Kanye West has been all over the news lately with his remarks about Donald Trump and other various things, so I thought it would be wise to revisit his newest solo album, Ye. After a controversial interview with TMZ on May 4th where he called slavery "a choice", reports are that Kanye restarted his entire album. As a result, these seven songs were made in a month. And it sure sounds like it. Since seven isn't very many songs, I'll review each track, then a final verdict on the whole album. For starters, there are only seven songs on this project. And one would think if there's less songs, the project would be condensed and have a great overall connecting theme. But there's so many topics being addressed on this album; it's all over the place. The first track, "I Thought About Killing You", starts with a spoken word about how Kanye struggles with dark thoughts sometimes: "And I think about killing myself. And I love myself way more than I love you, so... Today, I thought about killing you." The intro lasts about half of the song, and then Kanye's verse has nothing to do with the introduction. It's a very disappointing way to start the album. The second track, "Yikes", is much better. The track talks about his opiod addiction and the things he sees when he's high. His flow is very good, and his outro at the end -- "That's my bipolar s---... That's my superpower, n----, it ain't no disability! I'm a superhero!" -- is a really cool way to inspire anybody who may be suffering. It's a highlight of the album. "All Mine" is the track that follows, and it's just terrible. It talks about cheating and various celebrities that have done it: Kanye's verses are nonsensical, the chorus is annoying, and it's so disappointing that the same guy who made "Runaway" and "Jesus Walks" made this one. "Wouldn't Leave" is a song with a great idea that isn't executed as well: it's a tribute track to his wife Kim Khardashian, thanking her for not leaving when things got tough amidst his controversy. However, the beat is a little bit too simple, and it doesn't feel like he's truly sorry for what he's done; he's just mad at the backlash that came because of it. "No Mistakes" is where he references some stress he's had, financially and mentally, and takes a few shots at Drake. Charlie Wilson and Kid Cudi both provide vocals on the chorus, but the line "Make no mistakes, girl I still love you" doesn't really tie in to the verse. I like the confidence Kanye oozes with in lines like "I don't take advice from people less successful than me" and "Ain't no love lost, but the gloves off." The album ends on a strong note, though. "Ghost Town" is easily the best song on the album, and one of the best of the year. It talks about wanting to be accepted by others, but more importantly by himself. Kid Cudi provides vocals again, as well as PARTYNEXTDOOR. New artist 070 Shake provides a nice outro with an optimistic tone: "And nothing hurts anymore, I feel kinda free." The last song is "Violent Crimes". The song is very personal, with Kanye talking about how his daughters being born has changed what he thinks about women and how he hopes his daughters don't have to worry in the future about things like "pervs on the nut" and "scars, they serve as reminders." First listen of the song, it was a fantastic and powerful conclusion. But after finding out that someone ghostwrote the song for Kanye, it takes away a little bit from the song. While there are great songs on here, there are some disappointing songs on here, and there are way too many topics being discussed for it to feel like a full album. Favorite tracks: Ghost Town, Yikes, Violent Crimes Least favorite track: All Mine Final score: 6From now on, assume an album is available on all major streaming services unless otherwise noted.
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Drake is my favorite music artist of all time, and he turns 32 tomorrow. So I am going to make a list of my ten favorite songs by him of all time. 10. 0 to 100/The Catch Up The first half of the song is a trap beat where Drake is essentially stunting on the rap game with his success, claiming he can take it from "0 to 100 real quick." It's filled with quotables, like "I been Steph Curry with the shot, big cookin' with the sauce, Chef Curry with the pot boy", "If I ain't the greatest then I'm headed for it", and "I should probably sign a hit boy, cause I got all the hits, boy". The second half of the song is a more mellow beat where Drake raps about how he's gotten to here and some of his struggles, with the line "If I haven't passed you yet, watch me catch up now" at the end of the song. It's a great contrast between a confident banger and a lyrical reflection. 9. Too Much This is one of the most personal songs in all of Drake's discography. He talks about the struggle of getting to where he is now and how he is dealing with family issues: "Hate the fact my mom cooped up in her apartment, telling herself that she's too sick to get dressed up and go do s---, like that's true s---". Sampha delivers some beautiful vocals on the chorus, telling the listeners "Don't think about it too much". It is a very overlooked song and proves Drake is far more than a pop star. 8. Headlines I just mentioned Drake is far more than a pop star. However, this is a pop rap record, and a fantastic one at that. I really like how he manages to so effortlessly switch between his singing and rapping voice. The instrumental is so triumphant and in your face, and Drake's subject matter involves embracing the fame he's received and how he's more confident in himself. The song will always have a place in my heart, as it was the first Drake song I ever memorized word-for-word. 7. 5AM in Toronto Released as a promotional single, 5AM in Toronto is a hookless song where Drake puts the rap game on notice. He raps about how fast he's gotten to where he is ("Most number ones ever, how long did it really take me?") and takes shots at his competition ("I could load every gun with bullets that fire backwards, you probably wouldn't lose a single rapper"). He also addresses the beef between him and The Weeknd; The Weeknd used to be signed to Drake's label OVO before choosing to sign with Univeral Music Records. Drake manages to ride the beat well and sounds confident, almost cocky. While I will still like Drake no matter what he puts out, some days I wish he would go back to his older songs like this when he was more lyrical and motivated. 6. Nice For What The newest song on this list, it came out just this April. The song uses a sample of Lauryn Hill's X Factor throughout the chorus that works very well and uses elements of New Orleans bounce music. Big Freeida is on the intro, saying "I wanna know who motherf-----g representin' in here tonight". The song is about female empowerment and how Drake respects women working hard to achieve their goals. With so much of the rap culture using derogatory terms towards women and not treating them with the respect they deserve, this track is a much appreciated change of pace from the typical rap track. It has such high replay value for me and is a feel-good song everyone should be able to appreciate. 5. Marvins Room This song is a few bars in the third verse away from being a full-blown R&B song. Drake in this song is calling an ex of his while drunk at the club, reminiscing of their past relationship while being bitter of where she is now: "F--- that n--- that you love so bad, I know you still think about the times we had... I'm just saying you could do better." The female vocals throughout the song and the piano outro add to the mood of the song. The third verse goes very in-detail of the mistakes Drake has made and how he's falling apart after losing this girl: "I've had sex four times this week; I'll explain, Havin' a hard time adjustin' to fame." The song is so powerful and not only that, it's relatable: Almost everyone I know who's been in a relationship, myself included, knows that even after you break up with someone, you still miss them from time to time. Drake's singing on this is heartfelt and rich, and it's overall a fantastic record. The only reason I don't have it higher is because the outro goes too long and he rhymes "party" with "party" in the third verse. 4. Do Not Disturb The final song on Drake's 2017 project More Life, this is another one of Drake's more underrated songs. He addresses everything that had happened to him since he released his 2016 album Views. A sample of Snoh Aalegra's "Time" plays in the background to add to the mood. He addresses his feuds with rappers like Meek Mill and Tory Lanez, the ghostwriting rumors, and how the celebrity lifestyle affects his relationships. Drake is in his bag on this song, spitting real messages like "Distractions will do you in, in the truest sense. Especially people that want to lecture me and frame it like they just want the best for me." And his rhyme scheme near the end of the song is flawless and is a slap in the face to people who say he can't rap: Heard of me, surgery, burden me, urgency, personally, perfectly, work with me, urgency, eternity, insecurities, worshipping, concerning me, learn from me, surety, emergency, currency. The flow is so smooth and was the perfect way to cap off a bounce-back album. 3. Jungle The second to last track on his surprise mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late, Drake sings of a girl he used to love who he had to move away from and he hopes the fame doesn't change their relatioship. The chorus uses a sample of Gabriel Garzon Montano and his floaty falsetto to set the tone. It appears they had been through a lot together: "She forgave me for everything, this a forever thing. Hate that I treat it like it's a whatever thing, trust me girl, this s--- is everything to me." And there's lines near the end of the song that can basically summarize the whole song: "Call your number and it's out of service. Who can I call for your information? What am I supposed to do After we done everything that we've done? Who is your replacement?" It captures his struggle of feeling lost without her, but being unable to move on from her because of what they have been through. It captures relationship struggles perfectly. 2. Lord Knows This post is getting long, so I'm going to keep this post short. The Just Blaze beat is fantastic with the soul sample in the background. Drake does his normal stunting in his verse, talking about his influence, relationships, and how stating his feelings doesn't make him soft. Then there is a transition into Rick Ross's verse, which is short but oh so sweet. He raps about his luxurious lifestyle and how he wouldn't change a thing with a great closing two lines: "Mink coats make your woman wanna fornicate. Rozay and Drake, I'm getting cake, nothing short of great". When you combine great lyrics, a great instrumental, and swagger, you get one of the best tracks of the decade. 1. Tuscan Leather This song may have my favorite production of all time. It uses a sample of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" three different ways, as it sounds slightly different in the background for each of the three beats present throughout the song. There are three verses and no chorus, and is a bold way to start an album. Verse 1 mainly addresses the heights he's reached at a young age and people who always question and hate on his every move. Verse 2 transitions into more personal lyrics about keeping relationships, falling apart with labelmate Nicki Minaj, and wanting to be remembered for eternity. Verse 3 concludes with him talking about how rap has changed his life and how he's experienced things he never thought he would, and a very motivational message: "Wanted to tell you, "Accept yourself", You don't have to prove shit to no one except yourself. And if you end up needin' some extra help, then I could help". It's like an autobiography of everything Drake's gone through. There's quotables, great subject matter, a great instrumental, almost everything Drake is known for: except singing. The track is 6 minutes 6 seconds, but doesn't feel stretched out to me at all. He says "I could go an hour on this beat, n----." And I'd listen to every second of it. DISCLAIMER: LONG REVIEW AHEAD This summer, Drake dropped his fifth studio album, Scorpion. The hype around the album was nothing short of sky high, as the singles "God's Plan" and "Nice For What" both went #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and New York rapper Pusha T told the world Drake was "hiding a child" on his diss record "The Story of Adidon". Drake's last two projects, Views and More Life, both sold great (as Drake usually does) but faced mixed reviews. The pressure was on Drake to deliver with this project. The title is in reference to his zodiac of the Scorpio. The album is split into two sides. The first twelve tracks, or Side A, are primarily rap. Meanwhile, the latter 13, or Side B, are primarily R&B. These are the two genres Drake has managed to mix with his music. I will address each side separately and then make a final verdict. Side A definitely is the better half of the album. Drake is a better rapper than singer, even if his singing records do better on the radio. One thing I will say about Side A is it feels less like an album and more of a compilation. The songs don't have an overlying theme to them at all for the most part; there are themes such as the consequences of fame and how fake people can be, but they are not present throughout the entire thing. While I do like the single "God's Plan", it doesn't fit with a lot of the album and should've just been left as a successful single. There are many types of beats on Side A, from the soulful samples of "Emotionless" and "Sandra's Rose", to the trap influenced "Can't Take A Joke" and "Nonstop". I find the former two highlights of the whole album. On "Emotionless", Drake raps about the people he's looked up to in the industry and how he is passing them, and how social media can portray a fake picture. He also addresses the child rumors: I wasn't hiding my kid from the world, I was hiding the world from my kid I feel that's the best way he could have addressed it. A kid doesn't need the paparazzi in his or her life. The song is introspective and feeds off of a fantastic Mariah Carey sample. "Sandra's Rose" is another great track, with production from whom in my opinion is the greatest rap producer of all time, DJ Premier. The song talks about how fame has impacted his lifestyle, and the title alludes to his mother Sandra and how she was a florist; one of the lines from the song is My mother had a flower shop, but I was Sandra's Rose. Maybe the best moment of Side A isn't from Drake himself, but rather it's from the Jay-Z verse on Talk Up. His line near the end of his verse -- Y'all killed X, let Zimmerman live, streets is done -- gave me goosebumps when I first heard it. This references the shooting and killing of XXXTentacion, Florida rapper, while George Zimmerman was acquitted of the charges in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. What makes it even more surprising is the fact that X was murdered on June 18, and the album was released eleven days later. Overall, Side A has plenty of great moments with great rapping, but it doesn't feel like enough of an album. Side A is an 8.5. Side B has great tracks, but it also has filler. It starts off on a very unspectacular note with "Peak"; it's too slow and the melody is boring. While not terrible, it certainly is not a high note. The best singing track on Side B is the track immediately following, titled "Summer Games". The track talks about a failed relationship in the summertime, and some more lyrics about social media's negatives: I follow one of your friends, you unfollow me. Then you block them so they can't see you likin' someone just like me. I don't think enough people address how social media can cause depression and anxiety amongst people; I applaud Drake for talking about it. Side B is definitely more cohesive than Side A; each song feels like it is talking about different women that Drake has been with. On "Jaded", it's about a woman who used him. On "Don't Matter To Me", it's about leaving a toxic past behind. That track also features posthumous vocals from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson himself. While his falsetto on the vocals is very breathtaking, it is poorly mixed and much quieter as a result. Side B is not all singing, though. There are some rap tracks on here. "Nice For What" is one of my favorite Drake songs ever, and I feel it actually fits into the perspective of Side B as it is a track about female empowerment and independence and features some of the bounce element of smash hit "In My Feelings". That track is decent, but became overplayed and doesn't use the bounce sample as well as "Nice For What" does. "Blue Tint" is one of the better tracks on this one too, as it's about someone he broke up with but he's back with again, with vocals from one of his favorite collaborators: Future. The album ends with "March 14". And Drake owns up to his child, venting about how he doesn't want his kid to be in his shoes: living in a split household and worrying about which one of his parents loves him more. At the end, he samples Boyz II Men's "Khalil Interlude": No one to guide me, I'm all alone. No one to cry on. I need shelter from the rain. To ease the pain, I'm changing from boy to a man. It's a truly beautiful and self-aware way to end the album. Side B is less interesting and consistent, but has highs that are just as high. Side B is a 7. My final verdict is that while it should not have had all 25 tracks, the album captures everything Drake can do and he addressed everything that he should have: the kid, Pusha T, and then just do Drake things. While not as great as Take Care or Nothing Was The Same, it is still a quality project and shows maybe Drake has another classic left in him. Favorite tracks: Nice For What, Mob Ties, March 14, Emotionless, Sandra's Rose, Blue Tint, Summer Games Least favorite tracks: I'm Upset, Ratchet Happy Birthday, Final Fantasy Final score: 7.5Scorpion is available on all major streaming platforms.
For many suburban kids such as myself, Eminem was our first exposure to rap music. The way that he was able to use lyricism to paint an image and find ways to rhyme entire sentences with each other made the world rethink the limits of the white rapper. Eminem's prime in the late 1990s and early 2000s was nothing short of phenomenal. However, his projects have dipped in quality since then, concluding in 2017 with the release of what many consider his worst project yet, Revival. To end the summer, Eminem released a surprise album entitled Kamikaze, which is his best project in 15 years. The production sounds more modern than anything Eminem's rapped on recently, featuring several of the trap-flavored beats that have taken over rap in the past half-decade. A majority, thought not all, of the project is Eminem talking about his dissatisfaction with the current state of the rap game, taking shots at rappers with bars like: These rappers are like Hunger Games, one minute they're mocking Jay Next minute, they get their style from Migos or they copy Drake And: Lil Pump, Lil Xan imitate Lil Wayne I should aim at everybody in the game, pick a name And this diss of his former label mate Joe Budden who criticzed Revival heavily: Somebody tell Budden before I snap he better fasten it Or have his body bagged and zipped, the closest thing he's had to hits is smackin' b----es Many people have accused Eminem of being stuck in the past and being unwilling to accept the fact that rap is changing. I see where they are coming from. However, people should consider that Eminem came from an era where the rap game was almost exclusively about your lyricism and technical ability. While it's not to the point where it doesn't matter anymore, there is less of an emphasis on lyrics in today's rap and Eminem just wants to bring that competitive nature in MCs back. Other topics are present on the album, like Donald Trump, relationships, his old rap group D12, and most notably, a jab at Machine Gun Kelly. Machine Gun Kelly (also known as MGK), a Cleveland rapper, made a tweet about Eminem's daughter Hallie in 2012, calling her "hot as f---". After Eminem banned him from his Shade 45 radio station, Machine Gun Kelly had a verse on Tech N9ne's song "No Reason" where he sent subliminal shots towards Eminem (he didn't say his name directly, but the diss was implied.) Eminem responds on "Not Alike" with: But next time, you don't gotta use Tech N9ne if you wanna come at me with a sub, Machine Gun And I'm talking to you, but you already know who the f--- you are, Kelly I don't use sublims, and sure as f--- don't sneak diss But keep commenting on my daughter Hallie... There was one extremely controversial line on "Fall", where Eminem addresses another critic of his in Tyler The Creator, who has cited Eminem as an influence of his but called his 2017 single "Walk On Water" "horrible". While the homosexual slur is censored, the Internet was still outraged. While I feel Eminem is not being homophobic with this lyric, as he is not directly calling him one, this did feel like crossing the line: Tyler create nothing, I see why you call yourself a f----, b---- It's not just cause you lack attention, it's because you worship D12's balls, you're sac-religious Controversy aside, "Fall" is a legitimately great track, with great vocals from Justin Vernor of Bon Iver and addresses critics without seeming spiteful. The highlight is "Lucky You"; it is a track with Joyner Lucas, where the two take turns rapping fast-paced lyrics about awards and recognition. The two have a similar style and should collaborate more. The album is inconsistent and loses steam at the end with a couple of corny love songs that Eminem needs to stop making, but for the most part the album is entertaining, full of great flows and wordplay, and is a return to form for one of the best rappers alive. Favorite tracks: Lucky You, Fall, Greatest, The Ringer Least favorite tracks: Good Guy, Nice Guy Final score: 7Kamikaze is available on all major streaming platforms.
Quavo is the leader of the Atlanta rap trio Migos. He is their most famous member and is the most responsible for helping them blow up. He has the swagger and personality a superstar should. He also is a basketball star, winning the 2018 NBA Celebrity All-Star Game MVP! He dropped his anticipated debut solo project earlier this week. He dropped three songs this summer featuring only himself to minor amounts of hype. With Migos dropping Culture II earlier this year, containing a whopping 24 tracks, I was hoping this album didn't get too long. However, it's not too much better: the album contains 19 tracks, which easily could've been cut down. The problem is Quavo isn't exactly the most interesting man in the world. While his outgoing personality sure makes him seem like it, a lot of the tracks cover the same basic premises: encounters with females, getting cash, dealing with fame, doing drugs -- things of that nature. I'm not a big supporter of excessive guest features, but the features here help to break up the repetitiveness of Quavo. People like Drake (Flip The Switch), Lil Baby (Lose It), group members Offset (F--- 12) and Takeoff (Keep That Sh--), and Kid Cudi (Lost) deliver great guest features. Even Madonna makes an appearance here; however, her performance on Champage Rose wasn't it. It was too robotic and repetitive. Take it back to the drawing board, Huncho. There are two tracks in particular the internet is generating buzz about. Huncho Dreams is a "response" to Nicki Minaj's Barbie Dreams off her Queen album earlier this year, where she takes shots at several male rappers, including Quavo. Quavo alludes to them having a relationship of some sort in the past. And on Big Bro, he is taking what many assume to be shots at dead rapper Lil Peep: Think you poppin' Xanax bars, but it's Fentanyl Think you're livin' life like rockstars but you're dead now However, I think that is people reaching. Quavo doesn't sound mean or spiteful on the song. On the song he's talking about how he's trying to be a "big bro" to the younger rappers in the game right now. And with these lines, he was just trying to say the consequences of doing drugs and how people should learn from it. Quavo never had beef with Lil Peep before he died in November of last year due to a Fentanyl overdose. What makes certain rap groups so great, like OutKast and the Wu-Tang Clan, is that each member brings something different. But Quavo tries to be like an extension of the group rather than formulate his own style. While this album does not have many flat-out terrible moments, and there's about five or six tracks here I enjoy a decent bit, the rest of it is just painfully average and disappointing. Hopefully he gets back to his roots: making music as a group. Favorite tracks: Lost, Pass Out, Flip The Switch, Lose It, Keep That S--- Least favorite tracks: Champagne Rose, Lamb Talk Final score: 4.5Quavo Huncho is available on all major music streaming platforms.
Because Juice WRLD came to Fargo on Friday, I decided to re-listen to his debut album, Goodbye and Good Riddance, to see if it was worth the hype. The sound on this project is not too groundbreaking from the typical Auto-Tune trap vibes that we've been hearing from artists from Lil Uzi Vert and Travis Scott, yet Juice WRLD takes these elements and adds an "emo" vibe to it. The lyrics are darker and more depressed than most of his contemporaries, with lines like: I still see your shadows in my room, can't take back the love that I gave you It's to the point where I love and I hate you and I cannot change you so I must replace you And this one flirting with borderline disturbing: Wear your best dress girl, cause you gon' die in it Bet you regret the day that you lied in it The album revolves heavily around a few recurring themes: trust issues, heartbreak, and depression. I really want to like this project considering I've been going through some issues of my own recently. And while I do appreciate the fact that he is talking about these issues instead of bottling it up like we've seen from certain stars in the industry, he also talks heavily about drug use and how drugs help. And that is not a healthy coping mechanism. He is only going surface level with these lyrics at times, to the point where it feels almost like a desperate cry for attention. And "All Girls Are The Same" is extremely petty and shallow and sounds like something out of a middle schooler's diary. Now I'm not trying to just tear down Juice WRLD here. There are some great tracks here: "Lucid Dreams" is one of the most infectious melodies I've heard of 2018, he has great chemistry with Lil Uzi Vert on "Wasted", and he gets deeper on "Candles". On the song, instead of simply saying that he did drugs, he says how the drugs managed to worsen their relationship, which makes the lyrics feel more authentic. Juice WRLD is in this Post Malone category of artists: he can almost sing well, and he can almost rap well. He is from Chicago, and I hear a lot of the sound from 808s and Heartbreak from Kanye West (another Chicago artist). While part of it does get repetitive and I would have liked other guest features to break up the monotony, there are moments with great melodies and songwriting. I don't see what the big deal is about him right now, but he could make a real name for himself in a few years. Final score: 5Goodbye and Good Riddance is available on all major streaming platforms.
There was question of whether Tha Carter V, Lil Wayne's twelfth and potentially final studio album, would ever see the light of day. It was supposed to be released back in 2014, but was delayed several times due to disputes between Wayne and Cash Money Records. It was finally released at 12 AM ET on September 28th, 2018. The album features a variety of guest features, including Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and the late XXXTentacion. The project alternates between more introspective and personal Wayne songs and songs where Lil Wayne just shows off his wordplay and ability to ride a beat. What was surprising to me is that Wayne still has the ability to be an elite-level rapper in 2018, with gem lines like "And if you gettin' out of line, I hang you with a clothing line, wring (ring) you like an open line" and "That [expletive] ain't no angel, I treat her halo like a frisbee" just to name a couple. And the fact that the album gets deep and personal at times; the entire first track is a voicemail from his mother, and there are several love ballads on it. There are some great and replayable tracks on here. "Let It Fly" with the aforementioned Travis Scott has a dark and hypnotic instrumental and a Wayne verse with heavy use of the word "mind". "Uproar" is very upbeat and in your face with production from legend Swizz Beats and has sparked an online dance challenge. The highlight is "Mona Lisa", where Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar exchange stories of a woman who finesses a man. But the most powerful moment of the album is the last verse of the album on the song "Let It All Work Out", where Wayne discusses a suicide attempt. Lil Wayne was only twelve, and his mother said he couldn't rap. He shot himself later on, barely missing his heart. His whole career, he claimed it was an accident. But on this album, he comes out and claims that it was an attempt to kill himself: "Too torn apart about it, I aim where my heart was pounding/I shot it, and I woke up with blood all around me/It's mine, I didn't die, but as I was dying/God came to my side and we talked about it/He sold me another life and he made a prophet." The maturity that it takes to admit something like that is truly respectful. The album is entertaining, replayable, personal, and shows us all aspects of Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as Lil Wayne. If this is the last album we ever get from him, it'll be a farewell as grand as he is; almost as grand as the farewell of his favorite basketball player, Kobe Bryant. Kobe scored 60 in his final game; they won too. This probably isn't a 60 point performance, but it could be a 50 point one. Favorite tracks: Mona Lisa, Let It All Work Out, Uproar, Took His Time, Can't Be Broken, Used 2, Open Letter, Let It Fly, Don't Cry Least favorite tracks: What About Me, Start This S--- Off Right Final score: 8.5Tha Carter V is available on all major music streaming platforms.
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