Brand new sophomore effort from West Palm Beach, Florida rapper/producer vax. Someone who’s gone on to drop 8 extended plays since 2023 after beginning to make music at the age of 12 ranging from New Jazz to Forgive My Sins & Pyramid Scheme, with Is This You? following my personal favorite of the bunch Throne. Coming off #B4BlueDawn & the full-length debut Blue Dawn as well as the Steeze EP & B4VXN, the main course to the latter is finally ready to be served after several delays
“Hold Me Over” opens up with a hypertrap instrumental pleading for his bae to not switch up on him whereas the self-produced “Angel” kinda has some digicore undertones to it asking whether or not this woman can be honest with his love. “Obey” talks about doing whatever the individual he’s addressing wanted him to do without asking any questions while “Mob” lets Hostile handle the sole verse, painting imagery of the gangsta lifestyle.
Meanwhile on “Nation”, we have vax coming through with a 2-parter moonwalking like the late King of Pop Michael Jackson & aiming at heads leading into the rage-inducing “1 4 Ya” talking about getting money like he’s some sorta mad man. “Move Right” leans towards the digicore side of things again explaining that he can’t get up because he’s fried as fuck just before “Drop the Act” sends a clear message directed at people fakin’ the funk.
“Tearin’ Up” featuring Onyx77 kicks off the 2nd half of Vaxination realizing the ones who they were confident of being their soulmates not caring enough while “Correct” talks about having the ability to fuck your bitch by sending her a single text message. “Tajin” flexes how hot he is & his love for all bad bitches across the world regardless of skin color but after “Iconic” boasts his legendary status, “Take My Number” asks if this girl would be ok with having his digits.
Cochise saves my favorite guest appearance for last during “Eastside” representing the alligator state they call home while “Turn Off the World” interpolates “New Wave” by Sam Gellaitry when the hook comes around, yearning to cancel out everyone near his vicinity. “Luck” confesses the feeling of his fortune diminishing when it seems like he stumbled across a pot of gold & “End of the Day” sends off the album talking about walking away with his heart wrapped around a noose.
The averageness of B4VXN & Steeze sparked some concerns heading into Vaxination, but thankfully I’d put it above both of those EPs & behind Blue Dawn to claim the bragging rights of becoming my 2nd favorite thing vax has done all year. The production predominantly balances digicore & rage other than some secondary influences of pop rap although I feel like it’s not as cohesive as his debut was back in April.
Score: 3.5/5
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