it makes sense since most rappers aren't really vocalists, so instead of stretching notes or melodies across time, they can't just let background production (which is often looping) just play alone, so to fill space they need to rap. that obv leads to situations where they have to expound significantly on what may otherwise be just a few bars. it's one of the issues the genre hasn't fully grown out of but is def something i think a lot of rappers are aware of. i think this is also why a lot of 00s underground hip hop devolved into lyrical miracle type s***, because they had a lot to say but couldn't condense it down musically so they had no choice but to put out the song equivalent of a doctoral thesis with as many adjectives as allowed in order to hit a page count. I think its only natural frank who treads the line between rapping & singing a lot, is gonna fall into this when he's rapping; it's very hard to avoid without giving it precision.
w/ billy woods, depends on the album tbh, i think some of his work's more straightforward than others. i appreciate tho he doesnt really care if people listening innately understand what hes talking about. a lot of rappers have a different bad habit where they feel obligated to overexplain the concepts/topics to their audience

Yes

I don’t listen to him much but his writing style is definitely unique. Can’t think of anyone that comes close to it

I never thought of Self-control as lyrically simple. “I’ll sleep between y’all”, and “take down some summertime” are both really concise, evocative, unique, well written lines.

High depth to word ratio and it sounds so sweet and natural

I don’t think any of those albums get as real, vulnerable and metaphysical as blonde (apart from twigs but she’s not even in the same realm as frank - esp lp1)

franks beauty is his range, to go from making something like lost to seigfried is no easy feat and none of the albums get as intricate with details as franks pen.

yes

i’ve always liked franks music but wouldn’t consider myself a stan

he’s not an artist i listen to a lot but every time i do it’s an experience, like i’m fully tuned in

but i’ve been listening to a decent amount of frank as of late and that bull and the matador in the sky line struck a chord with me idk why

its nice imagery and how he delivers that line as well is just 10/10

plus bulls have a very special place in my heart

LOVE franks rapping

would love a whole rapping project

i didn't really mean simple in a bad way. the lyrics you quoted are evocative but they're straightforward, you can tell what they're trying to convey very easily especially in context of the song. i think the song is very direct to the point and lyrics are incredibly straightforward. it's a very raw song emotionally. i think it's one of his best written songs specifically because it's very to the point in what it wants to convey and say to the listener.

i have to disagree with you tbh. i think the only reason people think blonde is more real/vulnerable than its contemporaries is because they sympathize with the topics in it more - which is absolutely fine, music is subjective and that's the entire point of finding and following artists you like. i just think the strengths of blonde are in the unique musical sound, sonic progression, and emotional range of the album rather than in songwriting intrinsically.

U-N-I-T-Y ended that debate 6 years ago

Easy yes. He's the only musician right now that I'd buy a book from. He has an amazing level of lyricism And songwriting (i personally think they are different aspects of songcraft) His lyricism is the closest to the best of all time like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, sly stone. Lennon. He would've been big in that Era of writers.

But he also knows how to create/ lead a collective to create boundary pushing sonics, up there with the best producers of that style, like Brian eno, with an insane level of detail in regards to song structure like kate bush
,mj and prince. Idk, he just has that capital A "Artist" factor that the 60s-90s greats had. It's sorely missed and he one of the only mainstream acts today really bringing that energy.

damn i honestly totally forgot about UNITY

easily his best rap performance

for some reason i don’t like him on RAF tho

Purity is also great

Of course, Thinkin bout u, Crack Rock, Monks, Ivy

He's great