Cheat Codes
Black Thought · 2022
38 min · 12 tracks · hip-hop
An intricate blend of soulful melodies and sharp lyricism, weaving personal narratives over lush, groovy production.
Top tracks — play these first
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Cheat Codes — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of navigating life’s complexities through clever wordplay and a catchy hook. Its production highlights the seamless synergy between Black Thought and Danger Mouse.
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No Gold Teeth — This track features an infectious beat that complements Black Thought's incisive lyrics about authenticity and materialism, making it a standout reflection of his artistic ethos.
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Strangers — With its introspective verses, this song delves into themes of identity and belonging while showcasing Black Thought's storytelling prowess against a backdrop of soul-infused instrumentation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong writing and production choices, creating a cohesive listening experience with depth.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of layered vocal harmonies that complement Black Thought's verses, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- Each track incorporates varied instrumental arrangements, with some tracks prominently featuring live instrumentation alongside electronic elements.
- Several songs include interludes or transitions that create a narrative flow, linking themes and concepts across the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Because
The bridge shifts perspective, addressing societal issues directly rather than through personal narrative, broadening the song's scope to include collective ex…
This structural choice elevates the message by moving away from individual sentiment to engage with larger themes affecting communities.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Sometimes 2:10
- 2 Cheat Codes 2:14
- 3 The Darkest Part 3:44
- 4 No Gold Teeth 2:33
- 5 Because 4:41
- 6 Belize 3:54
- 7 Aquamarine 3:58
- 8 Identical Deaths 2:41
- 9 Strangers 4:08
- 10 Close to Famous 2:28
- 11 Saltwater 3:22
- 12 Violas and Lupitas 2:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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