Chicago, Illinois rapper 13° making his full-length studio debut. Starting out a couple years ago off his first couple mixtapes Urban Junkie & Metropolitan respectively, he would go on to follow both of those up with Uptown Dropout as well as Clique City & it’s sequel. His debut EP Cyber Sundayz a little over a couple months ago caught the attention of Island Records, who recently signed the Chi-Town up-&-comer to make a wider exposure on Black Fridayz.
“Intercontinental” was a boisterous trap intro advising that anyone who doesn’t give a fuck about up should from hereon out whereas “Rooftopz” hooks up some synthesizers to talk about the love this woman is giving him makes him feel right at home. The title track lets everyone in on exactly how chaotic his mind can be just before “Fake Killa” talks about nobody saving him if he goes the wrong way.
Pop rap, trap & future bass all collide during the single “Champain” feeling like a king when he steps in the room while “Lil Mama” encourages the apple of his eye to put on the dress he got her & get geeked. “Chiraq Child” featuring lil2posh finds the pair coming together to talk about growing up in the Windy City leading into the standout “Palace” produced by BNYX of Working on Dying flexing his current status.
“Spike Snapback” starts the final leg of Black Fridayz by keeping a firm grip on the gas pedal while “I’m Turnt” psychedelically talks about his life being lit these days. “Exotic Strippaz” throws it back to the Clique City era while “Ghetto Hipster” talks about being fashionable & hood at the same time. The closer “Drive Safe” finishes 13’s debut pleading to stop telling him to be patient when he’s losing patience.
Allegedly his final hip hop project, it’s hard for me to say what’s next for 13° but what I can tell you is that Black Fridayz maintains the trap/pop rap fusions that made Clique City 2 so special & turns it up to 11 now that he’s got Island Records supporting him. The production feels modern & nostalgic at the same time, taking up the half hour of his major label debut to reach a wider crowd using distinctive flows.
Score: 3.5/5
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