Fans of west coast hip hop have waited months for this to drop after it was only released as an NFT with a slightly different track list under the name 'Bad MFs'. I was incredibly underwhelmed on the first listen but have found more on the second spin. It's a little disappointing that these four well and truly grown men can't rap about a little more than sex, brag rap and gangsta shit more often. There are moments where they are trying to give 'game' but it's all fairly non-interesting stuff.
I've never loved Too $hort. Cube's rhymes have become more simplistic than what he used to write for a while now. I mean, listen to some of his rhymes on 'Big Subwoofer'. Snoop is the least noticeable MC on here. E-40's adlibs and refraining his own bars on almost every bar can get a bit grating.
Despite having many producers, like Rick Rock, DecadeZ, Soopafly, Battlecat, Fredwreck, Droop E and Ant Banks, who have created some amazing stuff, the production is decent but never really elevates beyond that. There are some catchy hooks, but again, there is nothing that creative with many just being the track title repeated, and others like 'Have a Nice Day' being weak, which is a shame as the verses are some of the best. 'Mash' is another that feels like a missed opportunity. With a few more production touches or a better hook I think it could've been a great banga to close the album.
I can play this through and enjoy it, but there is nothing much that is good enough to go back to in a week.
Beats: ★★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★★
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: California, Motto, Big Subwoofer, Activated, Have a Nice Day, I Got Pull, On Camera
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