This is the 3rd full-length album from Detroit rapper, songwriter & actor Babyface Ray. Starting in 2014 by joining the Team Eastside collective, he has since gone on to drop 5 mixtapes as well as 5 EPs & a well received debut within the last 6-7 years before turning heads worldwide & becoming one of the 2 biggest up-&-comers in the city next to Babytron, both of whom eventually landed spots in this year’s XXL Freshman Class over the summer. But coming off of Mob last winter, Face’s declaring that the summer’s his.
The opener “ScarFACE” starts off with these synthesizers & claps refusing to stop under any circumstances whereas “Donda Bag” hooks up these piano melodies & hi-hats talking about coming through black on black. “Bosses Linking With Bosses” featuring Veeze swaps the chords out for more synths as both of Detroit’s biggest new stars detail being the bosses they truly are that is until the cloudy “Leaving London” cleverly talking about coming through regulating as if he’s Warren G.
“All Star Team” clarified that he’s far from a rookie with a more danceable appeal to the instrumental just before “Luh Tyler Flow” featuring Los & Nutty reincorporated the synthesizers talking about keeping your guard up watching out for vultures. “I75” gives off a more nocturnal feeling to the beat admitting spending too much time on the titular interstate, but then the spacey “Racks N” flexes his wealth & calling a chick’s bestie so he can hit it.
Meanwhile, “Skateland” instrumentally throws it back to the 80s a little telling those who stay talking negatively about him to boss down leading into “Life Full of Lies” jumps on top of some hi-hats & horns asking why he’d listen to anyone when their whole life is cap. “I Can’t Rap Foreva” plans his escape with a cloudier flare that is until “Dancing with the Devil, Pt. 2” is a superior sequel to one of the weakest joints on Face.
“Big Meech Holiday” featuring King Hendrick$ moodily calls to give a holiday for infamous Detroit drug trafficker Big Meech while the song “Jackboys” cautions to play this dirty game safe over a groovy beat. The crooning loop throughout “Fly Gods” is well flipped as well as Westside Gunn spits the best guest verse on the entire album talking about being old school & the 4th installment of “My Thoughts” sends of Face’s 3rd album on a more personal note.
Unlike Face seeing him stepping out of his comfort zone to experiment with new sounds & Mob showing a more introspective side to Ray, he pulled a 180° on Summer’s Mine & it’s one that I’m sure fans will keep in rotation until autumn comes around the corner in a couple months. Other than a hit or miss feature list, he goes for a warmer climate appropriately enough & the adamant confidence in his voice is as clear as it could possibly be.
Score: 3.5/5
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