Single Reviews 7/6/2018

Now that I've finished making my half-year lists, it's time to get back to our regularly scheduled programming.  This week isn't as hyped as most of June but is still very interesting.  We got a new mixtape from Future, a new EP from Meek Mill, and not much else.  Here are my thoughts on 8 new singles from Lil Pump, Lil Yachty, Justin Timberlake, and more.

1) Young M.A - PettyWap

I haven't heard anything from or about Young M.A in what feels like forever.  Before I saw her new single on the Spotify New Releases page, I forgot she even existed.  I remember bumping her hit song, "OOOUUU," a lot during 2016 and I really wish she had more hits.  She can definitely rap.  She has solid lyrics, great flows, and her beat selection sounds very accessible to new listeners.  Judging by the title of this song, I thought it would be a great title for a diss track directed toward Fetty Wap, another big name who fell off after a couple hits.  It's not a diss track, by the way.  It's more of a play of Fetty's stage name because judging by most of the lyrics, it seems like she feels like being petty.  I personally like this single and I love the line in the first verse where she says "S on my chest and I keep a cape around."

Verdict: It's pretty good but won't get the attention it deserves.

2) Jay Park feat. GASHI x Rich The Kid - FSU

Just to clear things up, the song title is an acronym for "Fuck Shit Up" and not "Florida State University."  The main artist of the song, Jay Park, is a Korean rapper who is currently signed to Roc Nation.  I've never heard any songs from this guy until today, but I have no desire to check out his other work after this one.  Jay's part was definitely the weakest.  His hook is a bunch of repetitive mumbling that sounds like shit and his verse was average at best.  GASHI was the only redeeming part of the song as he raps without autotune, which is something I've never heard from him.  It sounded great and it flowed very well.  Rich The Kid delivers an average verse as usual and the production from GroovyRoom is very meh.

Verdict: One good verse and nothing else.

3) Iggy Azalea feat. Tyga - Kream

I have no idea why I decided to check out this song.  I have a strong distaste for both of these artists.  I guess it's just another case of morbid curiosity.  Iggy Azalea has been struggling to gain back her relevancy for quite a while now as every single she's released since her debut album flopped.  Tyga, another rapper who has faded into obscurity, has actually made a bit of a comeback himself, as his latest single with Offset (Taste) is currently charting at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 (that song sucks please don't check it out).  Let's get to the actual song.  This song is produced by Ronny J, which surprised me, to say the least.  This was one of his weakest beats.  You can basically sum up the lyrical content of the song with the bridge, which goes like this:

"Ass / Cash, cash / Ass, bags / Bad"

Way to get to the point, Iggy.  Speaking of ass, that hook absolutely sucks.  It's literally just the phrase "get it" over and over again, with words like ass and cash being ad-libbed throughout.  Both verses were awful.

Verdict: Stop.

4) Dave East feat. Rick Ross - Fresh Prince of Belaire

Dave East and Rick Ross are artists that I've listened to a lot and I've always liked but never really loved their music.  Dave East delivers some solid flows and bars but it sounds the same as every other Dave East track I've heard.  Rick Ross delivers a solid guest verse as usual.  The beat from Nick Papz isn't anything special but I did enjoy the last minute beat switch.

Verdict: Is okay.

5) Lil Pump - Drug Addicts

Lil Pump has been improving a lot in 2018.  His lyrics have been getting less repetitive, he's using more flows, and he's actually spitting more than one verse sometimes. He's been putting in work as a feature, too (Welcome to the Party, Nun of Dat, Baby Daddy, etc.).  The latest single for the upcoming Harvard Dropout project was announced by Charlie Sheen, who appears on the cover of this single and in the music video.  The production on this track is insane.  It sounds like a creepy circus.  The hook on this track is one of Lil Pump's best hooks to date and his flow on the verse is amazing.  My one problem with the song is that instead of doing another verse, he just extends the post-chorus, which is just the phrase "whole gang full of drug addicts" repeated over and over.  Other than that, I think the song is great.  It's kind of ironic that this song is about being a drug addict but this is the least drugged out Pump has ever been.

Verdict: Good song.

6) Lil Yachty feat. Cardi B x Offset - Who Want the Smoke?

Tay Keith, the producer of this track, has made nothing but slappers in 2018.  I feel like you can do the shoot dance to any of his beats like you can milly rock to any of Pi'Erre Bourne's beats.  BlocBoy JB does ad-libs throughout the track, which is great because he has some of the best in the game.  Yachty delivers a decent hook, but I think the "Who want the smoke?" part could have been a little shorter.  Cardi B's verse is okay.  I really wish she would try and deviate from the Bodak Yellow flow every once in a while because she can spit very well using different flows.  Yachty's verse was the weakest but thankfully, it was also the shortest.  I really hate how Lil Yachty sometimes uses a deeper voice when he raps.  It sounds really goofy.  However, the song really picks up when Offset comes in.  He absolutely snapped.  His flows sounded insane and he ends the song on a high note.

Verdict: I fuck with this.

7) Justin Timberlake - SoulMate

His last album was complete trash.  You can find Man of the Woods at #2 on my worst albums of 2018 list.  Thankfully, this is the exact opposite of what we got on that album.  This song is an absolute summer jam.  Nineteen85 provides some bouncy production and JT gives a very catchy hook.

Verdict: A great apology single from JT.

8) Ella Mai feat. Nicki Minaj x Quavo - Boo'd Up Remix

The original version of this song is currently charting in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.  I'd say it was a smart move of her to put out a remix to help the song chart even higher.  I've never bothered to listen to the original song, so I didn't know that the title was referring to a heartbeat sound.  Nicki's verse is okay and doesn't ruin the song unlike some of her other recent features.  Ella Mai's verse was the shortest.  I found her verse to be kind of forgettable, her pre-chorus to be pretty nice, but the chorus itself isn't great.  Quavo did Quavo things as he finds himself featured in yet another song.

Verdict: I didn't really like this but I'm glad for Ella Mai's success.  I just hope she doesn't end up being a one-hit-wonder.

Best Single of the Week: SoulMate by Justin Timberlake

Honorable Mention: Drug Addicts by Lil Pump

Dishonorable Mention: FSU by Jay Park

Worst Single of the Week: Kream by Iggy Azalea

Here's my schedule for the next week:

7/7 or 8: A double review of Meek Mill's new EP and Future's new project

7/9: Playlist Additions

7/10: Hot Take Tuesday

7/11: Analyzing the Billboard Charts (A new series idea)

7/12: A revisit of a Young Thug project (either Jeffery or Beautiful Thugger Girls)

7/13-15: The usual set of reviews and things