Babyface Ray – “Codeine Cowboy” review

New full-length LP & the 5th overall of Detroit rapper, songwriter & actor Babyface Ray. Starting out over a decade ago by joining the Team Eastside collective, he has since gone on to drop 5 mixtapes as well as 5 EPs & a well received debut within the last 6-7 years before turning heads worldwide & becoming one of the 2 biggest up-&-comers in the city next to Babytron, both of whom eventually landed spots in last year’s XXL Freshman Class. Coming off Mob along with Summer’s Mine & more recently The Kid That Did last fall, the Codeine Cowboy has pulled up to the spot.

“American Psycho” opens with some pianos & hi-hats talking about everyone in his gang blowing up whereas “Wavy Crete” featuring Lil Yachty finds the pair trading verses with one another for 2 & a half minutes. “Standing on Business” featuring LUCKI talks about wanting to rule the world referencing Pinky & the Brain from the Warner Bros.-owned Animaniacs franchise while “Kick the Cup Campaign” cautions against the dangers of opioid-laced lean.

Ironically enough, “Still Sippin’” featuring King Hendrick$ & Sauce Walka plays Devil’s advocate talking about consuming dirty Sprite with Sauce Walka have my favorite guest verse of the 2 just before “Can’t Be Me” reflects on the long way he came from bringing video games out of Blockbuster when those were still nationwide. “Netflix & Chill” talks about being emotional for that vibe over some pianos & 808s leading into the cloudy “I Know” featuring GT calls out those envious of their sauce.

“Lou Gram” assures that everything he sports is actually the way he lives as opposed to being an image while “Rich & Bored” featuring YTB Fatt talks about the type of people their homies are over a LulRose & tana instrumental. “Half Sleep” featuring Veeze unites both forces of the Detroit sound flexing that the Louis Vuitton/村上隆 collab can be caught when they pass by while “Sin Aire” featuring Samuel Shabazz suggests for others not to tell them how to breathe when they don’t even have air.

Cardo saves one of my favorite beats on Codeine Cowboy for “Elevator Music” continuing Disc 2 vents over doing wrong despite him living right as of recent times while the pop rap-inspired “Don’t Misuse Me” sends a warning to any woman looking to wrong him. “Hood Cry” featuring Mozzy was an entertaining gangsta rap single during the rollout while “Nobody’s Perfect” psychedelically feels like he’s leaving to reach new levels.

“That’s What They Told Me” cloudily nears the conclusion of the album by talking about others informing him of him getting hated on & when it comes to the romantic pop rap cuts, “You Just for Me” produced by Harry Fraud has gotta be my favorite from the instrumental to the swagger in Face’s delivery. “1 on 1 Talk with God” featuring Samuel Shabazz sends it all off with 1 more collaboration between the 2 that surpasses the other.

Simultaneously accentuating the familiar themes previously heard all over Babyface Ray’s discography up until this point & going deeper down other directions topically, I’d argue that Codeine Cowboy could become the most I’ve enjoyed a double album in the Detroit trap style since Babytron put out Bin Reaper 3: Old Testament & New Testament in late 2022/early 2023 respectively. Regardless of the guests like last time having a few whose performances don’t do much to grab my attention, Face still holds the throne of his city’s rap scene firmly & the production’s cloudier than a lot of his previous output.

Score: 3.5/5

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Babyface Ray – “The Kid That Did” review

Detroit rapper, songwriter & actor Babyface Ray is back a year after claiming the previous summer to be his for the 4th LP on his discography. Starting in 2014 by joining the Team Eastside collective, he has since gone on to drop 5 mixtapes as well as 5 EPs & a well received debut within the last 6-7 years before turning heads worldwide & becoming one of the 2 biggest up-&-comers in the city next to Babytron, both of whom eventually landed spots in last year’s XXL Freshman Class. Coming off Mob & Summer’s Mine which were both enjoyable follow-ups to Face, he’s looking to tell the story of The Kid That Did.

“Groupies & Goodfellas” is an atmospheric opener to the album talking about muhfuckas moving goofy this day in age whereas “Count Money” featuring Bossman DLow was a weak choice of a single from the decently synth-based Detroit trap production to the underwhelming guest performance talking about stacking chips. “Rubberband Man” tells us how he responds when people ask what his name is over an orchestral Detroit trap beat prior to “Shy Kid” hopping over more synth/Detroit trap crossovers to talk about pacin’ through the house tryna find some service.

Moving on from there, “I Need Some Motivation” maintains his hometown’s distinct take on trap music altogether in a heavenly fashion flexing that he be smelling like money while “Wavy Navy University” featuring Veeze finds the 2 over one of my favorite instrumentals on the album from tana representing both of their crews Navy Wavy & Wavy Gang leading into another atmospheric joint “Watching My Page” produced by Pooh Beatz talking about monitoring his pager.

“Delusional” featuring Hunxho takes a spacious turn thanks to LulRose talking about the rollercoaster that’s called life while another highlight “Cherish” works in some guitars & hi-hats courtesy of DJ Esco talking about being stuck in his ways since he never really had shit. Funny enough, “Stuck in My Ways” featuring King Hendrick$ fuses cloud rap & Detroit trap further elaborating on a theme from the previous joint, but then “Nights Like This” passionately reassures everyone that his success ain’t luck.

Carlo Anthony has another one of my favorite beats on “2 for 6” with it’s bell-heavy Detroit trap sound & the lyrics flexing that he ain’t ever going back going from having crack to plaques just before “Fish Tail Fish Scale” bringing the synthesizers back in the equation once more to talk about how he’s been fucking up cheese & getting more. “Legacy” featuring Doughboyz Clay gives off a soulful trap flare flexing that he wen’t from being broke to the man while “Money on My Mind” spaciously tells us he’s got paper on the brain.

“$1M Baby” continues to go for an airy trap vibe instrumentally confessing his mom been having heart attacks with the amount of money that Face be blowing while “Ghetto Boyz” featuring Peezy brings the pair together for a grimy ass Detroit trap banger. “High Off Life” dreamily reps for the team while “Guardian Angel” addresses his own personal type of angels assigned to protect & guide him. “The World is Yours” featuring Fabolous ends with this empowering Boi-1da beat staying away of suckas & ditching groupies.

Summer’s Mine was a dope switch-up from cold climes to extreme heat & The Kid That Did in comparison sheds light on the subtle details about what success really looks like. Face makes his point clearly know that he’s a realist instead of an entertainer & his sweet spot counters opulence & drama with cold hard facts over a decade of establishing himself in the 313, eventually landing a spot as one of the city’s most respected artists in recent memory.

Score: 3.5/5

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Babyface Ray – “Summer’s Mine” review

This is the 3rd full-length album from Detroit rapper, songwriter & actor Babyface Ray. Starting in 2014 by joining the Team Eastside collective, he has since gone on to drop 5 mixtapes as well as 5 EPs & a well received debut within the last 6-7 years before turning heads worldwide & becoming one of the 2 biggest up-&-comers in the city next to Babytron, both of whom eventually landed spots in this year’s XXL Freshman Class over the summer. But coming off of Mob last winter, Face’s declaring that the summer’s his.

The opener “ScarFACE” starts off with these synthesizers & claps refusing to stop under any circumstances whereas “Donda Bag” hooks up these piano melodies & hi-hats talking about coming through black on black. “Bosses Linking With Bosses” featuring Veeze swaps the chords out for more synths as both of Detroit’s biggest new stars detail being the bosses they truly are that is until the cloudy “Leaving London” cleverly talking about coming through regulating as if he’s Warren G.

“All Star Team” clarified that he’s far from a rookie with a more danceable appeal to the instrumental just before “Luh Tyler Flow” featuring Los & Nutty reincorporated the synthesizers talking about keeping your guard up watching out for vultures. “I75” gives off a more nocturnal feeling to the beat admitting spending too much time on the titular interstate, but then the spacey “Racks N” flexes his wealth & calling a chick’s bestie so he can hit it.

Meanwhile, “Skateland” instrumentally throws it back to the 80s a little telling those who stay talking negatively about him to boss down leading into “Life Full of Lies” jumps on top of some hi-hats & horns asking why he’d listen to anyone when their whole life is cap. “I Can’t Rap Foreva” plans his escape with a cloudier flare that is until “Dancing with the Devil, Pt. 2” is a superior sequel to one of the weakest joints on Face.

“Big Meech Holiday” featuring King Hendrick$ moodily calls to give a holiday for infamous Detroit drug trafficker Big Meech while the song “Jackboys” cautions to play this dirty game safe over a groovy beat. The crooning loop throughout “Fly Gods” is well flipped as well as Westside Gunn spits the best guest verse on the entire album talking about being old school & the 4th installment of “My Thoughts” sends of Face’s 3rd album on a more personal note.

Unlike Face seeing him stepping out of his comfort zone to experiment with new sounds & Mob showing a more introspective side to Ray, he pulled a 180° on Summer’s Mine & it’s one that I’m sure fans will keep in rotation until autumn comes around the corner in a couple months. Other than a hit or miss feature list, he goes for a warmer climate appropriately enough & the adamant confidence in his voice is as clear as it could possibly be.

Score: 3.5/5

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Babyface Ray – “Mob” review

Babyface Ray is a 31 year old rapper, songwriter & actor from Detroit, Michigan who emerged in 2014 by joining the Team Eastside collective. He has since gone on to drop 5 mixtapes as well as 5 EPs & a well received full-length debut within the last 6-7 years before turning heads worldwide & becoming one of the 2 biggest up-&-comers in the city next to Babytron, both of whom eventually landed spots in this year’s XXL Freshman Class over the summer. But Face is looking to end 2022 the way he started it by dropping a sophomore effort.

“Waves on Every Chain” is a lavish Detroit trap opener with Face dropping some braggadocio whereas “Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy” with Lil Durk is an off the wall banger coming through with some more menacing lyricism. “Rap Politics” has a more futuristic quality to the instrumental as Face talks about being a hustler goin’ corporate just before “Nice Guy” has a gloomier vibe courtesy of Pooh Beatz confessing that he’s tired of always trying to be generous.

Continuing from there with “Brand New Benz”, we have Face over some rattling hi-hats & bells showing off his new ride leading into the spacious “Vonnie” getting more personal this time around lyrically. Blxst comes into the picture for the R&B/trap duet “Spend It” talking about going on shopping sprees, but then “Bitch Wyd?” weaves some incredible background vocals thanks to Sledgren throwing in a bar referring to 16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena.

“Crazy World” brings a more atmospheric approach to the table showing what he had draw down while “Massacre” has a more darker tone to it down to Face & Doe Boy talking about all the real ones in the building to stand the fuck up. The harp through “Masterpiece” is amazingly powerful as he flexes his left wrist while “Wavy Gang Immortal” with King Hendrick$ & Samuel Shabazz finds the trio over some hi-hats & eerily croooning vocals talking about learning from your favorites.

“Code + Love Me Some More” is a well sequenced 2-parter as Face gets on the more romantic side on the mic while “Spill My Cup” somberly admits that he’s been sensing hate from people that he genuinely cares about. The song “Corner Suite” is more synth-heavy sound to boast while the penultimate track “Hallelujah” with GMO Stax has a more suspenseful feel to it talking about staying in motion. “Famous” though delivers a piano/trap closer opening up on where he’s at in his life at this point.

I’ll admit that I had my bit of doubt going into this album & I personally prefer Face more, but I gotta say that I came away from Mob to be a fine sophomore effort. The features are kind of hit or miss yet one of the 2 best artists in the 313 right now above Babytron succeeds in Face’s goal to further establish himself with his more personal lyrics & the production continuing to expand on a diverse range of sounds.

Score: 3.5/5

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Babyface Ray – “Face” review

This is the sophomore album from Detroit rapper Babyface Ray. Coming up as a member of the Team Eastside collective, he’s gone on to drop 5 mixtapes & 5 EPs within the last 6-7 years before turning heads worldwide & becoming one of the biggest up-&-comers in the city signing to EMPIRE Distribution roughly 11 months ago making his his debut on the label with Unfuckwitable. But with his born day approaching in a few weeks, he’s celebrating a little bit early by releasing Face.

The album starts off with Sosshouse Records’ very own Kura sampling the 1Republic cut “Apologize” for the conclusion of the “My Thoughts” trilogy whereas “6 Mile Show” finds him & Icewear Vezzo tossing braggadocious rhymes back & forth on top of a ghoulish Southside beat. “Sincerely Face” has a bit a hyphy feel to it with some alluring piano chords spitting nonstop about how everything’s a profit leading into the smoky “Tunnel Vision” proclaiming being locked into such.

Meanwhile on “Overtime”, we have Ray delivering a cloudy love ballad with Yung Lean on the hook & Carlo Anthony behind the boards sounding like he really doesn’t wanna be there just before G Herbo tags along for the extravagant “Blood, Sweat & Tears” talking about how their fame didn’t come overnight. “Go Yard” has a more chilled out vibe with the help of DJ Esco reminding listeners that he’s living better these days, but then “Me, Wife & Kids” talks about blowin’ money fast on top of a woozy Pooh Beatz instrumental.

“Idols” goes into a funkier yet cloudy route detailing him looking up to the thugs while “Same Pain” works in some catchy background vocals talking about everything being different from the day prior. 42 Dugg comes in the picture for the piano/hi-hat laced “Let Me Down” calling out those who disappointed them & the horns throughout “Steak N Lobster” are incredible as he gets back in his flexing bag.

“Needed Some Love” marks a return to a more hyphy-influenced sound talking about the Bonnie to his Clyde while “M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches)” has a bit of a Neptunes influence to the beat & the title of it pretty much says it all as far as subject matter goes. “Dancing with the Devil” with Pusha T was a stellar lead single as OG Parker takes things into a more moodier turn pondering if people would treat them the same if they ain’t had shit whereas the brief piano ballad “Palm Angels, Palms Itching” undeniably wears his heart on his sleeve lyrically.

Sledgren works in some flutes for the drug anthem “Kush & Codeine” with none other than Wiz Khalifa while the song “Seduction” comes off as a hilariously bad country trap cut trying to get romantic. The penultimate track “Richard Flair” named after 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 16-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 6-time WWE United States Champion, 6-time WWE tag team champion & 9-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair has a more demonic tone to the beat talking about treating lames like Air 1’s prior to “Motown Music” sending things off with a glossy tune saying he’s gonna get this money & stay humble.

“A1 Since Day 1” gets the deluxe going by reaffirming his legitimacy from the very beginning while “Spending Spree” featuring Veeze produced by DY finds the 2 talking about fucking around & blowing everything they had. “Big Estate” shows y’all some shit that you ain’t ever seen coming really heavy with it while “100s” talks about turning up the city & fucking up the whole summer.

Lucki joins Face on the highlight “Back N Action” to discuss being in action once more while “Congratulations” featuring Lil Yachty gives a toast to everyone who made it in the rap game up to this point. “Family > Money” reminds everyone with the help of Pooh Beatz that real ones prioritize their own families more than the paycheck itself & “R.I.P.” rounds out the bonus track run by confessing he feels numb with all the losses in his life personally.

From the moment I heard Unfuckwitable last year, I knew he was continue to go up from there & Face definitely lived up to the expectations I had going into it. I like how he steps out of his comfort zone by experimenting with new sounds even though not all of them stick the landing & letting a wider audience in as to who he is.

Score: 3.5/5

Babyface Ray – “Unfuckwitable” review

Babyface Ray is a 30 year old rapper from Detroit, Michigan who came up in 2015 as a member of the Team Eastside collective. Since then he’s released 5 mixtapes, a collaborative effort with fellow Team Eastside colleague Peezy & 4 EPs. But with his birthday being the previous weekend & his profile ever-growing, Ray is celebrating by dropping a follow-up to For You in the form of a 5th EP ahead of a full-length debut.

The EP starts with “Real N****s Don’t Rap”, where Ray talks about his authenticity over a woozy trap beat. The next song “If You Know You Know” with Moneybagg Yo finds the duo talking about never trippin’ over a hyphy instrumental while the track “Tahoe” talks about live being good over an capacious FNZ beat. The song “Like Daisy Lane” gets braggadocious over a vigorous instrumental while the track “Allowance” with Kash Doll sees the 2 talking about bad bitches over a trap beat from Hit-Boy with some ghoulish bells. The penultimate track “Pink 10s” with EST G finds the duo on their gangsta shit over an instrumental with some prominent woodwinds & synths whereas the closer “Change You” talks about going up too fast over a tearjerking beat.

I’ve been paying attention to Babyface Ray for past few years now & this new EP is another reminder of his evolution. The production sounds more crisp in comparison to his previous efforts & his songwriting has gotten catchier. Can’t wait to hear what he has in store on an upcoming full-length.

Score: 3.5/5