Does album sequencing still matter?

[RajWatts]

I understand exactly what you are saying. The biggest reason for poorly sequenced albums, in my opinion, is the lack of a competent executive producer. Most of the classic albums, and a lot of great albums have executive producers who knew what they were doing. These days, a lot of artists executive produce their own albums. The downside of that is quality control (an album that's bloated with songs just thrown together with no real flow) and album worthy cuts being left off in favor of songs that please a specific audience or demographic. There are exceptions like Nas (Life Is Good, It Was Written, Stillmatic and God's Son are all great albums), who is capable of executive producing or co-executive producing his own work. His most acclaimed work though, was executive produced by others (Faith N. and MC Serch). Kanye West is another artist that has proven he can executive produce his own work and create classic material.

For all the heat that Diddy catches, dude was an excellent executive producer. Ready To Die, Life After Death, No Way Out, Harlem World, and American Gangster are all great albums executive produced by Diddy.

agreed, even looking at Games last two albums you can really see the importance of an executive producer and sequencing come into play. R.E.D. was sequenced by Dre and told a cohesive story. Jesus Piece sounds like a damn compilation album

 

[Tetris v2.0]

Of course it matters. The well sequenced albums are always the ones that get better praise (MBDTF, Take Care, GKMC, Channel Orange are critical darlings and are all carefully sequenced, even Saigon's debut got rave reviews). Even mixtapes are being sequenced now. I agree that most casual listeners give zero fukks about albums now, but the artists that invest resources and effort into post-production typically get more praise from major outlets, which raises their stock and high-culture relevancy

 

[Raymond Cyst]

It definitely still matters. An album that flows well from front to back is always paramount.

The thing I think that makes albums not flow too well is the amount of features, sometimes you wouldn't even know whos album you're listening to.

That's my main problem with a lot of albums in the last few years.

I know there's always been features but it's getting ridiculous sometimes.

 

[razassin]

If I was in the rap game I wouldnt even bother droppin' albums or mixtapes...

I'd just drop singles... Make videos for the hottest ones n put em online for free...

N make money off the show money n the masters...

Why would I sign a deal with one of the majors to drop an album that gone sell less then 100,000 on the long run n be in debt to them cacs for the rest of my life?

 

[Ziggiy]

In the last couple years I feel that the most important aspects of Hip Hop albums as a whole has experienced a renaissance in things like Lyricism, packaging, and sequencing. If you look at some of the albums released within the past couple years you'll notice an improvement. Kendrick's album is probably the best example to put forth but also albums like Life Is Good, R.A.P Music, Take Care, 12 Reasons To Die, etc. all had very good sequencing in my opinion.

Also after listening to the leak of Born Sinner I feel like Cole's album was sequences MUCCCCHHHH better than Sideline Story....

 

[LucaBrasi]

Nas killed album sequencing...

 

[dubsmith_nz]

It definitely still matters. An album that flows well from front to back is always paramount.

The thing I think that makes albums not flow too well is the amount of features, sometimes you wouldn't even know whos album you're listening to.

That's my main problem with a lot of albums in the last few years.

I know there's always been features but it's getting ridiculous sometimes.

That's why I think we gotta give it up to Cole for holding down all the rapping on his album himself, not to mention the production aswell. Id like to see this more in hip hop moving forward.

 

[RajWatts]

imagine if Yeezus started with Blood on the Leaves

 

[seemorecizzy]

sequencing can be the difference between a solid album and a classin album to me
classic albums gotta flow