the lyrics save this album from being bad otherwise, because this album is, okay... 1.- It Was Supposed to Be so Easy = 3/10 2.- Could Well Be In = 6/10 3.- Not Addicted = 5/10 4.- Blinded by the Lights = 7/10 5.- Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way = 6/10 6.- Get Out of My House = 4/10 7.- Fit but You Know It = 7/10 8.- Such a Twat = 5/10 9.- What Is He Thinking? = 7/10 10.- Dry Your Eyes = 8/10 11.- Empty Cans = 8/10 FINAL SCORE = 6/10
Take the worst parts of Rap and Opera and you get Rap Opera. To quote the lyrics - "this is a crock of shit". I can't believe that not only did people actually buy this dire album, but that it's also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Yikes! This was awful and feels like a joke is being played on the audience. The accent while rapping is awful and the singing is abysmal. The flow and lyrics are atrocious.
Nope. No way uh uh.
Immediately no...
Looking at the average score and the comments, it looks like this doesn’t resonate with those outside Britain. It’s a work of art all the way through
So bad it was almost good. I’m really not sure how this one made the list, but I guess this was the best that UK rap had to offer at the time. While this one was blatantly bad to me, I did enjoy listening to it because I had more than a few laughs along the way.
I have a lot to say about this one. I was warned that there was a comically bad album coming, and during the first track, I knew it was this one. By the end of the first track, I was laughing at how absurd and disjointed it sounded. But then the underlying instrumental started getting catchier. And after reading on Wikipedia that this was designed to tell a story, I started paying closer attention as each song progressed. Even though this album is horrible from a musical perspective, it ended up keeping me engaged more than any 1 I've heard on this list. And that has to count for something.
This was a toss up between 1 and 5. Each track from the start, what style is this? Is it a hip hop variant? Is it some EDM/drum and bass thing? Spoken word, atonal verses with a vocoder, story telling, it was odd but somehow enjoyable. Get Out Of My House pushed it to the good side, but even if I liked what they were doing, it was repetitive with all 11 tracks being essentially the same shtick.
Always loved Fit but You Know it, but don’t think I ever gave this a proper listen. It really is something special, a little story of love and life from the streets of England. The production is so solid, it feels timeless, and there’s just enough hooks to connect the message to something you can sing along with. The real star though is the use of words and phrasing, an oddly articulate use of slang and language to tell a story so succinctly and vividly you really feel like you’re along for the ride. I loved it.
Not really sure how I feel about this one. I kind of found the story (unintentionally?) funny, and I enjoyed parts of some of the songs. I may listen again, but I also don't really like the album. But it's interesting, at least.
4+ Fit but you know it
7/10 I like the storytelling but not the matter in which its done Favourite Song=It Was Supposed To Be So Easy Least Favourite Song=
Jesus. Fucking. Christ. This is a joke right? The rapping is so fucking bad. If you told me this was some kids rap album they made in their bedroom for fun, I'd be like "oh good job! impressive for someone to do themselves" but this was commercially released. I seriously thought with the last 11 albums or so I was done with the dregs and I'd get some mediocre crap but seriously... this was shit.
good kid, m.A.A.d city if it kind of sucked ass
I remember listening to this for the first time when it came out and thinking it might be a modern classic. A concept album for beginners; pretty straightforward story, easy to follow, written in modern English and sprinkled with humour. With a happy ending, to boot. A fairly accurate snapshot of life in 2004. Not my life, though. The humdrum life of a bored druggie whose daily highlights include monging out on the sofa, cheating on his girlfriend and getting into drunken scraps on a night out. Listening to it 20 years on, unfortunately all I can muster is cringe. It has not aged well. Even the beats and Mike's rapping at one time seemed fresh and a bit different but in the cold light of day you have the sound of someone who can't rap, talking through the tracks with poor sense of rhythm and a lack of poetic nuance. He even struggles to hit some notes within his own songs. It's your song. Why not change the pitch instead of just accepting that you'll sing it badly?? Fit But You Know It was always the most fun moment, a bit of a working-class 'Parklife' for the garage generation, but its inane lyrics have caught up with it and rendered it skippable. I'm embarrassed to risk my children hearing this album, sadly. I can't slate it completely because it was something at the time, but that moment has passed and it's something different now. Something I don't really care to listen to anymore.
Anxiety in songs
• 2/5 • I like this genre of hip hop. I don’t like this album. • The tracks generally have good beats, hooks and production • The flow, when its not strained, is pedestrian • The lyrics bounce between insipid and inane. The tracks are reminiscent of Kate Tempest, but he’s no poet . . .
Really just some Cockney guys kind of talking. Doesn’t really make for a good album.
In one single moment, your whole life can turn 'round I stand there for a minute, staring straight into the ground Lookin' to the left slightly, then lookin' back down The world feels like it's caved in, proper sorry frown Please let me show you where we could only just be for us I can change, and I can grow, or we could adjust The wicked thing about us is we always have trust We can even have an open relationship if you must I look at her, she stares almost straight back at me But her eyes glaze over, like she's looking straight through me Then her eyes must have closed for what seems an eternity When they open up she's looking down at her feet Dry your eyes, mate I know it's hard to take, but her mind has been made up There's plenty more fish in the sea Dry your eyes, mate I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts But you've got to walk away now, it's over This album tells a story, and its a hell of a tale. 5/5
too bri'ish didn't make it through
Leave it out there. Insufferable.
Awww, baby's first mixtape! The beats are amateur, the spitting sucks, the lyrics bore. Dry Your Eyes was a bright spot, and Empty Cans was a nice narrative payoff for enduring that drag.
The "harmonies" on this album are monotonous, the music without melody. I know it's rap, but it is as dull as a room painted black with black furniture. Not for me. 1.5/5
This was very interesting. I might have to listen to it again but I think I got hooked on the Eminem 8 Mile vibe it was putting out. You might say I even lost myself in it.
Looking back on yesterday’s listen and this album didn’t leave much of an impression on me at all. Not terrible, but I couldn’t relate to much of the subject matter and remember thinking this is kinda lame…
Interesting lyrics but his voice lacks emotion.
The rap flows are awkward and clunky, the hooks are annoying and the lyrics are boring and uninspired. I’m surprised this is popular.
This is a really interesting listen. I had no idea what the vocals were going to sound like when the instruments started on track 1. For some reason a rapper with a British accent sounds inherently cool to me. It's a sound that when it pops up I tend to focus and listen a bit closer than normal. Maybe it's the blend of cultural differences mixed with it being a familiar sound that draws me in? I'm familiar with rap music, which more often than not contains lyrics of everyday life and everyday strife (oh shit I'm spittin now). With rap that comes from the UK, there's little changes in the vernacular that are so similar and yet just enough different. It's very cool. "Blinded by the Lights" is super cool. Laid back beat with a an incredible sidechained or dotted 8th note 90's synth patch. Really impressive track here. I really enjoyed this. The diversity in the instruments/beats was a standout, and I think it's a 3.4 or 3.5/5.
Mid?
3.5
The storyline is a great concept and executed well but it reminds me of Arthur Miller. Flawed tragic hero but so flawed that I lack any sympathy, empathy, or good will towards them meaning I don't buy into this in the way I might have.
How very British that one of the opening lines has a rhyme that includes "tea." This was okay. I wouldn't listen to it again and the strong British accent gets tiring after awhile (sorry, Brits) but it wasn't too bad.
3.5
I can't stand his flow, if that's even a flow. It sounds more like talking around a beat than rapping on it. The tracks come off a cheesy, obnoxious and sometime downright annoying. And most of the singing just grated on my nerves. There are a lot of stuff I don't like that I can see the appeal. I had a hard time with this one. Even the two songs I can almost get, "Fit but You Know It" and "Dry Your Eyes", there still enough that annoys me to truly appreciate them. The rest of the album, I don't get the appeal at all. (2.8) ★
I don't like his quirky delivery, but an okay British hiphop album. 2.5 stars
I think A Grand Don't Come For Free is a pretty sweet album. I'm normally not high on concept albums/rock operas, but this takes the idea of having a cohesive narrative throughout the album and makes it work. I think the rapping/speak singing makes it somehow less cheesy than when a traditional rock band does it. It kind of feels like a UK Garage version of the first few Hold Steady albums. This genre of music definitely isn't something I normally gravitate towards, but I think Mike Skinner really elevates it. Highlights for me are "Fit But You Know It", "Blinded By the Lights", "Dry Your Eyes" and "Empty Cans". 4.5 stars.
0.5
A grand don’t come for free, it come for four! An easy four stars for this exemplary, ambitious, high-cultured hip-hopera. Dry Your Eyes one of the top ballads of the century and Fit But You Know It a Parklife for the 00s.
Ok if you’re gonna make a story album, the story has to be a a lot more interesting than some burnout chud losing cash and later finding it to deal with how lame and annoying this whole shitty album was. British music with yet another blemish. 1 star
Pretty good. If Guy Ritchie were to narrate one of his movies.
I love this album, along with The Streets' first and second albums. This one, though, being a whole story all the way through does get elevated even above the great music and style. I'd probably be tempted to give this a 4.5, if we could do half stars, but I can't give it 4 based on how good it is and how much I enjoy listening to it every time I do. Songs like "Blinded by the Lights" and "Dry Your Eyes" are just beautiful and give me goosebumps.
No thank you
When I read the description I was excited because the rap opera sounded so different. But it was just not enjoyable to listen to.
sounds like poop
No va
Another shit album
Overall: 1/10 This dude sounds exactly like Taron Egerton! I hate it. The beats are trash and his flow is awful. The concept isn't interesting and the protagonist is unlikable. Never listening to this one again. Fav Song: Could Well Be In Least Fav Song: It Was Supposed to Be So Easy
4.25
Hated
-well at first I thought this absolutely sucked, but it really started to grow on me a few songs in. Idk how self-aware it is exactly but it was really funny and unique. This is definitely the closest I’ll ever come to enjoying UK drill rap, even if that isn’t what this is supposed to be -Favorites are Blinded By The Lights, Get Out of My House, Fit But You Know It, and What Is He Thinking?
really quite an experience 4/5
I'm fairly confident you could die without listening to this album and still live a musically fulfilled life.
This was pretty bad. Spoken word poetry masquerading as rap over a mess of backing beats.
Thanks I hate it
I had never heard this before and since rap is not my favourite genre, wasn't expecting much. It's interesting, because before I started on this list I hadn't listened to any rap/hip hop from the UK at all. I find the accent interesting and gives off a much different feeling and effect than American, so called-Gangsta rap. Much more narrative that doesn't feel as threatening and angry, and though concept albums can be a challenging listen, this was okay. I played it right to the end which feels like an accomplishment, so that's saying something. I will admit, I like the album cover art.
I was looking forward to this one, but sadly it wasnt great! Dry Your Eyes and Fit But You Know It were both huge songs in my school years. However the rest of the album was nowhere near as good! Pretty bad on the whole but I am giving it an extra star for being funny, and also nostalgia! 3 ⭐️
I did enjoy the album, not my thing.
What is this? lol
Great story, average music, terrible vocals. It ended up being easier to just read lyrics to all the songs intead of listening to them. I don't think that's a sign of good album.
Okay, starting off with the horns...is this a good sign? British rap?! Did I just get the ick?
Entertaining album of life, with a nice British twist. Good beats, fun story. 3.3
Garbage
Awful
nah sorry Ill give a 2 for the benefit of the doubt bc I didn't try with this album
Kinda corny, but decent story, relatable for the times. I think there’s a better streets album before this one though.
weird
From his rented room in Brixton, London, Mike Skinner championed the underground garage sound and furthered UK hiphop on his first album Original Pirate Material. It was here that the Streets would become a focal point for modern UK hiphop, particularly in the 2000s. Those outside of urban UK centers may not be familiar with the subculture, but I was provided a primer via BBC3's comedy mocumentary People Just Do Nothing, which somehow landed on Canadian Netflix. Having binged the series a few years ago, the underground UK intersection of EDM and hiphop exposed me to garage, jungle, and grime. Skinner comes directly from this subculture and understands the importance as an MC in a country where hiphop is not nearly as dominant as the US. Regardless, the importance of Original Pirate Material cannot be understated as a product of the urban UK subculture. A Grand Don't Come For Free is the follow-up album. The Streets puts more focus on purely hiphop rather than pushing garage alongside it. It highlights Skinner's delivery on the mic which is, uh, distinct. Not only does his chav accent particularly prominent throughout, but his flow comes across as clumsy and unrefined as he struggles through each bar. At times it seems almost comedic, as if Skinner is purposefully delivering his lines like that for a laugh. I can't say for certain if he's playing a character or not, but A Grand Don't Come For Free does not land for me as a hiphop album.
Can’t focus on lyrics with whole thing being just bad
Another one I haven't ever heard of. Brittish rap? This intro on the first track is cool. Yeah I don't know. It was okay. 2 Stars.
Rap opera concert gone wrong??? Was very strange listen, did not enjoy
Maybe as important as Quadrophenia.
Was ist schlimmer als ein Zigarette, wenn man keinen Zigaretten verträgt? Ein Raum voller Raucher. So ist es mit einer Rap Oper - für jemanden der nicht sehr begeistert von diesem Genre ist.
I typically hate British rappers. I didn’t hate this one but I still didn’t find anything extraordinary about it
Pretty o.k. and listenable for a hip-hop album. Strong two stars. 2,5
Shit Sandwich
Yeah musically not there
After the first couple of tracks, I found myself scratching my head. I couldn't tell if the frontman was rapping or conversing. But the whole discussion he was having with his girlfriend in "Get Out Of My House" was quite annoying. Although the album doesn't have to be completely relevant to me in every way for me to enjoy it, I had a hard time to connecting to this. There's a joke about "Cotton-Eye Joe" is what would happen if you give a redneck meth and a drum machine. This felt like if you gave a limey a pint of Guinness and a drum machine. NEXT. Top track: "Blinded By The Lights"
Nah. I was surprised this guy made the list - "What? The Fit but You Know It guy?" That song is a guilty pleasure. Kind of humorous but the guy can't rap. It's like listening to Taran Egerton as Eggsy from The Kingsman trying to turn his chatter into a rap. I give him kudos for the whole rap opera motif and trying to tell a connected story. And there are some interesting or clever stories or bits to the songs. But it's such a slog listening to that Birmingham accent try to rap, or worse, sing (on Get Out of My House). Blinded by the Lights wasn't bad and I always more guiltily got pleasure from Dry Your Eyes. I'll give it a 3 but I get it if others want to give it a lower rating.
I honestly don’t know about this one. Was hard to listen to the first time through but did grow on me. I think this will take a bit of listening to make a rating I’m comfortable. Three for now as it is in the middle.
British people “rapping” 😒. https://youtu.be/8bsxppX7BZc?si=Qd9bVCprd9n0fQ3_
yea booyyyyyyy This is Ali G trying to play it straight, but failing.
Why would anyone listen to this? Don't get it, 1 star or F-.
Nope. No way.
Interesting rap, but not something I’d ciome back to.
Another "Hey, the stuff that Spotify recommended afterwards was considerably cooler" album. A "rap opera" is an interesting concept -- one that probably would have been more interesting with a stronger MC. It's fine BritHop. And he's a pretty good storyteller, but the flow just didn't work for me. Aside from "Fit and You Know It," I'm not sure why I needed to hear this before I died -- except that it introduced me to Ghost Poet, who seems to majorly slap.
Fit and you know it is a classic - I think from FIFA? Otherwise, it was fine. Won't listen again. Spoiler: at least he found is thousand quid.
Oi! I like these guys. Enjoyed this album and it's contents. Cool beats and stories in the music.
Interesting concept album. I like the music of some of this but it feels like a fancy spoken word album, thought he would rap more. It's interesting but Original Pirate Material is a better album imo.
Wow this was pretty cool
Fit but You Know It is great, but the rest is just okay. The style is definitely unique for its vintage, but I honestly wasn't excited when The Streets came out, and I'm still not.
I'm so surprised that Fit but You Know It is listed as the favorite track by several reviewers here. The lyrics were such a massive turnoff. Like maybe our protagonist is not supposed to be the most likeable bloke, and yeah he does get the girl (for a while), but what a creepy incel. That aside, I found most of the hooks massively annoying, wasn't invested in the story whatsoever, and never thought the lines that get repeated as the refrain were really worth repeating. Dry Your Eyes was the one song I thought was alright.
3.75
Every song by the streets…….woke up, went to the pub, saw a bloke I didn’t want to, took some drugs, watched the football, did some gambling, went home, had a row with my girlfriend, went to bed sad…….is that relatable?….i feel like it should more be, woke up, did park run, had a coffee, went to a natural, organic wine bar, had a lovely pet nat, walked home, had a herbal tea, watched strictly, laughed with my wife, went to bed indifferent……. I can’t be the only one? Surely? It’s just lazy! Sounds like some bloke in a cap down the pub that’s had one too many callings and spotted the karaokes set up but thought they’d do ‘their own stuff’. 2.2
This was a great album. Absolutely love the way he talks. I also liked that it seemed to not be hugely influenced by US HipHop. He kind of does his own thing. His storytelling on this is amazing, I found myself really intrigued by what he was saying and really felt for the characters he created.
I think grime is just not for me
I’ve probably only heard one song by The Streets before which was “Fit but You Know It”. I wasn’t sure what to expect overall. There are moments I enjoy in the delivery and musicality but I don’t think this is for me. The song I liked the most was the only I’d heard before- I won’t re listen to this album.
Oof, the front half of this one is not great. Jerky delivery, weak lyrics, generic beats. Later on, ‘Get out of my house’ is fun only because the female rapper is superior. This album peaks with ‘Fit But You Know It’, which is actually pretty solid, relative to the rest of the album. Huge drop off after that again. This album doesn’t belong on the 1001 list - I’m not even sure it’s one of the top 20 hip hop albums of 2004.
It's notable mainly for it's concept, telling the mundane story, which is probably an accurate account of inner city Britain, with each song recalling an event, much like a chapter in a novel. Unfortunately, the record just plain doesn't work, mainly because of the really annoying vocals/rap/singing clashing with the ok-ish musical segments. One of the pitfalls of technology is its accessibility, which means any old plonk can come along and record a record in their flat, regardless of actual musical/vocal ability. The net result being a dire release such as this, which bafflingly, people actually bought. An extra star for the vision and ambition, sadly not realised in the end product.
Poor loved the first album, however this was mushy and musically dull.
C(rap). Diisappointing, grated on just about every level.
Why this and not Original Pirate Material?! I think the whole hip hopera set-up, instead of giving it a structure and poetic restrictions, instead less it to be a bit dull: Ra Ra, I did lots of drugs and was a scally. This girl I love does or doesn't love me back. Ho hum.
Interesting in that it's a concept album, so worth a listen right? Well, it's a bit too whiney and wasn't all that interesting. 1.5
Pro: It certainly isn't bland or boring. Con: Everything else, really. I truly did want to appreciate this album and its "unique" approach to hiphop, but I just can't help but to be baffled by how poorly everything feels executed: the production, the melodies, the lyrics, the storytelling, the awkward mix between spoken word and the worst flow imaginable, etc. But hey, like I said, at least it didn't commit the cardinal sin of music, which is to be boring.
Never really got it, and now I can see why. It's self-congratulatory, indulgent, and overly impressed with itself in a humble-brag kind of way, and "Fit but You Know It" sounds like an incel's cry for help now. "Blinded by the Lights" is admittedly pretty good. BUT, I do like the skag-addled Britrap that The Streets inspired: Sleaford Mods and Benefits, which are much more socially switched-on and authentically grimy.
I kept wondering when it was going to start during the first song. “Surely this is some sort of sloppy introduction.” Nope, that’s what this album sounds like. Why is that what this album sounds like? Second track was better, but still janky fucking flow. The rest follow that formula of a chorus that sounds like it’s out of a real song, but the verses are janky as fuck. There are a couple good ones in there. I really enjoyed “Fit But You Know It” and “Dry Your Eyes”. All in all, eh. 3/5
Never understood the hype here… sorry
interesting "concept" hip hop album. All tracks are part of the same story
Brillant, caustique, j’aime le rythme syncopé de la voix et des échantillons, m’a semblé original et toujours pertinent
This is one of those rare albums that completely catches you off guard. I went in with low expectations and came out blown away by the storytelling, honesty, and clever wordplay. Mike Skinner, the mind behind The Streets, turns everyday life — lost money, broken TVs, failed relationships — into gripping drama. It’s part concept album, part confessional, and completely original. His use of a thick Cockney accent isn’t just for flavor — it becomes part of the rhythm, giving the rhymes a raw, grounded feel that makes every line hit harder. “It Was Supposed to Be So Easy” is the perfect opener: funny, frustrating, and totally relatable. It sets the tone for an album that’s as much about mood and pacing as it is about bars. This isn’t just British rap — it’s kitchen-sink poetry with beats. Smart, emotional, and totally unique. One of the best concept albums I’ve heard. Favorite Song: "It Was Supposed To Be So Easy"
I have such a love/hate with British hip-hop. Some of it is very good, some is super cockney and hard to piece together. This album was a surprise to me. I actually enjoyed it, front to back. Really inviting, easy-to-listen-to hip hop, with more of a poetry feel than a hip hop feel.
I wish I had died before this
Legendary 5/5
So split between a 4 and a 5 but the story of the album, the humour, the songs- It's a 5
I’m with the Americans. This is pretty dreadful. Managed half but that was enough, perhaps unfairly. I don’t hate it at all, I really like Skinner as a person and I like how he captured that entire time and generation. Tells a good story about mundane life as a youngun in the early 00s, and everything sounds incredibly authentic and from the heart. It just really, really isn’t for me. Borderline novelty at times.
There really isn't anyone else like The Streets/Mike Skinner, they capture a certain aspect of British culture in a way nobody else does. The lyrics are often funny and interesting and the beats are also really unique. The over enunciated delivery is great when it works and annoying when it doesn't, not addicted in particular gets on my nerves. By and large though if you're in the mood for the streets nobody else will do. 4.5.
I'm with Graeme and the Yanks here - I really didn't enjoy this. Too abrupt and caustic. Repetitive, his delivery is exactly the same for every song and I don't find his lyrics particularly interesting or entertaining. Fit But Don't You Know It is fine, I suppose, but only because of nostalgia. +1 nostaliga points.
I find the public reviews to this pretty funny, don't think the streets translate well to any other culture. It's a garage snapshot of working class Britishness.... I mean, the majority of British people probably don't enjoy British garage either. I, however, am not one of those people! I remember eagerly anticipating the release of this album, my mates and I used to listen to "original pirate material" basically on repeat, can't be many albums I've heard more. It's considerably better than this album too imo and I remember being slightly disappointed by this when it was released. Saw them at Leeds festival in 2003, and it was brilliant, he was wasted though. This album grows on you, and while it doesn't compare to the first album, I still enjoyed hearing it again. Not usually a fan of a concept album either. It is a bit like some sort of strange garage musical. I reckon Mike Skinner is cleverer than the subject matter can lead you to believe, and I think a pretty good egg. Blinded by the lights is by far and away the best track for me. Was never a huge fan of dry your eyes or fit but don't you know it. Say what you will about this, but there definitely won't be anything else like it on the list, so for that alone, it should be here. I hope "original pirate material" is on this list, but I suspect it won't be, so I'm being more generous here.
Grew on me, not bad.
At first I was like nooo, but then the banta o whateva grew on me m8
Is this music? 1/5
Lucky to get 2 stars for this mostly shit effort
First track: possibly the worst thing I've ever heard. Second track: It's not getting any better. Fuck this is abysmal. So bad I couldn't listen to it. So sad to live in a world where this album exists. Zero rating
I gave it a shot but I’ve never understood the hype around The Streets. It’s just…men who can’t sing, talking.
No one needs to hear this before they die.
I like the beats. The rest is decidedly not for me.
The Streets and A Grand Don't Come For Free are complicated for me because they definitely don't resonate in the same way as they do for lots of people. Conceptually this album isn't remarkable, the remarkable comes from the ability to take a mundane and somewhat silly story and make it incredibly relatable and accessible with brilliant lyrical creativity; it's a skill of a great storyteller to be able to do that, and it's something someone like Springsteen is universally revered for in making Americana come to life with vivid colour and depth. It doesn't have outstanding musicality; a lot of the beats are basic (which is fine, Skinner is the star of the show, they don't need to be), and the lyrics while creative struggle with structure and metre, though if you want to give him credit it's this that means you really have to focus and engage with the story, rather than just listen along casually. The basic beats approach is also shown up a bit by Blinded By The Lights and Fit But You Know It because those two tracks do something different, and it's probably no surprise that they were the two most successful off the record. I completely understand why this got such acclaim at the time of its release, such was its originality and freshness in a genre and industry that needed it, and it holds up in its own way 20 years later, but it's a long way from flawless despite its positives. I think a low 4 from me on the strengths outweighing the stuff I don't like.
Know tonnes of the songs from this, but not sure that I ever listened to it from start to finish. Definitely didn't appreciate that it was one flowing story at the time (which surely means that I didn't listen to it all in one sitting). There's a lot not to like, a lot of it is pretty one-toned, he ends up using some quite convoluted phrasing to make what he says vaguely fit the meter, and the whole story isn't exactly some grand drama. But, it's really compelling, tough to stop listening. Just wish there had been more songs with a bit more to them, as Phil says it's the ones with a bit more production and a bit more oomph that were the most successful. Think it just scrapes a 4, probably out of nostalgia really.
Below average concept with a horrible execution. WASPY dude rapping off beat on some average at best beats isn't a recipe for success.
Someone had to do it--a rap opera. That doesn't mean I'm going to listen to it.
I spent the 2000s in the UK and I kinda remember the short lived belief that a new genre had been invented. Aged pretty badly. A couple high points, but These guys would probably prefer to be left off of the list so this embarrassing album could be forgotten
Look mate, I like British rappers. Stormzy, Little Simz, Dave, even love some Damon Albarn raps. This is the clumsiest, sauceless, arhythmic rapping I’ve heard since dudes in the 80s. It sounds so childish and awkward, I mean Dr. Seuss levels of rhyme schemes here
sOLID CRAFTED NARRITIVE WITH A DISTINCT FLOW AND VERBAGE DEFN HOLDS THE LISNTERS ATTENTION
not bad
It could be better if every song was about a minute shorter. I see what it's going for, it's just not enjoyable
Nice concept to tell a story but pretty boring to listen to. Dry your eyes mate, there’s plenty more music to enjoy elsewhere.
Took me a while to realize this isn't just a shitty troll album, people actually listen to it and like it LOL
I remember listening to mostly the two hits of that album „Fit but You Know It“ and „Dry Your Eyes“ as a teenager and was excited to listen to the whole album again, but to be honest: Almost every other song didn‘t excite me very much. It‘s mostly a british dude talking over some badly aged beats. Maybe you need to be british to feel it.
The best of the tracks sound like something a stand-up comedian who also makes music might write, but more professional. The rest are just mediocre pop-rap about relationships.
Let me just start by saying this: I haven't had ths bad of a first experience with an album since I heard Public Image LTD.'s METAL BOX . The first three tracks on this album... I had to wonder, honestly, if this guy was takin' the piss. I just couldn't comprehend that someone could have this kind of anti-flow on purpose. Like, does he know he's supposed to... At least **acknowledge** that the beat exists? That he doesn't have to stress each syllable exactly the same? That, hell, the beat should also be on beat? And I came into this knowing that British rap usually isn't very good in general, so you can only imagine my shock hearing this. I can breathe a sigh of relief, though, that it **does** actually get better from there. I can't say I ever 100% gelled with this guy's rapping style, but as the album went on I was more and more able to be fine with it. To the point where, heck, I'll say I actually liked the last two tracks, the closer especially. It does a neat thing halfway through, I feel like. Neat enough, anyway, given what this album started with. As for this thing's plot... Well, you'd probably do best to not think of it as a rap **opera**. It's more, as one of my group friends put it, a rap "TV show." I don't totally think thst saves this album's story from being a fair bit of nothing, but under that "TV show" mindset I can't be too bothered by it. So color me surprised that this thing actually managed to raise itself from a "What the hell is this shit?" 2 to a "It's fine, in the positive sense" 3. I don't really think it's something I **needed** to hear before I die—and I wouldn't call him "idiot savant Brian Wilson" like one review I saw did—but I can't really say I wasted my time pushing through it. Seriously, though, mate. Those first three tracks. It should be so easy to not sound like that, honestly.
British rap is certainly interesting, but this just ain't it for me. 2.5 rounded to 3.
By some genuine miracle, I’m at a 3. This album makes one of the worst first impressions imaginable compared to expectations; when you read something like “rap opera,” the brain makes comparisons to shit like Tommy by The Who, in terms of “opera” in traditional music, or Hamilton in terms of “rap” to tell a story. This album is quite literally neither of those, and to call it a “rap opera” is a genuinely misleading description that might taint the album if you just don’t stick to it. This is not a rap opera; it’s a rap TV drama. To make the U.K. reference, this is basically just an 11-episode arc of Eastenders or Coronation Street, or some other goofy hokey drama, with a bit of a sitcom lean. To call this album an opera is like calling High School Musical a Broadway production; it just sets the wrong expectations. Once this album truly settles in, it’s… totally fine, honestly. Completely inoffensive beats, if a bit boring at times (but perfectly fitting on others), decent storytelling (but not anything TOO evocative, save for the genuinely fantastic “Dry Your Eyes”), and ultimately, a fine story that just feels a bit relatable in the end. It’s not THAT great; critics giving this like, a 90 on Metacritic or calling it a top 50 album of the 2000s are severely overrating it. However, I genuinely think it’s good. It takes a terrible first impression, and eventually finds its voice – yes, the flow could be better, the melodic qualities could use a bit of work, and the delivery feels a little bland without really getting too deep into the emotions trying to be portrayed… but I just kinda ended up liking it. It’s definitely not a 4, and it’s nowhere near a 5, but I can’t agree with the people that are giving this a 1 or 2. Lower the expectations before you go into it, because you’re not gonna get something like Tommy, which genuinely became a movie. You’re gonna get a 11-episode arc of a TV show where a weed-smoking guy loses his money behind a TV, meets his girlfriend, gets cheated on by one of his friends, and then learns to live with it. A completely average plot for a good album that simply does a good job of executing its vision. In other words, a resounding 3, but one I’d actually recommend.
The flow and production took a bit of time to get used to, but the storytelling on this album is undoubtably solid. Nifty album
WOW, this is unique. Afraid it's gonna become redundant sounding tho... 2 stars
Good
# Playlist track - Fit But You Know It # Notes - One of the worst albums I've ever heard. - Opening track would be enough to make me quit the entire album if I wasn't listening for this project. One of the worst chorus ever. - Pretty much every track flows in a weird way, but not like in a cool broken-but-it-makes-sense like in some prog rocks and jazz. Just wonky. - The only reason this album gets one star is because there are some very interesting beats scattered throughout. It's just a shame that we cannot enjoy them without the horrible vocals laid on top.
Part of me feels like this album is terrible, but on the other hand it's low key pretty hilarious. The Streets is a British hip-hop artist, more of an alt hip-hop guy than a more traditional rapper. He recorded this in his flat in Stockwell, so that's a fun piece of trivia for me. The album is a concept album about a guy who loses 1,000 GBP, starts dating some "fit" woman, tries to gamble on football, smokes a lot of weed, gets kicked out by his girlfriend, cries a lot, and maybe finds the money at the end (but does he?). The whole thing is so aggressively British. He has a heavy accent, and he's just constantly dropping British slang throughout. I'm very much not convinced that he's actually talented, his voice ranges from "fine" to "quite bad", and half of the time it sounds like he's more talking than singing or rapping. And yet despite all this, something about it kind of works. I kept finding myself laughing at the lyrics, and some of the beats are pretty good honestly. It's far from my favorite thing, but the entertainment value is pretty high, and I can't give it a negative review in good conscience because of that. Apparently "Fit but You Know It" was pretty big in the UK and it makes sense, it's more alt-rock-y than hip-hop really (and the mildly sexist lyrics probably played better in 2004 than they would today). Favorite song: Dry Your Eyes Other: Could Well Be In, Blinded by the Lights, Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way, Fit but You Know It 7/20/24
An extra star for the attempt to tell a coherent story. But every other aspect is just awful.
This sounds fucking terrible.
the beats on this unironically sound like the "evil type beat" memes, minus the goofy sound effects (the fun part). The delivery is horrible and british and when the guy tries to sing it isn't much better. I hope DIzzee Rascal can forgive me for giving him that 2 because i now know that it can get so much worse.
No
Didn't even need to enter it into the search box on Spotify. Inexplicably popular with "ladz" that like to "banter" when it came out, and probably still very popular with those self same estate-agent, BMW driving, golf playing, "I could have been a professional footballer but I did my knee at age 15" fucknuts now. Extra kudos to the "Pam Ayres" reference a few reviews down. Cap. Doffed.
A Grand Don't Come for Free is the second studio album by The Streets, originally released in 2004. Right off the bat, I reallyyyyy wanted to give this an immediate 1. But I had to trust the process. Sure, this thing is insanely British. And I mean, INSANELY BRITISH. I really can't relate to some of it as an American, and I recognize that. The longer I listened to this, the more intrigued I was. This thing is pretty devoid of any set flow. That really fascinates me. The beats are sparsely produced as well, leaving a lot of empty space in the instrumentals. It was off-putting at first, but once I started to really concentrate on the subject matter I started to dig it more. By the mid-2000s party-rap was emerging, and looking to kick gangsta-rap off its throne. I can't relate to either of those styles of rap. Sure, they can be fun to listen to, but I often lack that extra emotional depth. This album has several songs I connected to, especially the love songs. A standout track was "Dry Your Eyes". It's a surprisingly emotionally-deep breakup song. Overall a very interesting listen.
Was going to readily dismiss this on a first listen until I realized this was a mini Brit rap opera. See Mike lost a grand… and well actually while musically it’s pretty fun - it’s quite ingenuous in its story telling, funny, heartfelt and a trip through a lot of misplaced angsty emotions that make the titular character as much of as a foe to himself as his own circle of friends.
For a brief moment in time The Streets were very popular in the UK. A kind of musical punk-poetry that reflected it's era in a way that Ian Dury did (much better in my humble opinion) a couple of decades earlier). It never had any longevity, but was interesting at the time. Worthy of listening to.
Absolutey hated the opening track, but settled in a bit after that. Realized I had head a few songs off this while listening. Like the concept, like a few of the cuts, but doesn't quite fully elevate to classic status to me. 3/5
01) It Was Supposed to Be So Easy - 7,0 02) Could Well Be In - 8,0 03) Not Addicted - 7,0 04) Blinded by the Lights - 10,0 05) Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way - 7,0 06) Get Out of My House - 7,0 07) Fit but You Know It - 9,5 08) Such a Twat - 7,0 09) What Is He Thinking? - 7,0 10) Dry Your Eyes - 10,0 11) Empty Cans - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,86 (79/100) Current ranking: 92/236 It's funny to me to read the disgusted comments of Americans on one of the best British hip hop products in my opinion. Finally a concept album whose concept actually makes sense. The whole album is like watching (in this case listening to) a season of a TV show in 11 episodes, with the last episode having both a happy ending and a not so happy ending. Although "Dry Your Eyes" was the biggest hit from the album, I still prefer "Blinded By The Lights", which goes on my "1001 albums..." playlist.
3,5
I get why everyone doing this list is going to hate this, it's insanely British, the beats are all wonky, the singing isn't great, and Mike's whole style of lyrics and delivery are very plain and straight-forward. This and the first Streets albums though are just classics, I definitely prefer the first but this has legendary tracks like 'Fit But You Know It', 'Dry Your Eyes', and 'Blinded By The Lights'. Now that I think about it, it's also the only album I can think of that has alternate endings, with the final song going down two different paths to finish the story. Really creative stuff.
Muito ruim 👎
I really don't like his style. Too slow for hip-hop and each song is samey. I did enjoy some of the little loops in the songs but other than that, nothing in the musicality that I enjoy
Sigh. No. Sterile. Passionless. Dull.
Aversion. Bemused resentment. "People always say that they would rather have Chlamydia than the Birmingham accent" is a purile yet felicitous analogy, if we are to play social peccadilloes and avoid talking about our own shivvers of prejudice towards group of people we are unqualified to insult or look down on. I can't take it seriously; yet I don't detect irony or satire. To quote him; “it tastes like hairspray”
I discovered The Streets when, on spec, I bought a 7” single of When You Wasn’t Famous, off their 3rd album, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (2006)from the discount bin at Redeye Records. So I didn’t know the A Grand Don’t Come For Free CD (2004) until I found it in an op-shop much later. I have to say that the opening track, It Was Supposed To Be So Easy, is very reminiscent of When You Wasn’t Famous. I had not played A Grand etc. for years & I have to say that I don’t think it’s aged well. Mike Skinner’s voice & delivery are just a bit too repetitive for me.
Always liked “You’re Fit But You Know It”. Mike Skinner is a really unusual voice in hip hop, literally and figuratively. His Sarf London accent, his weird flow, his every day thematic concerns, his basic production, all help present a genuine picture of a very ordinary human. Mainstream hip hop lost me in the 90s, as gangsta rap took over the mainstream, and the obsession with violence and misogyny pervaded seemingly everything. There was this perception that “realness” equated to reminiscences of drug dealing, gun violence, and b*tches. This album shows that realness can be much more mundane. While I am not a working class lad from London, I find this much easier to relate to. Skinner’s expression is very straightforward, but his eye for real details is really evocative. Phone batteries running out, not enough balance to withdraw money from the ATM, waiting for friends at the pub, ringing your mum, arguments with your girlfriend, regrets about arguments with your girlfriend, drinking, late night visit to the chip shop. I am not, as a rule, a fan of concept albums, because they are often very extravagant and inscrutable plots (blind pinball players, aliens, paranoid rock stars, etc), but this feels really every day without being dull. Skinner has found the drama in real life and expresses it really well. It’s moving and funny and vivid and human. It doesn’t sound like typical hip hop. While still based around samples and (generally free) loops, with pretty standard forms, the rhythms are lurching and definitely not funky. That goes for his flow as well; it’s often stilted and rigid, but it sounds authentic, often like genuine speech. The samples are not from the usual suspects, tending towards the classical or basic royalty free samples. Eric B, he sure ain’t. But it is always in service of the songs. “You’re Fit…” is a great single, and I sometimes spin it when DJing, but I think it is even better in the context of the whole album. This is a really cohesive, relatable, and entertaining piece. 3.5 stars, rounding up.
I don’t like this nearly as much as Original Pirate Material, and I think somehow The Streets’ production has gone down in quality since that first album. But the story told throughout the album is well framed and well presented, hitting emotional highs and lows (mostly lows) that definitely resonate. I’m generally not a fan of Mike Skinner’s style of delivery, mainly because other British hip hop artists like Kae Tempest, Dizzee Rascal, and others manage the distinctly UK-style spoken word-esque rapping much more successfully. I do appreciate how the story on the album revolves around a missing 1,000 quid and broken TV which the narrator paranoidly blames on his flatmates, friends, even his new girlfriend (who wasn’t in the picture when the grand was lost and the TV broken), and the “happy” ending is that the grand was in a shoebox that fell behind the TV, which broke the TV. “Dry Your Eyes” would actually be a very good pop or R&B song if performed in a different style.
1. eazy - 0 2. could - 0 3. addicted - 0 4. lightz - 1 5. uuay - 0 6. houze - 1 7. fit - 0 8. tuuat - 0 9. thinking - 0 10. eyez - 1 11. canz - 0
I don't like rap music!
You either love it or you hate it.
Wack
what the fuck lmao 5 stars
Feels like a British version of Weird Al, but I can't get behind it. Benny Hill rapping? Actually he'd been fine.
Simply amazing
I am actually having a very difficult time rating this one. I've only listened to it all the way through one time. Through so much of it, I was thinking "I do not like this." I don't dislike the sort of "awkward speaking" style of rap(especially with his accent,) and I think it gives the album a lot of character that I really did like. The concept wasn't even bad! I'd assume it hits much harder if you're from the UK. The last song, where it presents 2 resolutions to the narrative is really clever, and emotionally affecting in a way, it was the best one on the album by far for me. But there's something about the album that stopped me from being all in. I love sort of funny but emotionally raw rap. I love concept albums. I even love it when rappers are British. But I don't know... felt like there was something on every track that annoyed me. The beats... nothing to write home about, man, I don't know. Got too repetitive. Overuse of hooks. I was doing some research on this and everyone seems to love it. I think I really just must be missing something here. Maybe it takes a few tries. On first impression though, I'm just not completely sold.
This is, indeed a crock of shit.
Nice
Great album cover, but too bad it houses shit music I want nothing to do with.
I'm not very versed in English rap, but a phrase like "the man in the white top at the MacDonald's car park" made me an instant-fan. This album's got an alluring charm all over it.
Not a rap fan
uncool britannia
Tried several songs, but ended up skipping
Mike Skinner is a silly, simple genius. It wouldn’t be my choice of what to write a concept album about, but he executes it perfectly, it’s just this perfect little Jerry Stahl arc.
At first I thought this was brutal to listen to but then I got pulled in and it’s actually kinda brilliant and unlike anything else I’ve heard. It’s deceptively simple - catches you with lines that are moving and true. And I’m happy the tv got fixed.
No thanks. Was this a prank?
This one surprised me! Had a great morning listening to this.
The concept of this album could have been really interesting in the right hands, but this is just bad. Small scale odyssey depicting the adventures of an idiot.
Quality, unique, great vibes
This was really bad. I wanted to like it at first, but then I really wanted to turn it off after the first song or two. Ultimately I decided that if I could get through Massive Attack that I could get through this. Wouldn't recommend.
Original Pirate Material ist besser. Trotzdem gutes Album. Blinded By the Lights Killer Track.
Favourite song - Blinded by the lights
This is a true masterpiece. Peak euro rap. Everyone who thinks different is a peasant.
I was only familiar with this guy in passing and white British guy rap isn’t exactly my forte BUT I wanted to give this a shot. First impression isn’t terribly bad, I like the flow. I know next to nothing about grime and drill but im enjoying the story. I guess this is a rap opera but it sounds like a concept album? Is there a difference? Idk. It’s chill! The only thing that I’m not super into is you gotta pay attention to follow along. The music is cool and I like the different characters but I would recommend not listening at work or if you have to focus on something else. It’s funny, and the story is interesting so points for that at least. I appreciate British humor as well so if you’re looking for something with a storyline and some funny parts this is a good one.
Yeah, this ain't it.
I think I hate this. Maybe I don't understand the English idea of flow in hip-hop because this just doesn't sound right. Like every line is out of synch with the rhythm. The production sounds super amateurish. The layered vocal is off-putting as hell. I really can't find a single good thing to say about this. Honestly I feel like I deserve some kind of prize for making it all the way through because this is unlistenable.
Interesting, good to listen to but unlikely to return to it.
I am not a fan of Rap. I knew within 30 seconds that "miserable British rap" would be even worse. I tried skipping tracks to see if it got any better, it didn't.
It's very English. It feels like outsider art. Like somebody who didn't know what he was doing decided to take on a grand project. An Opera, a concept album. It's serious and not serious. It's great storytelling.
just can't get into the purposefully off-beat rapping and somewhat out of tune tone of voice 😭 the only songs i tolerated were "get out of my house" and "fit but you know it" (which i had heard before and thought was kind of funny), and "dry your eyes". i definitely see the comedic appeal in some of these songs (is that the goal? to be funny? or do i just think British accents are funny when paired with rapping?) but it's just not that enjoyable for me to listen to especially not the entirety of the album. i gave each song a chance but ended up skipping all of them partway through.
i quite like the streets but perhaps 50 mins is too much
BORING
I was part of a group project in 5th grade where we had to make a song about an organ, so me and a few friends did a rap about the heart. This album reminded me a lot of that experience, and make no mistake, we were terrible. Their flow is very disjointed and poor, the beats are by and large forgettable, and even the production sounds like it was recorded from the microphone that comes with Rock Band for the PS2. At a certain point I was wondering if this was a Lonely Island-esque kind of album that is a parody of rap, but even if it is, it's not funny. I really grasped at straws to like anything about this record, and came up empty. 2/10
THE STREEST!!! kan bedre lide original pirate material. men den her er godt nok også god. klar 4/5!!!
Very interesting sound, which at first I didn't like, but which grew on me as I listened. The singer's vocal stylings are very unpolished, but it comes off as charming -- kind of like an English Eminem, but with less focus of technical rapping prowess and more on gritty, endearing, self-deprecation and emotion. Overall a good listen, but I will probably not listen again. Three stars.
I don't particularly like hip-hop. I definitely didn't think I needed to hear British hip-hop, but I'll be honest, this one had me hooked for a minute. Strong 3.
Not really my style but I can understand why it’s liked it is goodly executed and i like the accent
Het eerste nummer klinkt als een Brits jochie die vanaf een YouTube beat op telefoonspeaker voor z’n matties rapt en in 140p op youtube is gezet. Rest van het album is ook niet voor mij weggelegd.
This was a rough, rough listen for me. Didn't jive with my morning, didn't catch me. I appreciate the art behind the story, and I don't mind concepts.
what the fuckkkkkkkk is this Whoever decided this album belonged on the list of 1001 albums you should listen to before you die is DELUSIONAL.
Hip hop alternativo. Me ha hecho gracia. Un 4.
I remember when that came out, and I don’t remember liking it then. So not much has changed.
This sounded different from the streets that I’ve heard before. More poppy. I followed the story a little bit but it’s kind of dumb and it’s hard to take him seriously with that voice. This is a good sound if you’re in the mood for it though.
A very British rap album. Not particularly good but at least not full of violence and misogyny in every track.
Cool idea. Terrible execution. Could not get through this.
The lyrics are a lot more interesting than the music. Suited to mindless work where you can pay attention to what they're singing. Even if it leaves you scratching your head, saying "what did I just hear?" But it's confirmed... I don't like songs that glorify drug use, no matter the genre.
5/5 - well that was surprising
??????
Immediately no. 1/5
Weird lo-fi brit rap sounds like a fifth grade project but grows on you after awhile
Non parte bene. Dovrebbe essere un'opera corale, ma il trait-d-union è che tutte le canzone sono dimenticabili. Si salva "Fit but you know it"
2 cause i was entertained
My people failed me
13-15 year old me would have ate this shit up. But now, I recognize how whack the flow is. Still, there were one or two songs on this album I could see myself returning to (Fit but you Know It and Dry Your Eyes).
makes a really good case against british rap
Probably the worst one yet.
Is this a joke?
Parts of this album were 0/5 and parts were 4/5. An interesting listen.
Probably the best work to ever come out of UK Rap. That's not saying much, because it's mostly dogshit, but it's something.
Ne, mag ich nicht.
pfff... wat was dat... nog nooit zo rap door alle nummers geskipt...
Never listened to this whole album, but FIFA introduced me to Fit but You Know it when I was a kid, and I absolutely loved it. Interesting that this is billed as a "rap opera" on Wikipedia. The only other such I can think of is Deltron 3030 (which is fantastic). Distinctly white, British guy rap out of the gate, complete with awkward cadence and heavy accent. Instrumentals are varied, but fairly minimal with electronic / grime leanings. Once you get past the crass delivery, the songs themselves are quite interesting and the narrative start to finish is cohesive and, in a sense, relatable. This is anything but braggadocios as the protagonist goes on a wild ride trying to get his grand back. Could Well Be In is surprisingly tender with solid sung sections. Blinded by the Lights is a standout. Electronic backing beat is minimal, but effective at creating a drugged out vibe that complement the lyrical tale of taking ecstasy in the club. Listened to this twice, and I like it more than I don't. Sits somewhere around a high 3 low 4 for me. Hedging on the lower side because I don't see myself going back through this over and over.
This album was definitely something different. Felt like we were hearing the life story of this random British with his daily experiences involving hanging out being a piece of shit and doing a lot of drugs. I liked the beats and the album seems well produced. Not something I want to listen regularly but it was an interesting listen. 3.5 stars for me
Lol wtf is this first song. It sounds like a song you'd fine on YouTube in 2008. The vocal mixing is awful. The beat goes pretty hard though. The rappers lack any flow or emotion. It's like if an Elmer's gluestick could rap. Maybe if the guy didn't bet so irresponsibly on the footy, we wouldn't be in this spot. These beats are also so repetitive. It's like they took one or two sets of 4 measures for each song and spliced them together. What Is He Thinking might have been the best song? Maybe Empty Cans?
WTF was that? I understand that it was supposed to be a story of some sort but that may have been the most ridiculous thing I have ever listened to. Going to give it a 2 because it made me laugh at some points because of how strange it was
A rap opera... interesting. I don't like this halfway through the first song. Not my jam. This is interesting that it's a whole ass story with it, but I still don't really fuck with it. At some points I'm feeling like a 1, but it's honestly kinda interesting to me even if I don't really like it. Just for the story telling aspect of the whole album it may deserve a 2 but a low 2 at that. Just finished and fuck that wanker he's getting a 1 for being a little bitch and having terrible flow. The cheesy chorus's just confirm my 1 I tried hard to give it a 2 and just can't.
I thought it was just another hidden, unknown British stuff that is so common on the 1001 list. Indeed, it is, but I liked the concept of rap opera, so I'll give it credit.
Bad. It’s quite essential UK slang hip-hop, but with influence of the Black Eyed Peas, it has a disgusting mix of trying to be real lyrically, trying to be like Arctic Monkeys, what comes off, childish and naïve. All the songs are just Straight dumb
Listened to this while playing Pax Pamir. I lost. I was a bit of a fan of The Streets in the early 2000s. I had kind of completely forgotten about Mike Skinner til this popped up on the list. I probably would have given this a 4 back in the day...but now it gets a 3. There are definitely some great-ish moments...but his delivery can wear thin after a while. It makes me hope his debut album is on this list...I haven't listened to that in ages!
Tipo un 'rap fraseado' inglés. Malardo, poco que rescatar.
This first song is awful I must say. The chorus... I don't think I'm very fond of 'the concept' of this one and I don't even know if I can appreciate the 'art' of it. Is it spoken word? Is it just bad flow? It's too young to be this lame.
2004 was a strange time, let’s not talk about it again.
Listened Before? N What an odd little record. Never thought I'd listen to a white guy with a cockney accent rap for an hour but here we are. I do love a concept album but I can't identify with this one. I think I'll give this one a miss for the rest of my life. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Blinded by the Lights
It's interesting. I'm not into audio books. And that's what this feels like: short stories, read by the author, set to robot music. I really dislike robot music. So it's not for me. But it is interesting.
Olkoonkin rap-opera, mutta mulle tää ei iske musiikillisesti. Ei kyl siis yhtään. Tää on jopa aika ärsyttävä. 1/5
Fiilaan the streetsiä kyllä, vaikkei tää mikään iso suosikki ole. Hauska ja varsin symppis. 3,5/5
Okei, ilmeisesti tässä on joku laajempi stoori mutta se meni ohi. Ihan kiinnostava rap-levy, toisinaan lipsahtaa spoken wordin puolelle. ei kuitenkaan nyt ensikuulemalta nouse neloseen asti, mutta solid 3.
British white rap. Terrible. His voice is grating, the beats are infantile. 1
Процитирую классика: "А когда тебя прихватит понос, знаешь, что знать гаже всего? Что все твои походы в туалет связаны – у тебя концептуальное даже дерьмо"
Good bloke, mad city