Destruct - Leaving Yet? (Album Review)

Destruct - Leaving Yet?

Let me sum up this album in one word!

Nostalgic!

The Leaving Yet LP starts off with that raw mid 90’s samplebased beat meets Quotebased cuts, and laidback flow.

Progress Feat L.D:

“I break rules and avoid the repercucions cus now a days the smaller shit will get you locked for nothing , trapped behind bars”

“Without a fair court discussion,  I stay dropping bars and reveal what be disgusting, THE TRUTH”

This sets the mood, the tempo and gets you ready for what is to be. “Leaving Yet”.

The ironic part of it, is that this album does not want you as the listener to leave at all, with a well rounded sound and well produced beats.

Mastered by EQ and partially mixed by EQ, the sound is very approved.

Now I can reveal that this is not the newest project that Destruct has done, but it is timeless, both soundwise, vocal performance and all over mix.

Raise the bar:

The French sample on the second track brings me back to the Reflection Eternal sound, and has that Hi-Tek feeling, that I see as a huge compliment to the producer.

“I can’t weightlift for shit, but still raising the bar”

 That pretty much sums up what Destruct is, he’s a humble young cat, with a huge talent. 

Dreamin' feat. EQ, Ophelia & Impress:

A mellow soul-sample with that Westcoast /nottz sounding bounce.

Guitar sample is great, with a genius interaction with the bassline.

Lyrically this is a great "reflect upon our day and age" type track.

With the voulnerability in the female vocals and the simple put reflected lyrics through out the track.

“No more beef, between west and east sounds better. Lets all make this money together.”

“I’m about change like obamas campaign. “

It’s well directed and well put,  but simple.

50/50:

Starts off with that up in your face – Toe-to-Toe feeling.

“Punks got a 50/50 chance of living.” As the sample says.

Destruct starts of

“Theres 6 million ways to die choose all of them, times that by zero and see how you’re dodging them

And that aint nothing but a raw slice, now heres the whole pie, with no time to think twice!”

Beats and vocals interact so well with the sound effects added to this track.

I’m madly impressed by the producers contributing on this album, now that there are different type producers, actually creating a soundwise synchronity.

Write or Wrong

 Reminds me of a Kanye Meets Kid Cudi track when it comes to the beat / Chorus and feeling. Even mixwise it is so clean, but with some distortion.

The only thing that stops this beat for me, making it lose the actual impact it had on my ears, would be the drums and perc/clap.

Chorus is magnificent  though.

The Vibe feat. Kev Brown

Kev Brown is in my ears a really talented producer.

And this track is no exception.

With the repetitive baseline, setting a mid 90s mood. And giving a crazy dynamic sound to the half sung - half rapped chorus.

Not the greatest track on the album. But definitely a perfect interlude joint.

Moment for self feat XP

My favorite track hands down.

XP from Rhyme Addicts has been getting shine overseas and well earned a true talent.

And a great team up for Destruct. True L.A hip-hop.

"Take for granted?  Fuck nah, I'm taking the planet. No comparison, you killing time. I'm taking advantage. Its embarrassing what you consider quality rapping. me and X got the building blocks making a passage! 

And we carrying the torch and preserving the art. Where and Mc can shine when they cooking that raw. I escape from them fakes that be lacking that heart. And Its more than the music when I'm talking to y'all"

I had to quote more then half the verse.

Do you understand what this is?!

This is rap. This is heart!

And its not leaving yet.

Gotta Get Mine Feat. Plenty Hendrix

Sample Chord based beat with a slight repetitive set up. But a well known and well sounding sample.

The best element of this track for me. Has to be the female vocals.

Creating a good diversity if looked upon as a whole. When it comes to this L.P.

Time's up

Baseline makes the song

And sets the correct mood. 

Has to be a fact when it comes to this track. Lyrically it's smart and well reflected for such a young mc.

Specially with a catchy hook such as:

"It's a race for the papes.

When you out on the grind

Hard to make a honest living.

But it's easy with crime

Trying to see through the dark

Any sign of a light

Any chance to make sense in this moment of time."

Show & Prove feat.  LD

Showing and proving might be what these cats have been doing throughout the album

I haven't heard one weak track thus far.

But have to say that the biggest gap for me is between the inspirational topics and the straight spitting tracks.

Deadly Sin

Beat wise being that this is produced by Destruct and Joaquin Pacheco, I’m blown away.
The production sounds great, simplicity mixed with a rough mixed beat.
Partially uncontrolled but, well balanced.
The hook is catchy, coherent with the baseline and a different type of track amongst these rather hard tracks.
Deadly sin is a well put love song, being both immature and sensual.
A great listening experience.

Cold World Feat Dye

Straight to it, Chris sets it off saying “Wireless plan, connected with the heart of a man”

The hook by Dye has that Tekita (Wu-tang) feeling, and so does the beat, with an early 90’s feeling.
Dye’s voice being put in half tones, where it goes almost false, brings a vulnerability well recognized from hip hop hooks in early and mid 90’s. Absolutely a great track.

Back And Forth

Another well produced track, with nice set of break drum loop, combined with a Piano, and male vocals singing (resembling “Just A Friend – Biz Markie”) Illuminating troubled relationships, and the way they often end up.  An easy listening track.

The Name feat. Plenty Hendrix

The Name is in many ways a straight rapping track, but also a tribute to legends, name dropping such as rolling stones (“I Jump in the whip so I’m rolling stone(d)s” )

“Every Rose got a Gun, you can call it the door(s), shit welcome to the jungle where they hunt you for sports, so you’re entering the sandman a seven nation army, You see the ring of fire, for cash like you’re Johnny”

Showing of that lyrical talent, and staying on another level!

This is a well produced, rocking track!
Most definitely, top 5 on this album.

Leaving Yet

Being the title track, and the cuts on the track it represents a well chosen outro.
Where Chris talks about his dreams, and his experiences.
This is a hip hop artist, that’s here to stay, with his many projects, a fresh breath of air!

All in all:

Highlights of the album.

The Name Feat Plenty Hendrix, Deadly Sin, Moment for self feat XP, 50/50 & Dreamin’

Go get this, and support this artist, buy his tracks at.

www.destructmusic.com and check his videos out. Also check the “Non-Flaco” project with EQ.

Thank god, that this artist is NOT leaving yet!

Download "Leaving Yet" Here

Destruct was asked some questions, and had them answered for all you readers and listeners interest: 

Name : Christian Daniel Ramalho Ojeda (Destruct)
Crew :

Non Flaco, Inner City Soul, Co.exist, The O.D.'s, Quiet On The Set, Steady Aim, B.A.D. Company

 Motivation :  Life...shit that happens on everday basis.
 Time rapping :  Been rappin since i was 6 ('94) been on the scene since was 17 (Late '07)
 Favorite joint of your own :  "Raise The Bar"  
 Top 3 rappers :  Mos Def, Biggie, Guru
 Top 5 inspiration. :  Mos Def, Biggie, Guru, Sean Price, Moka Only
 Swisha sweets or phillies?  : Swisha Sweet...grape of course...
 Favorite producer :  J Dilla, Dj.Premier, 9th Wonder
 Your Dream collaboration :  Mos Def & Sean Price on a Primo Beat, Sade on the hook.
 Best show :  Openin up for Slum Village at Crash Mansion in DTLA
 Best tour: Havent been on Tour Officialy...YET!! (Book Destruct to your hometown now!!)
 Best memory music related : 

Rockin wit my band at the House Of Blues on sunset for the first time and having break Dancers flip off stage..shit was ill!..we went all out!

Shoutout to fans

Much luv to all my peeps fuckin wit ya boy...peep this album in case u havent...its just lettin u kno that i aint leaving yet..much much more in the works..let keep it movin....word up!!!...