I'm not all that familiar with everyone on the list, which is probably a good thing since what I write down will be my gut reaction, but to keep things fair, I'll listen to a couple songs from each artist and let you know whether or not they're any good. (which is completely different from whether or not they reach success) I'll probably end up choosing one of their shittier songs, so if you have any recommendations, feel free to let me know.
First off, let me apologize for the extended break in between post. (I'm just as tired of seeing that Future post every time I open the front page) Shit got in the way, which made me miss my four day deadline, but fear not because today's post might feature something you all are actually interested in. In a somewhat less than predictable turn off events, I'll be jotting down my thoughts on the newest members of the XXL Freshman list, which has proven over the past few years to be surprisingly credible. Hopefully this might even start up a conversation in the comment section. I just really, really don't feel like reviewing an album.
I'm not all that familiar with everyone on the list, which is probably a good thing since what I write down will be my gut reaction, but to keep things fair, I'll listen to a couple songs from each artist and let you know whether or not they're any good. (which is completely different from whether or not they reach success) I'll probably end up choosing one of their shittier songs, so if you have any recommendations, feel free to let me know.
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So apparently I'm supposed to be listening to Vic Mensa. I know this project has been out for quite a while now and there's no reason to give my opinion now, but better late than never, right? Anyways, Vic Mensa is a Chicago rapper that has watched his status rise in a similar way that his friend and frequent collaborator Chance the Rapper has. Granted I don't really dislike Chance, Acid Rap isn't something that I go back to very often, so I wasn't exactly thrilled at that idea of listening to someone that's essentially a replica. But obviously I did.
I'm sure everyone's heard the Chance comparisons and gets the point, so I'll try to keep all of mine in one paragraph. It's just hard to look past the fact that they sound the exact fucking same. I've frequently stated that Chance is one of the few modern day artist that sound like no one else. Until now apparently. Its cool that they're friends and appear to be on the same page, but there comes a point that you've gotta sit Vic down and tell him to develop his own shit. It's just a very good thing that our host is able to effectively use this style and not sound like a total biter. He never used this style during his days with his band Kids These Days, but it sounds like he's been rhyming this uniquely for the entirety of his career. As an added bonus, the man certainly has an interesting, if not experiment, ear for beats. The problem only pops up when you realize you've heard the same shit earlier this year on Chance's tape. For the most part, Chance has a better mic presence, an original style, and better instrumentals, but this mixtape has one major thing going for it: Vic Mensa can rap his fucking ass off. Chance (I swear this is the last time) may be one of the most creative figures in hip hop, but I doubt anyone listens to Acid Rap for technical lyrical abilities. That's where Vic Mensa reigns supreme; he's a very talented lyricist. That much is made clear from the intro, but his abilities really shine during the standout "YNSP". Vic manages to put on a lyrical clinic without sacrificing a fantastic melody. Those details become more obvious after multiple listens, but it only takes a single spin to enjoy the other lovable standouts, "Orange Soda" and "Lovely Day". These tracks hold the most promise and show that Vic could truly go anywhere after this project. Perhaps the most highlighted and personally anticipated tracks is "Tweakin" featuring none other than Chance the Rapper. The very synth carried instrumental is relatively safe for a song featuring these personalities, but both artist actually sound different and carry enough charisma to look over the awful hook. One of my biggest problems with Acid Rap was that I had a hard time taking Chance seriously whenever he tried to bring up deeper topics. This is another area where Vic excels. In "Tweakin'" especially, the overall vibe seems fairly happy and Vic Mensa seems to deliver some carefree lines.I didn't notice it at first but he actually slips in a few lines about wanting "a nice little suburban place to cry at night" along with addressing some of the violence issues in his hometown of Chicago. Vic challenges his listeners to realize that his lyrics aren't as slap happy as they appear, which truly sets him apart from other artist that will eventually try to use this style. Every ying of careless fun has a yang of dark undertones violence. His style also also has moments of obvious emotion, as shown on "Holy Holy", one of the albums best tracks. Besides Ab-Soul literally not sounding anything like his usual self, Vic uses the heavy instrumental to smoothly deliver some of his best verses. With the exclusion of a few of the songs, (especially the disappointing effort with Thundercat) most of the songs hold up well, but the mixtape's biggest flaw is the flow and sequencing of the tracks. This usually isn't something that can make or break a listening experience, but this is one of the truly awful attempts of sequencing I've ever heard. Just listen to the first five songs and you'll see what I'm talking about. The topics and instrumentals are all over the place and end of sounding like a messy collection of songs. I've seen a couple people say that's intentional because you can easily reach anything on the Internet, (hence the title) but that's a terrible case of reading too much into something. You motherfuckers should be ashamed of yourselves. INNANETAPE is a pretty good listen. The singles show a tone of crossover potential and there's an underlining feeling of sorrow to uncover for those willing to go through more than one listen. Vic Mensa, as an artist, is very interesting and I'll be curious to see where he goes from here. His rapping abilities are great, but I'm not sure that's what he'll be focusing on in the future. He's going to have a fine career, especially if he can find someone who has an idea as to what sequencing is. I'm sure I've made that clear, and several duds keep this from being anything too great, but regardless of how much I like or dislike him, I promise that Vic Mensa is going to explode very quickly. Rating: 3/5 |