Future – “Mixtape Pluto” review

Atlanta, Georgia rapper & singer/songwriter Future finally giving us his 14th mixtape. Coming up as a member of the Dungeon Family thanks to his cousin Rico Wade of Organized Noize, he officially made his debut in 2012 with Pluto & would later follow it up with a hot streak of modern day trap essentials like like Honest, Monster, Beast Mode & my personal favorite of his: D.S. 2 (Dirty Sprite 2). However since 2017, Future has mostly been painting himself in a corner & prioritizing quantity over quality. I mean sure HNDRXX took a more sensual approach & SUPER SLIMEY showed a pretty great chemistry with fellow trap trailblazer Young Thug, but Beast Mode 2 was a step down from the predecessor & he got with Juice WRLD to put out a collab tape that literally should’ve never happened: WRLD on Drugs. Finally at the very beginning of that next year, The WIZRD was just passable even though it showed NO artistic evolution whatsoever & Save Me was a decent attempt at being more vulnerable, High Off Life admirably found him staying true to himself in the midst of trying new things & I Never Liked You put the toxicity claims about him to rest. Metro Boomin’ reunited with Future for We Don’t Trust You & We Still Don’t Trust You, refining Pluto’s previous double album FUTURE HNDRXX & becoming his best since D.S. 2 (Dirty Sprite 2). 5 months later, Pluto’s continuing his best run in a decade with what DY said was originally a 56 Nights sequel.

“Teflon Don” is this trap opener produced by both Southside & London on da Track talking about beating the 1st case like John Gotti & being the boss calling shots whereas “Lil Demon” flexes his bitch a princess cut over a synths & hi-hats. “Ski” gives off a psychedelic trap vibe thanks to Smatt Sertified with co-production from his mentor Southside to talk about being ready to slide while “Ready to Cook” makes it clear that he’s prepared to make some dope over this solemn Wheezy instrumental.

Meanwhile on “Plutoski” we have Future trappin’ out the trap itself over this suspenseful ass trap beat just before DJ Champ & Taurus help him get personal with the highlight “Too Fast” discussing moving quicker in life than he should be. “Ocean” instrumentally radiates a haunting atmosphere in time for Halloween next month courtesy of Honorable C.N.O.T.E. & Dez Wright admitting he has enough tears to fill the ocean for all these losses took in this shit, but then the grisly “Press the Button” gets back on the road with the thangs & in the cut with the gang.

“MJ” woozily ends the first half of the tape getting activated from the monkey juice on the verge of going crazy the way she take the sex with the help of Romil Hemnani prior to DY helping Southside embrace his distinctly known gangster, bombastic, gritty, rambunctious & menacing trap sound for “Brazzier” throwing up gang signs & going brazy. “South of France” featuring Travis Scott on the remix hard-hittingly details his expensive lifestyle & drug use while the ethereal “Surfing a Tsunami” that Che Pope co-produced advises not to be careless with this rich behavior.

The sampling of “The Hills” by The Weeknd mixed with hi-hats throughout “Made My Hoe Faint” are pretty distinct recounting his numerous monetary achievements & shows of wealth while the druggy “Told My” talks feeling higher than Jesus. “Oath” hooks up background vocals & hi-hats breaking the law while “Lost My Dog” finds FNZ & ATL Jacob stripping the drums for a Rico Wade tribute. “Aye Say Gang” ends Mixtape Pluto with a bassy trap joint motivating the young homies.

Continuing his best run since the mid-2010s, Future comes off the 2 best albums in his discography in almost a decade We Don’t Trust You & We Still Don’t Trust You for a tribute to his late uncle & mentor alongside the era from which he emerged sounding like André 3000 under the Meathead stage name. The production mostly handled by Southside is much darker than his So Icey Boyz counterpart Metro allowing Plutoski to take it back to his roots.

Score: 4.5/5

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Babystaydown – “Hate da Way Um Livin’” review

This is the 7th EP albeit Cegular Records debut from Athens, Georgia recording artist Babystaydown. Introducing himself off his debut EP PL Top Recruits as well as 1,350 and Drugz Sex & Money, the latter of which spawned a sequel of it’s own this spring succeeding 17 & preceding his final independent release Genesis later in the summer. Signing to Whyceg’s newly formed Sony Music imprint not too long ago, he’s ready to artistically take himself to the next level on Hate da Way Um Livin’.

We get a bubbly plugg instrumental on the intro “Over It” promising his hoe that they’re gonna smash once he returns from the road whereas “FaceTime” brings a cloudier trap vibe to the beat talking about there being no cap in his raps unlike all these other clowns. “Hijack” gets geeked up for 134 seconds taking the plugg route instrumentally & after “Mink Coat” talks about his preference in freaky women, “M.I.A.” produced by Ayelavish!, SOULJASPIRITS & Whyceg ends the first half explaining that he’s living better.

“Deceiving” starts the backend of Hate da Way Um Livin’ with a minimally atmospheric beat talking about a woman that he feels like having mileage whilst being self-aware of the swindling advantage looks can have while “Creole” embraces a pluggnb direction talking about wearing ア・ベイシング・エイプ shirt & Ksubi jeans. “Doomed” yearns to give a bitch shrooms & take her to the room so he can smash her leading into the title track finishing with confidence that he’ll be ok.

All that hustling Babystaydown has done on SoundCloud these past 16 months have finally paid off not simply based off the fact that he’s signed now, but also because Hate da Way Um Livin’ surpasses every single one of his earlier extended plays as the greatest one of them all musically. The plugg production has elevated significantly since the Athens artist began & his gangsta-themed lyrics have gotten sharper.

Score: 4/5

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Pyrex Whippa – “Sincerely, Rex” review

Pyrex Whippa is a 27 year old producer, rapper, singer/songwriter & audio engineer from Baltimore, Maryland notable for being a member of the seminal trap production team 808 Mafia. It should also be said that this isn’t even the first body of work that he’s put out, releasing a debut EP Separation Anxiety in the fall of 2019 & having his mentor Southside produce his 2nd one Blood on the Hills roughly 13 months later to more positive reception followed by Thanks for Holding On & Guns ‘N Romance. Sizzle gave us his full-length debut album Break the Silence under Epic Records last month & Rex is following suit.

“Burning Bridges” starts the album better than I thought it would singing over a groovy, drumless instrumental telling the homies he got them whereas “Screamin’” produced by Smatt Sertified takes the cavernous trap route calling out a hoe for playing with his love & couldn’t see it from the very beginning. “Met Gala” hooks up a reversed sample & hi-hats promising to get the ladder instead of the table & “Baby” further puts an emphasis on atmosphere going crazy for his new girl.

As for Unfair”, we have another pop rap/trap cut asking this woman how she gon’ do him the way she did since it was incredibly undeserving while “No Mercy” strips the drums again hopping over a bare guitar displaying the merciless side of himself. “Void” keeps it drumless dissing an ex because of the fact that her heart doesn’t make a sound & his shakes the ground, but then “DND” brings the hi-hats in again talking about the mode he’s in.

“Vacuum Sealer” goes for a spacious, bassy vibe to the beat discussing shit getting musty in the mansion & it’s so hard to miss this bitch the way he misses those racks leading into the plentiful trap banger “Wat I’m On” talking about making it out of the trenches & reaching the upper echelon. “All Wrong” despite the cloudily instrumental has some of the weaker subject matter throughout the LP that is until “Buddha Man” has a delicate trap tone generally shrugging off those treating him average.

The song “Skeletons” removes the drums from the equation encouraging the people in his life to do the right thing by grabbing his hand when he falls while the acoustic “All 4 U” sings about leaving it how it is after fucking around with his heart. “Exhale” finally closes Sincerely, Rex in the form of 1 last trap joint letting a homie with mob ties know that he’s refusing to let him leave on him tryna play it cool with ice in his veins.

Break the Silence as a commercial debut for Southside was disappointing compared to the Trap Ye mixtapes since his lyrical performances weren’t the best except I did appreciate the risk of departing from the signature sound that the 808 Mafia co-founder is known for. Pyrex’s debut here happens to be the better of the 2 surprisingly. The production here is more interesting bringing balance to drumless & trap displaying his life on wax.

Score: 3.5/5

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Glokk40Spaz – “Da Real Oso” review

Atlanta, Georgia recording artist Glokk40Spaz coming off his acclaimed collab EP with OsamaSon earlier this summer 3vil Reflection to release his 4th album. Emerging off the Don’t Get Took Off mixtape trilogy & the debut EP Spaz&B, he would also go on to drop his very first LP 2 Glokks followed by the sophomore effort Baby Whoa with both of them receiving quite a bit of acclaim. Took the Biggest Risk distributed by Columbia Records was a great major label debut for EBG Records founder & is commemorating the 1-year anniversary of the latter by dropping Da Real Oso.

“My Last Breath” is this rage-inducing opener to Glokk40 laced with Four3va shooting the Glock like the Dallas Mavericks brushing off any interest in recruits whereas “Pothead & Stoner” produced by F1LTHY of Working on Dying & OPM BABI who did a lot of the album maintains the hypertrap sound talking about being high as fuck. “505” bombastically warns that shit’ll be getting scary once you enter the trap & “How Vampz Feel” goes plugg thanks to Internet Money Records in-house producer Synthetic to talk about rolling the dice since the streets be a gamble.

Given by the title, “Let’s Get Active” has an aggressive tone altogether fucking all y’all shit up by himself while “Mystikal Draco’s (Psychotic)” hops over another rage beat talking about his psycho tendencies although the Aaron Rodgers bar felt awkward since his 1st season as a New York Jet lasted as long as former WWE Tag Team Champion & WWE Hardcore Champion Shane McMahon’s return at WrestleMania XXXIX this spring. Very much happy to hear Shane’s son Declan being a RB for the Indiana Hoosiers with NFL potential though.

“Copperhead” keeps the dense, buzzing synth work with repetitive chord progressions & melodic synth leads sliding on the block with the demons later referencing 16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena just before “You Not Da Only 1” hunts the opps like animals over synthesizers from Trgc.

The rage gets turned back up once again on “No Español” so he can catch a flip leading into “BLV Anthem” rocks out over more detailed hypertrap production hoppin’ in the whip & cranking that bitch up without a key. Who Don’t Love Money?” dabbles with plugg 1 more time detailing the gangsta lifestyle, but then “I’m Oso Shiesty” wraps things up raging again reaffirming that he really is in fact Da Real Oso.

Almost a year to the day where he Took the Biggest Risk & only 3 months since 3vil Reflection, the 2nd album that Glokk40 has released since joining a major label elevates himself further artistically where I feel like this is his best album to date. His performances are equally cutthroat than they were last September & most importantly, the production mostly handled by F1LTHY consistently sticks the latter’s signature rage sound diverting from Glokk40’s dark plugg roots.

Score: 4/5

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Pradabagshawty – “10 Freak Ho’s” review

This is the 3rd extended play, the 2nd of 2024 & Cegular Records debut from Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia rapper Pradabagshawty. Introducing himself last summer off his debut EP Bloxk Addiktion, he would go on to follow it up with 1 Love a few months earlier until Whyceg signed him to his very own Sony Music imprint not too long afterwards alongside Babystaydown. Appropriately, the time has come for him make a wider introduction with 10 Freak Ho’s preluding Forever & After later this fall.

“Go Best Friend” featuring NDO D joins forces over a plugg instrumental talking about their hoes calling them their besties after fuckin’ & once “She Goin’” carries over the plugg vibes in a bubblier fashion getting higher than KiD CuDi, my favorite track here “Ball Me Back” produced by both Whyceg & SOULJASPIRITS reaches the halfway point talking about being fine with this woman getting passed around by the whole crew.

Starting the 2nd half, the song “At All” clarifies that he ain’t fuckin’ with any of these guys or bitches who stay smellin’ over an aquatic trap beat while “Fasting” locks back on with SOULJASPIRITS for another plugg banger talking about taking a break from going down on women. “B My Hoe” featuring ImSoMarcus finishes the EP in the form of this decent plugg outro desiring more money & asking the females around them if they could vibe with them whilst desiring to make more bags.

1 Love sticks out as the best EP we’ve gotten from Pradabagshawty in 2024 despite Bloxk Addiktion, but 10 Freak Ho’s gives the underground a gander at what this Cegular/Sony deal could do for him in the long run & it’s still very much an average listening experience justifying him getting a label deal. The trap & plugg production isn’t as interesting as it was 4 months earlier, with the lyricism focusing more on themes of love than his earlier stuff.

Score: 3/5

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Chlöe – “Trouble in Paradise” review

Chlöe is a 26 year old singer/songwriter, producer & actress from Atlanta, Georgia coming up as 1/2 of the duo Chlöe x Halle with Halle Bailey. Introducing themselves in 2018 when Beyoncé signed them to Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records for their decent debut album The Kids Are Alright, the Bailey sisters’ sophomore effort Ungodly Hour in the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns would prove to be their most acclaimed body of work yet & have since been focusing on their solo careers. In contrast to Halle having yet to release her solo debut, Chlöe’s own debut In Pieces received mixed responses & is looking to have Trouble in Paradise top it.

“All I Got (Free Falling)” has a bare gospel-influenced beat from Bongo to get the ball rollin’ wishing she & her ex could start all over whereas “Might as Well” featuring Ty$ fresh off ¥$’ sophomore album Vultures 2 last Saturday morning coming together for a soulful duet singing about texting each other at 2am. “Boy Bye” fuses pop, contemporary R&B, 2-step, alt-pop & dance-pop thanks to Rogét Chahayed for anyone who needs to get rid of someone toxic and draining from their life just before “Redemption” catchily sings that she’s not being too big on the titular act herself.

Meanwhile on “Temporary Single”, we have Chlöe over a predominantly acoustic sound assuring that she briefly doesn’t have a man at the current moment while the intoxicating trap soul cut “Rose” talks about becomin’ alone & not meeting another man like the one she has now. “Favorite” featuring & produced by Anderson .Paak stands out as infectious R&B duet not tryna buy into favoritism, but then the syrupy “Same Lingerie” sings about needing some time to herself.

Lauryn Hill’s son YG Marley joins Chlöe for the dancehall/R&B crossover “Never Let You Go” finding both partners refusing to let go of one another while “Want Me” by Chlöe x Halle hops over acoustics as well as hi-hats & snapping fingers asking why everything in their past relationships changed. The piano-driven “Moments” sings that she has true love for her ex due to all the memories they have together while “F.Y.S. (Fuck Your Status)” blends trap soul & alternative R&B discussing one’s social status.

“Nice Girls Finish Last” atmospherically starts the final leg of Trouble in Paradise singing about intercourse while “Strawberry Lemonade” experiments with a nu disco R&B sound talking about having the sugar for her partner. “Shake” featuring Jeremih goes from the nu disco undertones of the previous track to prominent house influences throwing that ass back & “Somebody” wraps up the album with an empowering pop ballad feelin’ like she needs someone.

She & Halle already earned my respect when Ungodly Hour came over 4 years ago, so I figured that Trouble in Paradise had to improve on the moderately received debut & it’s certainly a more consistent showcasing of what Chlöe’s capable of doing by herself. It’s a summer fling & coming-of-age celebration of being a woman having fun & not taking life too seriously pulling from pop, contemporary & alternative R&B, pop soul, pop rap, afropiano, trap soul, dancehall, nu disco, 2-step, alt-pop & dance-pop.

Score: 3.5/5

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Latto – “Sugar Honey Iced Tea” review

Atlanta, Georgia rapper Latto returning for her 3rd LP. Winning the very first season of The Rap Game & eventually turned down a deal with So So Def Recordings because it wasn’t enough money, she eventually broke through a few summers back after signing to RCA Records & putting out a decent full-length debut Queen of da Souf. The sophomore effort 777 sure enough won me over & Sugar Honey Iced Tea named after a highlight track off Kelis’ 3rd album Tasty had me hoping she’d continue towards that trajectory.

“Georgia Peach” comes straight out the gate going drumless thanks to Pooh Beatz dedicated to all the baddies out in Georgia whereas the incredibly structured 2-parter “Big Mama” is a strong anthem from which self-assurance & success breathe & women show the clear capacity for self-support pulling from trap, hardcore hip hop, New York dril, pop rap, contemporary R&B & sample drill. “Blick Sumn” featuring Playboi Carti on the remix works in some synths & hi-hats letting it be known she don’t trust a man without his heater while “Settle Down” talks about the possibility of that happening & minding her business as opposed to bitches worrying over her.

Young Nudy joins Latto for “Shrimp & Grits” radiating a more enticing vibe from the beat paying homage to all the women in their city who be country thick prior to “There She Go” talking about going from being broke in the ATL to being on an island boasting that a real one has stepped in the building. “Brokey” hooks up chimes & hi-hats explaining that you supposed to drown when a real one hold you down & after the “Mimi” interlude, “H&M (Hurt & Miserable)” charismatically discusses the way hoes be envious of her.

“Copper Cove” featuring Hunxho has more of a mellow trap groove to it for a slut-me-out-spit-on-my-tongue song & the angelically produced “Ear Candy” with Coco Jones supplying one of my favorite hooks on Sugar Honey Iced Tea talks all the sweet things her partner says to her. Earl on the Beat laces Latto up with seductive instrumental for “Liquor” confessing that the harder alcohol turns her into an absolute freak while “Squeeze” featuring Megan Thee Stallion follows it up with a club banger for all the baddies that wanna get freaky.

Ciara levels up the chorus game on “Good 2 You” with it’s uptempo production & the romantic subject matter addressing those who they feel are the ones for them as does Mariah the Scientist on “Look What You Did” serving as a short but grand dedication to Latto’s bae. “Prized Possession” featuring Teezo Touchdown intoxicatingly talks feelin’ out their minds while “S/O to Me” is a soulful boom bap cut showing pride in herself.

The first of 3 bonus tracks “Put it on da Floor” featuring Cardi B on the remix brings the pair together has some cool Detroit trap undertones start to finish saying both of them have done done it all at this point in their respective careers & the other “Sunday Service” featuring Flo Milli & Megan Thee Stallion on the remix gets on their hardcore, Memphis, dirty south trap tip giving middle fingers to hoes because their men perfect. “Chicken Grease” ends the deluxe run on some dark trap shit refusing to fuck with broke guys.

Compared to 777, I came away from the follow-up liking it a little less than the predecessor although the highs outweigh the lows. I appreciate the fact that she elevates her work beyond “single-driven & club-driven” culture showcasing different sides & versions of her artistry recapping these last couple years of her life, I just think the production could’ve been a tad bit better.

Score: 3.5/5

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Southside – “Break the Silence” review

Southside is a 35 year old producer, rapper & songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia notable for co-founding the 808 Mafia with Lex Luger as well as being 1/2 of the duo So Icey Boyz with Metro Boomin’ in addition to the 7 solo mixtapes of his discography. Most notably the Free Agent trilogy & both Trap Ye installments. However for Sizzle’s official full-length solo debut album Break the Silence, he’s having it backed by Epic Records.

“Switch” is a 2-part trap opener with a mostly cloudy sound until the regalia influences come up during the last minute or so flexing that he’s been going strong from the start whereas “Uber” has more of a rage-inducing vibe overall talking about moving on to for a new bitch because he “got bored as shit”. “Bape” hooks up some bells & hi-hats paying homage to one of my all-time favorite clothing brands A Bathing Ape, but then “Excite Me” goes for a grimmer atmosphere saying that the bread excites him.

Meanwhile on “Drive Thru”, we have Southside bringing a psychedelic trap flare to the table cautioning that he can make muhfuckas disappear telling it how it is with everyone on the sidelines hating just before “Hoes” goes hypertrap thanks to TM88 talking about how his new girl being little rather than a hoe. “Break a Promise” works in bells & hi-hats admitting that he promised one of his exes the world only for him to break it leading into the 2 minute “In This Bih” findin’ him stuntin’ in the spot.

“Topp” heads for a cloudier direction instrumentally from it’s titular producer suggesting those who lost their smell of money should be called COVID while the atmospheric trap joint “Broadway” lets the world know that he’s living with his heart again. The rattling “Blockstar” that Smatt Sertified laced with his monitor obviously given the title discusses his status in the hood & shit getting wicked prior to “Run a Mile” drawing from rage scene again feelin’ like people changed on him ever since his bread went up.

Starting the final leg of Break the Silence, the song “Vette Pass By” gives off a morbid flare to the beat to call most out here pussy while the 90 second “Ain’t Nothin’” talks about not seeing numbers first & that makes me happy because neither do I myself. “My Kitchen” is another 2-parter with a Hellish first half going hypertrap for the other declaring that no one knows how to fuck with him out here & finally “No Disguise” interestingly ends on some drumless chipmunk soul shit advising that you ain’t cool ‘cause you rich.

We haven’t heard from Sizzle since the Southside & ChaseTheMoney EP fully produced by the latter & I’d suggest listening to both Trap Ye tapes if you really want to hear what the 808 Mafia co-founder at his best on the mic. As for his first proper solo LP, it’s alright. His distinctly known gangster, bombastic, gritty, rambunctious & menacing trap sound compared to that of his collaborators takes a backseat sticking to regular trap additionally pulling from the rage subgenre which funny enough takes cues from Pi’erre Bourne’s production style & I prefer Pi’erre as a rapper than Southside although both are on the Mt. Rushmore of trap producers with Metro & Zaytoven.

Score: 2.5/5

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Kevin Abstract – “glue” review

Corpus Christi, Texas rapper, singer/songwriter, producer & director Kevin Abstract following up his 5th LP Blanket with his 4th official mixtape. Making his debut in 2014 in the form of MTV1987, he followed it up 2 years later with the fantastic sophomore effort American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story & rose to stardom as the de facto leader of the now defunct BROCKHAMPTON collective the year after. Both of Kevin’s solo efforts afterwards ARIZONA baby & The Family were solid although I liked the latter more for being chipmunk soul heavy & Blanket improved by going indie rock. Now that the summer nears its final month, Kevin’s putting glue together.

“Dirty Boy Swag” produced by Quadeca starts off the tape pulling inspiration from Lil B & Kevin showing off his titular swagger whereas “Kobe” talks about adopting the late Lakers icon’s mentality over a cloudy & illbient instrumental. “Jefferson” finds Romil Hemnani sampling “ELEMENT.” by Kendrick Lamar feeling like his father truly loves him leading into the highly anticipated collaboration “Tennessee” featuring Lil Nas X fuses trap, pop rap, cloud rap, alternative R&B, dirty south & regalia with the help of Devstacks talking about meeting guys in the titular state.

Meanwhile on “Beautiful Dumb Boys”, we have Kevin taking it back to the Blanket era coming to the realization that he has to break up with this guy just before the creatively fun 2-parter “Diamondz N Cash” featuring HVN & Lil Yachty gets unearthed from the Beverly Daze sessions telling us what they think of when they wake up. “2am Halcyon” has a bit of a Ye formerly known as Kanye West influence aesthetically rapping over synths telling his new man that he knows he wants to be with him prior to the bubbling, low-key “Creek” serves as an official version of “Green” allowing Romil helping Kevin return to form telling us what romance is to him.

“You’re My Type of Pleasure” sings to his partner over some organ-like synthesizers he feels like they know something about me that I hasn’t even discovered yet while “Big Dog” blends pop rap, trap & hyphy with the help of Kevin himself, Romil, Quadeca & Popstar Benny talking about how it’s lights out for him. “Red Light” reunites with Ameer Vann on top of an outstandingly gorgeous Quadeca beat wanting their lovers to stay in their dreams with them & “I Love These Hoes, They Don’t Judge” drearily ends glue talking about feeling the most fake these days.

The people that thought Blanket was a disappointingly average stylistic departure gonna find themselves enjoying glue more than Kevin’s last album going from the indie rock sound of the predecessor back to his hip hop roots whether it be experimental hip hop, west coast hip hop, dirty south, alternative R&B, regalia, illbient, cloud rap, pop rap, hyphy, trap or even a small hint of indie rock. It’s already been well established that he’s by far the most talented member of BROCKHAMPTON & glue could very well be his most enjoyable mixtape yet.

Score: 4/5

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Childish Gambino – “Bando Stone & the New World” review

California actor, writer, rapper, comedian, singer, DJ, director, producer & former FX hit series Atlanta creator Donald Glover or Childish Gambino finally following up Atavista with his 5th & final full-length LP. In only 2 decades, he’s also put out a couple EPs & 7 mixtapes in addition to all his other albums. The 2 that stand out the most are the sophomore effort Because the Internet released on my 17th birthday & the 2016 follow-up “Awaken, My Love” pulling heavy influence from the Parliament-Funkadelic collective. 3.15.20 was randomly released during the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in an unfinished state only to be finalized & reissued as Atavista recently, which most people including myself decided they’d rather wait for Bando Stone & the New World.

“H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥” featuring Amaarae is a self-produced industrial hip hop opener dissing those who did him greasy & still being on whereas the lead single “Lithonia” works in elements of alternative rock, pop rock, post-grunge, art rock & glam rock telling the story of Cody LeRae. “Survive” featuring Chlöe is a beautiful hip hop/neo-soul crossover tryna save their lives since summer’s always coming leading into “Steps Beach” singing over a stripped back instrumental from Steve Lacy talking about wanting to walk the beach on a Saturday.

Amaarae & Flo Milli join Gambino to the trap joint “Talk My Shit” so all 3 of them can boast on the lyrical side of things just before “Got to Be” turns the industrial influences all the way back up talking about 2020 being his time. “Real Love” takes a electropop/dance-pop route to the beat hoping that everyone listening gets to feel genuine love at some point in their lives, but then “In the Night” featuring Amaarae & Jorja Smith fuses alternative R&B with alté as well as gqom & alt-pop singing about needing each other at night.

“Yoshinoya” concludes the first half of Bando Stone & the New World with a 2-parter showing a bit of a Ye formerly known as Kanye West influence sticking around similarly to the titular Japanese multinational fast food chain while “Can You Feel Me?” featuring Legend Glover is a heartwarming moment on the album where father & son singing together referencing the alphabet in every verse. The 8-minute rollercoaster ride “No Excuses” goes neo-soul singing about receiving cold love while “Cruisin’” featuring Yeat produced by DJ Dahi, Ludwig Göransson, Michael Uzowuru & Donald himself brings a synth-trap vibe to the table living their dreams since this dreamin’ ain’t enough.

Meanwhile on the atmospheric “We Are God”, we have Gambino singing about being inseparable flying through the dark while “Running Around” featuring Fousheé blends soul & rock going crazy during the weekend. The track “Dadvocate” goes for another stripped back approach tackling fatherhood & after the “Happy Survival” interlude, “A Place Where Love Goes” concludes the Childish Gambino chapter of Donald’s life with 1 more EDM joint going wherever love does.

In contrast to a lot of artists saying they’re gonna retire from music & later coming back, it really does feel like the end of Childish Gambino since it’s not fun for him anymore & what a way for him to go out. We get a concept album revolving around a singer named Bando Stone stumbling into a post-apocalyptic world before teaming up with a woman & her son to fight prehistoric creatures & try to escape from an unexplained phenomenon that seems to delete “chunks” of the world blending experimental hip hop, neo-soul, psychedelic soul, neo-psychedelia, rock music, electronic dance music, alternative R&B, alté, gqom & alt-pop.

Score: 4.5/5

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