Acid Stuffing: 2013 Rap Albums as Thanksgiving Foods Posted by Lucas G. on 11/26/13 | Filed under Opinion, Rap Game, Thanksgiving

If Thanksgiving isn’t your favorite holiday you are nuts; food, beer, football and more food. What else do you need?  As you know we love our food analogies here at RefinedHype (like the carrot cake rapper) so in perhaps the most extravagant, elaborate food analogy in RefinedHype history—and to celebrate my love for Thanksgiving—I decided to make a Thanksgiving meal out of 2013 projects.

What does that mean exactly? Well, similar to our other Rap Game articles, I will compare a project released in 2013 to a traditional Thanksgiving dish. Before we dig in, we have to go over the qualifications. The project has to be from this year…and done.

Appetizers- Brother Ali Left In The Deck

Brother Ali’s Left In The Deck wasn’t a full project, it was a 30-minute unmastered, demo-style project, so it was by no means a meal (or part of one) but just as a little sampling it was fucking delicious. Tasty, and good to munch on, but still leaves you wanting something more substantial (in a good way).

Turkey- Drake Nothing Was The Same

Nothing Was The Same was one of, if not the biggest, release this year so with that alone it deserves to be the main course of 2013’s album Thanksgiving. More than just being the main focus of the meal, NWTS is a lot like turkey because, it isn’t something you will really listen to all the time. You will go through spurts where you have it (the big meal and leftovers), but how often do you eat a Turkey you cooked all day? Not too often. How often will you really sit down and listen to NWTS cover to cover? Not too often, but still it remains a centerpiece of this year's releases. Also, it might just put you to sleep. Shit, “From Time” is practically a lullaby.

 Stuffing- Chance The Rapper Acid Rap

Though Acid Rap was only a mixtape, it was one of the best project of the year and played a pivotal role in 2013's hip-hop scene. It didn’t have the allure and buzz of a big album, but it was still an important piece of the puzzle. Everyone seemed to love it and it kind of stole the show this year. Though it is only considered a side, the stuffing makes or breaks a Thanksgiving Meal. If the stuffing is whack the whole meal will be off and though it isn’t the “turkey” it is arguably better. Plus, show me a person who doesn’t like stuffing and will show you a liar. I mean its baked bread! Who doesn’t like bread? So like Chance's tape, Stuffing might not be the focus, but the meal just wouldn't be as good without it.

Cranberries- Kanye West Yeezus

Cranberries are perhaps the most polarizing of Thanksgiving fare. Some people love them, and some feel the exact opposite. They are different, and in small bites can be okay, but unless you love them, you probably wouldn’t really dig in. Yeezus is the exact same, either you love it or you hate it. Maybe you’ll take a bite and listen to a song every now and then, but unless the heavy-electronic music is your thing, you probably won’t mess with it.

Mashed Potatoes- BIG. K.R.I.T King Remembered In Time

Good yes, however you never leave a meal thinking “damn, those mashed potatoes really did it for me,” but when you were eating ‘em its like yeah I’m down with this. They are tasty, but when you have turkey stuffing, gravy, and all the other stuff the mashed potatoes get sort of forgotten; not something you absolutely crave but you will take them any time. One of the more forgotten projects of the year was Big K.R.I.T’s King Remembered In Time. It was released all the Way back in April, so you have had plenty of projects that have taken your attention and you have likely forgotten about it. It wasn’t bad, but wasn’t anything that would have knocked you socks off.  Mashed Potatoes and King Remembered In Time are both reliable and steady, but not a gamechanger.

Gravy- Jhene Aiko Sail Out EP

Gravy is good alone, but really, the only way to enjoy it is if it is on top of things, and if you are like me, it goes on everything. Jhene Aiko is just like gravy because her best work is when someone else joins her. It’s not that she’s bad alone, but her style just meshes so well with others and it makes it a much more fulfilling flavor.

Pumpkin Pie- Childish Gambino Because The Internet

No matter how much food you eat or how great it is, a part of you is never satisfied and, if you are smart, you have kept a watchful eye on dessert. With a years worth of big releases already in your belly, you still have room for one more piece. Barring Jay Electronica descending from the heavens on Christmas and placing a copy of his album in the stockings of every little boy and girl, Gambino’s Because The Internet will likely be the last big release of the year; 2013’s dessert.  Sure you have had your fill, but there is always room for one last thing and that last thing is pumpkin pie…I mean Gambino’s Because The Internet.

Told you we loved food anologies.. now I am officially ready to eat my face off. I know its still like 72 hours away, but I can already smell the turkey. I guess it’s good to have a time to reflect on what we are thankful for (like this and this). Have a good Turkey Day RefinedHype Nation!