Based on the small snippets I've heard just from grabbing videos for today, I can't say I'm terribly excited. It's a lot of hardcore rap that just isn't my style when it's assembled in a 19-track album.
After four free mixtapes for Detroit State of Mind, this album was released as his debut. Apparently, he's one of the best and most unique young rappers to emerge in recent years, so let's see what he has to offer.
As always, follow on Spotify if you're interested.
Well, at least the beats are pretty familiar. We start with "Greatest Rapper Ever." All about bitches and smoking. Joy. Would anyone mind if I make this a quick one? Because otherwise, I'm just not going to have entirely nice things to say. "Need Another Drink" is more of the same. Lots of angry yelling into the mix, with a lack-luster beat that is hard to even bob your head to. At least there's an attempt at a chorus for this one.
I'd like to say "New Era" is different, but it isn't. Damn it, even El DeBarge had something to say from time to time, even if it was all sex-related. This is just the N-word over and over, and the damn one-toned vocals (if you can even call them that) is just horrible. It hurts. Then there's some weird megaphone-sounding phrase in-between that hurt even more. Thank god it's late and I have to keep the volume down.
"Exotic" takes a turn for talking about girls, I think? It's hard to keep up with exact lyrical themes here. Oh, wait. There it is. Yup... like wheat thins. This is about getting girls. Now... wait... "I'm Out." Does that mean this is over? No... no, sadly, it's not. But there's this cut little chorus sort-of jingle that you can at least wave yourself back and forth for. I mean, an attempt at song composition instead of just freestyling (which doesn't work for a pre-recorded album, by the way) is kind of nice. Ugh... just trying to find the good here.
"Re-Up" brings on our first video, and maybe after this my headache will make more sense.
"Nowhere 2 Go" at least seems a little more connected with the streets than anything we've heard so far. This one seems to actually come from somewhere, not just a mixture of spit out words about girls and drugs and whatever else he happens to see around the room. I mean, the elements are still there, but... ugh, yeah.
Aww, he attempts to vary up his 'notes' a little here by at least heading up a scale in pitch... sort of. Here's
"Guitar Solo" has a little development, at least with the backing track. Here's a video. We're at track 10 of 19, by the way. And yes, there is an actual guitar solo in this.
"You ain't got a man, but you gotta baby-daddy." "Drinks On Me" yeah, let's go party and not worry. Just drink. I don't know I would make this an anthem, but at least this one's relatable in subject, if not throughout the whole thing. And there's some interesting use of Asian themes. And the next one's at least got an interesting title: "Generation Rx." I mean, come on, even I'll admit that one's snappy. The song's kind of strange sounding, but hey, I guess this is the album where you just throw whatever back beats you feel like on!
I'm using videos as an excuse to zone out. Here's "S.O.S."
"Cartier." Three to go. Okay. Whew. Deep breath. This one's got one of those epic feels that only Kanye seems to be able to pull off properly. There's are strings and then some weird overlay bells. Yes, I've resorted to describing details of the back music just to have something to write about.
Nope, not an endearing sweet song - "Great Granddad." Just sick and demeaning. If any girl allows herself to be the subject of this, you don't deserve to be called a woman. And then we're finally at the last song, "Lincoln Continental," thank god. And there's no redeeming qualities. I'm done.
I think it's safe to say I won't be attending this concert in June.