Lil Poppa is a 25 year old rapper from Jacksonville, Florida emerging in 2019 off his full-length debut Almost Normal followed by the sophomore effort Blessed, I Guess to more mixed responses. Heavy is the Head & Half Man, Half Vamp went on to be received more favorably to the point where Yo Gotti signed him to his Interscope Records imprint Collective Music Group & is making Poppa’s 4th album his official major label debut.
“Reintroduction” is a melodically drumless opener to get us started reintroducing himself to the CMG fanbase whereas “Wee” take a summery trap route instrumentally showing a more carefree side to himself. “Stop Grieving” featuring Baby Drill cloudily talks about the fact that bitches will leave with you nothing in the end just before the guitar-driven “Nowhere Fast” confesses to putting up with her bullshit because he wants her.
Meanwhile on “Bust Fire”, we have Poppa turning the rock trap hybrids up to 11 thanks to Dez Wright acknowledging that things’ll never be the same again & he knows it leading into “Feel the Same When You’re Sober” featuring DeJ Loaf has this pop rap ring to it tackling the themes of romance. “Pin a Tail” hooks up these piano chords throughout flexing that he got bulletproof car doors like Pablo Escobar, but then “Untamed” featuring a reunited Boosie Badazz & Webbie breaks down the untamable personalities all 3 of them possess.
“Quiet Storm” finishes the 1st half of the album on some delicate trap shit putting his trust in these guns while “More Than Enough” talks about feeling the stab wound from being betrayed getting deeper. “No Sympathy” drearily reveals he’s the reason these pussies be laid out on the ground while “IDK What to Say” featuring Blac Youngsta & Spinabenz keeps the trap vibes going promising the streets ain’t safe.
Nearing the end of Wee Are Who We Are, the song “Scared of It” hops over keys & hi-hats talking about showing love to those who might bust his head while “Xoxo” gives hugs & kisses assuring he don’t love these bitches. “3am in Baltimore” featuring YG Teck finds the 2 telling us what goes down in the early hours of the titular Maryland city while the 2-parter “New You < I Hate Poppa Too” breaks down the new him & people who hate him. Lastly, the closer “Letter to Jook” finishes the LP with an open letter to Poppa’s homie.
Poppa as of me writing this happens to be the most recent addition to the CMG roster & his debut under Yo Gotti’s mentorship refines himself artistically compared to his earlier material. The southern trap & pop rap production that the Floridian artist became known for gets refined conceptually building itself around understanding & acceptance.
Score: 3.5/5
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