Top Hiphop And Rap Albums Of 2017

2017 continues to be a year dominated by hip hop culture and rap music. In fact, rap has become the most-listened-to genre of music, eclipsing the decades of dominance of rock, r&b, pop, and country. Let’s look at the most critically-acclaimed and fan-favorite albums of the past year.

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Big Fish Theory, by Vince Staples

Released in mid-2017, this album peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and offered a fresh, minimalist take on hip hop with lessened techno vibe and more syncopated dance beats. Staples, too, has been all over social media, a seeming iconoclast of a figure who’s unafraid to speak his mind. Top choices are “Big Fish,” “Bagbak,” and “Party People.”

Culture, by Migos

2017 began with the drop of this huge fan favorite, peaking at the top of the charts and introducing the trap sound to those who were still out of the loop. It’s the most successful commercial release of the year, with hits like “Bad and Boujee” and “T-Shirt” catapulting Migos to worldwide stardom.

4:44, by Jay-Z

This latest Jay-Z offering showcases a new side of the successful rapper, a sincere album that at points sound confessional and courageous and plainly honest and transparent in others. It’s a hip hop father’s album that cements the culture mogul’s place in rap history.

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DAMN, by Kendrick Lamar

DAMN is definitely the most intricate and most realized album of 2017. It rides a narrative that hops along various virtues and emotions, propelled by the hit first single “Humble.” Some would argue that it is K Dot’s or Kungfu Kenny’s most pop album to date (it is indeed very accessible) yet it doesn’t come across as compromising.

Hello, there. I’m Rick Casperand I’m a diamond gemologist. When I’m not busy with work, I unwind by listening to my favorite hip-hop albums, especially those from the ‘90s and early 2000s. For similar reads, visit this website.

The Greatest Anime Feature I’Ve Ever Seen

There has never been an anime feature that hit as hard as “Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal”. For fans of the series, there are lighthearted moments mixed in with all the amazing swordfighting sequences. The “Trust and Betrayal” OVA though is a different animal entirely.

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We all know how important it is for Kenshin Himura to keep his promise never to kill again. He would rather die than take another life. However, many of us never fully understood the reason behind it. This is where “Trust and Betrayal” takes us to. The exquisite tragedy behind Kenshin’s cross-shaped scar reveals itself in full HD, and the weight of the experience remains forever on everyone’s shoulders.

But there are also many other things to marvel at with “Trust and Betrayal”. From the old-school hand-drawn art to the heartbreaking musical score, to the bittersweet once-in-a-lifetime romance of an assassin, and his would-be assassin.

The first scene alone may be jarring enough to jolt “Samurai X” (“Rurouni Kenshin’s American title) fans out of their comfy fandom, but we advise all you to stay with it because the ride is well worth the price of admission. It truly is for many of us, the greatest Japanese anime feature we’ve ever seen.

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I’m Rick Casper, diamond gemologist and anime enthusiast. Learn more about me and the stuff I love by checking out this Twitter page.

Mohs comparisons: Measuring the hardness of minerals

Those who paid attention to science class may be familiar with the Mohs scale, which measures the relative hardness of a substance. The diamond tops the scale at a solid 10, the hardest substance known to humankind. 

Image source: nps.gov

The operant word being “relative.” Anyone under my tutelage would eventually learn that the Mohs scale has its limits. A Mohs hardness is not based on anything quantifiable, instead of being based on comparing how quickly an item is scratched by other minerals or substances. Hard materials are resistant to abrasion, often being scratched by materials that are even harder. Diamonds earned their ranking by, well, being cut only by their own kind and cutting everything else with almost relative ease. Once sufficiently polished (by another diamond), their facets last forever. 

The scale is, from a scientific perspective, imprecise, given the individual variation between mineral samples. More to the point, a mineral’s relative hardness does not mean it is stable. If diamonds were as strong as they were hard, they’d make great building material. Diamonds, however, can shatter. That’s pretty much the only reason why we can even harvest and use them. 

The Mohs scale is far from useless. Gem cutters have used this scale to determine how easily a specific gem can be cut to create the desired facets. Stones on the upper end of the scale are usually cut by diamonds, whereas others only need steel knives. Harder gemstones tend to also maintain their luster for years, with diamonds notably maintaining them forever. 

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Rick Casper, diamond gemologist, at your service. Follow me on Twitter more on the science behind gemstones.

Entrancing Diamonds In The World

Diamonds are probably the most famous gems. They have achieved a legendary status both in real life and in fictional depictions. They have represented a certain level of luxury that is unmatched to this day. The most expensive diamonds in the world are locked in heavily guarded institutions and have adorned the crowns of famous royalties. The value of some of these pieces is thoroughly unimaginable and have become the stuff of tales. But another astonishing thing about these iconic diamonds is the beauty that they exude. Every hue gloriously manifests itself with unbelievable purity; every cut intensifying the saturation. Here are some of the most enthralling diamonds in the world:

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The Hope Diamond

One of the most famous stones in the world because of a curse associated with it, the Hope Diamond had an illustrious ownership list which includes King Louis XIV and Harry Winston. It is a 45.52-carat large deep-blue diamond currently owned by the Smithsonian Institution.

The Millennium Star

This is a top-grade colorless D diamond that is completely flawless from any angle inside and out. At 203.04 carats, it is one of the most valuable in the world. It was found in Zaire and was acquired by De Beers in the mid-1990s.

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Moussaieff Red Diamond

This red diamond is one of the rarest fancy color diamonds. Even with its relatively small size, it is still the largest of only about four known red diamonds all over the world. It measures 5.11 carats and was cut by the William Goldberg Diamond Corp. after its discovery in the 1990s in Brazil.

Rick Casper is the name, and I work as a diamond gemologist. I also serve as a mentor to those who want to become a gemologist like myself. In fact, one of my mentees is now studying at the Gemological Institute of America. I also write about my profession and the industry I am in on my blogs. I find fulfillment in sharing my knowledge, interests, and skills to others. To learn more about my varied interests and inclinations, visit this blog.