Lyrical Lemonade is a multimedia company founded by Illinois music video director, videographer, businessman & music promoter Cole Bennett. For over a decade now, he has directed visuals for some of the biggest names in hip hop from the late Juice WRLD to even Eminem & Drake. I’ve even experienced a couple people likening me to Bennett at least a few times over the years along with Anthony Fantano & I’ve never spoken about it publicly, but since I might as well since here we are. The Needle Drop, I can see 110% & I’ve stated numerous times that he’s the reason why I started writing reviews myself. Lyrical Lemonade on the other hand, no I never understood that. Primarily because I write music reviews as opposed to directing music videos for other artists & the fact that every video Lyrical Lemonade puts out always gets 1M views within the first 24 hours. No disrespect intended whatsoever because I’m actually a fan of Cole’s videography myself, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this. Anyway as for the very debut compilation in front of our very eyes that’s been in the making for 5 years, Def Jam Recordings is helping back All is Yellow.

“Fly Away” by J.I.D, Sheck Wes & Ski Mask the Slump God starts the comp with a thunderous trap instrumental expressing their desire to grow wings sometimes so they can do simply that whereas “Guitar in My Room” by KiD CuDi & Lil Durk shoots for a more stripped-back vibe trying to tell everyone who they really are. “Say Ya Grace” by Chief Keef & Lil Yachty mixes a crooning soul sample with hi-hats referencing to the Superman franchise owned by the Warner Bros. subsidiary DC Entertainment just before “This My Life” by The Kid LAROI, Lil Skies & Lil Tecca experiments with drill music talking about how it’s all timing.

Cochise, Denzel Curry, Juicy J, Lil B & Teezo Touchdown all join forces on “First Night” showing off multiple beat-switches admitting that they just wanna fuck that is until “Special” by Aminé, Latto & Swae Lee talks about wishing they could un-love someone on top of this crooning trap beat. “With the Fish” by $not & the late 6 Dogs tells y’all to meet them at the mountain top over a cloudy instrumental, but then “Doomsday” by Cordae & the late Juice WRLD goes back & forth with one another sampling “Role Model” by Eminem

It only makes sense for Em to do “Doomsday, Pt. 2” as the sample from the predecessor is slowed down & he makes it clear he’s been at J. Cole’s current level for quite some time & asking who had the 2nd best verse in “Forever” when I can answer that by saying Lil Wayne prior to “Fallout” by Gus Dapperton, Joey Bada$$ & Lil Yachty shifting gears into indie/alt-pop turf with additional elements of pop rap & synthpop describing a love that’s death row while “Equilibrium” by Babytron & G Herbo brings this luscious trap beat into the fold chilling with their millions waitin’ ’til the billions come.

“Hello There” by Black Kray, Corbin & Lil Tracy is this underwhelming emo rap/alternative R&B talking about being ghosts inside their exes’ beds interpolating “I Miss You” by blink-182 while “Hummingbird” by SahBabii, Teezo Touchdown & UMI taking a settler approach promising to wait by the door telling you all their stories facing the sun. “Stop Giving Me Advice” by Dave & Jack Harlow acoustically ends the compilation on a self-explanatory note & of course Dave outrapping Harlow.

When it comes to curating albums, Westside Gunn & Metro Boomin’ been doing what DJ Khaled thinks he’s been doing this whole time & the one that Cole Bennett gives us here as much as I enjoy his music videos myself is just okay as a full-listening experience. The production is fine as far as mainstream pop rap goes, it’s that the performances from the guests themselves are hit or miss. Another compilation in the future was hinted at & hopefully it’ll be a cut above, but I’ll take the highlights until then.

Score: 3/5

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