How Do I Evaluate These Songs?
My standard for an album is Lecrae’s “Rebel”.
My standard for a mix-tape is Jahaziel’s “Still livin’”.
You will notice these are not Malawian projects and they set a benchmark on quality, context, creativity, lyricism, arrangement, music production etc. Now wait, your saying to yourself "why is he comparing music from overseas with music from right here?" The answer is simple:in your heart of hearts, dear artist and dear reader, you know that is the direction our music should really be going - minus the culture loss and all, we can create our own unique culture on our music and still acheive a standard of quality. Now, let’s assume that, for me, “Rebel” and “Still Livin’” represent perfect scores within my criteria, so it would look like this for “Rebel” being an album:
Lyricism: 5 / 5
Style of Delivery: 5 / 5
Content: 5 / 5
Musical Production: 4.5 / 5
Quality: 4.5 / 5
Arrangement: 4 / 5
Concept: 4 / 5
Originality / Creativity: 4 / 5
…and it will look like this for “Still livin’” being a mix-tape:
Lyricism: 4.5 / 5
Style of Delivery:4. 5 / 5
Content: 4.5 / 5
Musical Production:4. 5 / 5
Quality: 4 / 5
Arrangement: 4 / 5
Concept: 4 / 5
Originality / Creativity: 4 / 5
I will measure projects in light of these two. This way, there is transparency as to how I evaluate these albums and mix-tapes. You will be able to cross-check a mix-tape i review with this standard and perhaps get a little perspective into why i lay it down that way. I will admit, I do not have a technical ear when it comes to evaluating crispness in a mix or master. However, I do have producers and sound engineers who are close freinds and in whom I draw counsel. So, you can trust my review to be true, fair, and accurate.
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