This is the 3rd full-length album from up-&-coming Atlanta, Georgia recording artist Hardrock. Getting his start over 2 years ago off his debut EP Y.N.S. (Young N***a Shit), he would continue to build up anticipation by delivering 6 more EPs ahead of the commercial debut LP Next! & the breakout sophomore effort 808 Speaker Knockerz. The latter of which contains some of his best tracks to date like “H.Y.L.M.N.? (How You Like Me Now)”, “Madonna”, “New WRLD” & “Luigi Mansion”. So when 1of1 was announced out of the blue merely days ago, one could only go into it expecting him to take his potential to new heights.
“poet” starts the album with a drumless string instrumental declaring himself as exactly that whereas “bleh” was not only the perfect choice for a single, but it’s another one of Hardrock’s best songs to date from the synth-heavy instrumental to the lyrics about being as rich as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban & how everyone he knows loves to smoke weed. The title track works in a whistling trap beat discussing his uniqueness, but then “marathon” goes for a more futuristic direction with Cxdy of Internet Money Records’ help talking about not going down & running this money.
The luxurious piano chords & hi-hats throughout the DJ Phat hosted “kickdoors” are an ear-worm as he looks to slide through & wet your shit up just before “darkness” has this retro video game-inspired loop with hi-hats & sub-bass talking about chasing his shadows. SahBabii delivers the album’s only feature on “jansport” despite it being ok compared to the mellow ass instrumental & Hardrock’s own performances leading into “WA\VE” becoming another show-stealing moment much like “bleh” except he makes it clear he don’t have smoke with nobody over an off the wall rage beat from both BNYX & F1LTHY of the Working on Dying collective.
“eye to eye” goes for a hazier vibe produced by Nosaint from Vanguard Music Group admitting that he thought he was on the same page as someone else until he was sadly mistaken while “promises” is yet another highlight by making a 180 as ReidMD brings in a joyful synth lead & Hardrock pulling off the same remarkable vocal utilizations that made 808 Speaker Knockerz so special to me. “not afraid” confesses he has no fear of death whatsoever over some solemn chords while the trillwave-inflicted “range/era” admits he doesn’t think this is love.
To start the final leg of the album, “outofplace” has a bassy albeit cloudy beat owning up to his wrongdoings while the song “barry” pulls from dance music a little bit sonically talking about being up in this bitch even though he’s still slimy. The penultimate track “complicated” with 1 more airy pop rap cut revisiting the theme of what doesn’t feel like genuine love & “penny” serves as a nocturnally cloudy closer talking about a codeine dream he had that must be rooted in some meaning.
808 Speaker Knockerz was a fantastic introduction to Hardrock for a lot of people including myself & 1of1 continues to expand on the potential that he showed everyone last summer on the same pedestal. The production incorporates elements of pop rap into the cloudy trap sound of the last album with the rage/plugg undertones still in place, his songwriting is continuing to improve & the way he regularly switches up is incredibly distinct.
Score: 4/5
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