This is the 5th extended play from Atlanta, Georgia producer & rapper MexikoDro. A member of the BeatPluggz, he would later embark on a solo career with Down Bad as well as De Mayo & Quatro respectively. In almost a decade he’s also produced tracks for the likes of Maxo Kream, Drake, Bktherula, Smokingskul, Tony Shhnow & Diorvsyou. His full-length debut Still Goin’ under Republic Records last November was widely praised as his finest material yet & Stayed Down looks to continue the momentum.
“Loser” begins with a cloudy trap beat talking about spending his free time these days trying to heal from past trauma whereas “Rest” gives off a dirty south vibe instrumentally explaining that he’s nothing like the rest. “Knuckle” works in some synthesizers talking about how he had to quit so much since he used to struggle just before “To Go” featuring Key Glock finds the pair speaking of picking up the phone whenever money calls them.
Meanwhile on “Down”, we have Dro looking back at the days when no one wanted to help him when he was at his lowest over a plugg beat leading into the triumphant “My Girl” featuring ManMan Savage talking about the women they’re dating being independent since they have their own shit. “Free Flight” admits that he’s been going through some mental health shit lately while “Letter” recalls when his mother used to write him back when he was incarcerated.
“Mail” wraps up the final moments of Stayed Down talking about going from being chased by the cops to going outside to check his mailbox while “Bacardi” describes not thinking the same ever since he made all the money he’s earned over a horn-inflicted trap instrumental. The closing track “Flat Shoals” spends the concluding 2 minutes of the EP talking about picking himself up from the dirt & this girl he’s seeing distancing herself from the Hart County area.
Ever since signing to a major label, MexikoDro has spent nearly 8 months further establishing himself as an artist than merely a producer & Stayed Down dethrones Down Bad to become my new favorite solo EP of his. I’d still love to hear him fully produce an entire body of work by himself, but I respect that he’s continuing to take a backseat in that field & specifically him bringing in a couple features to break up the predecessor’s monotony.
Score: 4/5
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