The title track is amazing. It never gets old. But what that has in instrumentation, catchy songwriting, with a distinctive and memorable chorus, is lacking from a lot of other songs. With that track, I don't think you have to pay any attention to what he is saying because the production is so good, but that can't be said for a lot of this. I enjoy other moments listed below, but all in all, I don't find this to be amazing from front to back.
Beats: ★★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆
Hooks: ★★★
Best Tracks: None Shall Pass, Catacomb Kids, Five Fingers
The comedic storytelling on songs like the title track and 'Pillow Talk' at least offer something unique and keeps the listener closely paying attention to every bar. The album begins okay, but then 'Lemme Freak'/'Lemme Freak For Real Tho (Outro)' just drag on way too long and leave the impression of a joke that doesn't know when to end. 'Classic Male Pregame' is poor too. I hate the hook. The 'Hannibal Interlude' that sees Hannibal Buress spitting straight facts critiquing the rap game is a highlight from the album. It's the kind of project that is mostly entertaining (albeit a tad too long) on initial listens but doesn't have much replay value.
Beats: ★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: Professional Rapper, White Crime, Hannibal Interlude, Personality, Pillow Talk
How edgy to start an album with the sounds of snorting coke... The beats are decent by Storch, but I can't be liking Webby to any high level. There is a strong Eminem influence which he mentions in his bars on the introspective 'Rollercoaster'. He comes off somewhat as trying too hard and corny. 'Pyro', while not sounding overly original from Storch, has the best production in my opinion, so is my pick from the EP.
Beats: ★★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★☆
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: Pyro
Bathgate, probably best known for his verse on the DJ Clue tapes, and Fats, for his two verses on Michael Jackson's 'Invincible', unite here for a decent, yet unremarkable album. The production is inconsistent. At times, like on the intro, it's more than solid hard east coast hip hop, and then straight to the next track it reeks of poor mid cheap sounding '00s production, as do a number of songs. The rappers sound quite similar, so it barely feels like a collaboration production. They are commanding enough on the mic, but don't leave a lasting impression. Nothing to rush back to.
Beats: ★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★☆
Hooks: ★★★
Best Tracks: Intro / My City, Now Go, Can't U See, Get It, Pray
I don’t rate JD too highly, but at least he had his own sound. You can’t take that from him. This project, though, doesn’t hold up the same way. It blends into everything else with the same trap-influenced beats and the same mumble rappers delivering verses with all the energy of someone who just got bad news.
'Atlanta' is the first track with some spark, bringing a touch of soul as CeeLo croons smoothly. The follow-up stands out thanks to Ludacris dropping actual bars. It’s refreshing to hear some proper rapping. 'Turn Around' is passable, again mostly because the weaker rappers sit this one out. There's nothing this is adding to the saturated trap rap game.
Beats: ★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★
Hooks: ★★
Best Tracks: Atlanta, Ass Shake, Married to the Game