Top tracks — play these first
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Made Me Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Forbes List — This track exemplifies East's ambition, detailing his aspirations for wealth and success while reflecting on his upbringing. Its confident delivery resonates with listeners who share similar dreams.
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Demons — In Demons, East confronts his inner struggles and past mistakes, offering a vulnerable glimpse into his psyche. This emotional depth elevates the track within the album's narrative.
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Streets Ain’t the Same — This song captures East’s commentary on urban life, showcasing his observations about change and authenticity in the streets. Its relatable themes connect deeply with his audience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid writing and production but lacks standout moments that elevate it above its peers.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of heavy bass lines and rhythmic hi-hats, characteristic of contemporary hip-hop production.
- Many tracks employ a verse-chorus structure, with East's verses often reflecting personal narratives and social commentary.
- Several songs incorporate guest features, which add variety to the vocal delivery and thematic content across the record.
- The last three tracks shift in tone, with more introspective lyrics and slower tempos, creating a reflective conclusion.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short bursts of introspective thoughts
- mix of reflective and upbeat
- late-night drive energy
- stories of struggle and triumph
Maybe skip if you
- prefer long, immersive albums
- want consistently high-energy tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album marked a significant rise in Dave East's recognition and profile.
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2015, Hate Me Now was Dave East's first official project after gaining attention with his mixtapes. This album marked a significant step in his career as he transitioned from underground recognition to becoming a mainstream artist, setting the stage for future collaborations and his signing to Mass Appeal Records.
- Stylistic neighbors
- J. Cole· Nas· Kendrick Lamar
Tracklist
- 1 Made Me Start here 2:41
- 2 KD 3:17
- 3 Demons 2:41
- 4 Forbes List 4:04
- 5 It’s Time 3:10
- 6 Give It to Her 4:30
- 7 Get Acquainted 3:19
- 8 I Can’t Complain 3:24
- 9 Dumb Shit 5:14
- 10 Arizona 3:16
- 11 All I Know 3:51
- 12 Nino 4:26
- 13 Everything Lit 4:27
- 14 Bring a Friend 3:38
- 15 No Coachella for Me 4:03
- 16 Streets Ain’t the Same 3:57
- 17 Chose Me 4:26
- 18 Momma Working 3:18
- 19 Numb 3:28
- 20 I’ll Do Anything 4:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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