Smiley is a 25 year old rapper from Toronto, Ontario, Canada starting out as a member of the Garden Gang. He would go on to drop his debut mixtape Buy or Bye in the spring of 2018, which was followed up with 2 EPs & even a couple more tapes before local superstar Drake signed him to OVO Sound a little over 2 years ago already. As for his OVO debut Buy or Bye 2, it didn’t really do all that much in catching my interest or standing out enough to the point where I’d go back to it. But ahead of his 26th birthday next Thursday, I went into Smiley’s 3rd EP albeit 2nd body of work under the 6 God’s wing hoping he would surpass my expectations a little.

“Moderation” is an airy trap opener with Smiley talking about motivating a hoe after taking ecstasy whereas “Benzi Boys” works in some piano melodies & hi-hats as Tay Keith cooking up quite possibly the best instrumental on the whole entire EP preferring Mercedes-Benz over Honda, which rightfully so in my opinion. “Fast Route” goes full-blown drill talking about waking up in the morning to count hundreds just before “Nicky 9 Door” takes a syrupy trap approach details beating it up nice because fuck the plug.

Meanwhile, “How Far” gives off a more triumphant vibe talking about going from his Garden Gang days to being a protege of one of the biggest superstars in the world is profound although it’s way too short. Also, the LeBron James reference during the hook doesn’t do much for me either personally as dope as he is on the court. “Eternals” on the other hand has a hazier trap approach promising tondo it just like his mentor did with eyes green like Jaylen despite the fact that a good chunk of the OVO roster doesn’t really stand out.

The song “You Went Ghost” shifts into cloudy trap territory basically calling out someone that basically did him dirty as fuck while the penultimate track “Cut Her Off” brings in some hi-hats & a vocal sample drowning heavily in reverb talking about having to severe ties with a bitch because he feels like he’s at the point now where he’s better off without her in his life. “Long Nights” is a more stripped back choice of a closer laced by Cubeatz as he makes it known to his new bitch who wants to celebrate that he ain’t in the mood to do so right now.

I’m not trying to hate on OVO because I do appreciate Popcaan for already being a dancehall veteran on top of enjoying PARTYNEXTDOOR’s early stuff, Majid Jordan’s 2nd EP albeit OVO debut A Place Like This & lastly dvsn’s debut album Sept. 5th respectively. And outside a few flashes in the pan, Smiley further proves himself as the weakest link on the label. The production’s ok, but his voice isn’t all that commanding accompanied by songwriting that I’d consider mediocre at best & the lows are cringeworthy.

Score: 1.5/5

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