This album is made up of songs that did not make the original album. The first song "Corso" shows he stands head and shoulders above the bulk of the rappers gracing the radio today. This felt in both the production and backing tracks used to support his verses. He is not making pop music so relies less on hooks. Instead, he bobs and waves around the beat, which does not adhere to the normal dance floor bump. "Lemonhead" is a little denser. There is a chaos to the arrangement of his songs that I appreciate. 42 Dugg, appears on the track and he pretty much falls in the mold of most modern rappers. The song is not that focused and while he collects some cool sounds, is not the best written song, but doesn't not suck either,
"Wusyaname" has both a 90s feel as well as adhering to the expectations of the Tik Tok generation, with auto-tuned sung vocals chiming in. Once again just wanders less focused of a song. I am beginning to hear why these songs did not make the original album. "Lumberjack" has more tension to it , as his voice drops into a more urgent tone. I liked the Curtis Mayfield like elements to the backing track of "Hot Winds Blows" , but I hope Lil Wayne did not get paid for his verse on the song, as it pretty pathetic. Lot of words to say nothing. "Massa" is more laid back with the intensity shifting to the self reflective lyrics. To his credit he straddles honoring the classic sound of hip hop with what the kids today are into. At least sound wise, there is a more obtuse feel to the songwriting.
"RUNITUP" takes half the song to get started. When it does fine it's groove it works, just a great deal of fat that could have been trimmed for little pay off. "Manifesto" is more experimental, but it pays off, and has more substance lyrical. Then he goes off into a more Frank Ocean style r&b. "Rise!" has r&b sensibilities but it a better use of his hip hop talents. "Juggernaut" works really well ,and dabbles in new school hip-hop with Lil Uzi Vert. "Wilshire" feels like a Method Man b-side. Not that there is anything wrong than that. "Safari" feels pretty predictable, but it works with it's 90s vibe. "Stuntman" finds him once again finding a formula that works better for his skills.
He needs to continue to dig further into the kind of honesty he touches upon with "What a Day". "Wharf Talk" is less inspired and not surprising why it left off the first album. A$ap Rocky does not really bring much to the table. "Dogtooth" feels more focused despite working off clichés. There is almost more of a Biggie influence to "Heaven to Me" in how his words bounce around the beat. He is not the only artist Tyler is drawing inspiration from as there is a hint of 2pac to the groove of "Boyfriend , Girlfriend". "Sorry Not Sorry" just kind of riffs off the same them without finding anything to hook me in. I'll give this an 8 as he care about songs, and puts more effort into this than the majority of rappers out today.
No comments:
Post a Comment