REVISED Savage Mode Review

Trap music first developed in the 1990's. The genre is defined by its dark, bleak and gritty lyrical content that varies from artist to artist. Typical themes portrayed include observations of hardship in "trap" house drug dealing, street life, poverty, violence, and disturbing experiences in inner city surroundings. Trap music grew up in Atlanta out of the power vacuum created in the drug trade once the DEA and FBI took down the Black Mafia Family. It opened up the drug trade in Atlanta to small time drug dealers out of “trap” houses. The violence and battle for power and influence in the drug trade gave birth to the genre and the realities of the “trap” lifestyle.

In the early 1990s, Atlanta rappers Cool Breeze, Dungeon Family, Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Ghetto Mafia were among the first rappers to introduce the "trap" drug dealing lifestyle into their music. They laid the foundation for the genre.

Out of these rappers came the rappers of the early 2000’s that legitimized and popularized the genre. The mainstream success of a number of albums and singles with lyrics that covered topics about the "trap" lifestyle and growing up in the projects of Atlanta. Atlanta rappers and producers T.I., Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Zaytoven, and DJ Toomp, paved the way for the success and legitimizing of the trap rap genre.

After this first wave of Trap artists and producers came Lex Luger, Southside, and Waka Flocka Flame. These guys set the foundation for modern trap music. Their Brick Squad sound carried the genre to new heights. Their hard, gritty lyrics and 808s, set a new tone for trap music. It inspired today’s artist and producers like Metro Boomin, Future, Migos, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, and 21 Savage. Brick Squad made trap music cool.

21 Savage grew up in the "trap" lifestyle and decided to turn to rap music when he started losing friends and wanted to get out of the game. He became a full-time rapper once he started gaining fame and was making more money rapping than drug dealing. LP Savage Mode is modern trap music. In LP Savage Mode, Metro and 21 make a perfect pair, showcasing a dark underworld of Atlanta's "trap" life through Metro’s bleak beats and 21’s dead delivery. 21 Savage is one of the few street rappers making real street music. His songs are a true reflection of the “trap” game in Atlanta, and life 21 Savage lived.

The EP’s opener "No Advance," is a message to all major labels that he’s building himself up independently. 21 Savage started his record label with drug money, akin to Easy-E. The song gives a careless, dead vibe. The next song, "No Heart,” another example of 21’s natural ability to ride coldhearted beats as he answers his questions of trap talk seemingly without flinching. He is a true savage with his lyrics. The whole song sends chills down the spine and gives the vibe that 21 Savage is not to be messed with. He calls out every rapper as soft. Then goes on to say that he has no heart and can’t trust anybody but his guns. When 21 and Future come up next with "X," the differences in their styles is made clear. 21 is a young rookie with an unlimited supply of bars and Future’s hit-making abilities give the song an edge over the others in the album.  "X" is a good place for listeners just discovering about 21 Savage and trap rap to begin. The song features two different styles of trap rap and has a plethora of good trap lyrical examples. It’s also the ultimate anthem for guys who want to make their ex’s jealous. “Savage Mode” is like a personal anthem for the lifestyle 21 Savage lives. 21 explains what made him go into “Savage Mode”, stating poverty, drugs and gang violence as main influences. How the trap game made him who he is today. He also describes in this song how his life has changed with rap music and the new cars and girls he gets.There is a distant bitterness in 21’s voice on "Real Nigga," and in "Mad High" he breaks from his generally calm and collective self to almost yelling. The grime dark moments of the album make the albums sweetest moments hit harder.

The album’s tender song, "Feel It," is unashamedly vulnerable and loving. "These streets so dirty I just want someone who really there/Can’t fake love, just want someone who really care" he follows it with, "I’m savage to these niggas but to her I’m gentle" 21 explains how he fell in love with another man’s woman and took her. Wanting him to strive and prosper, she urged him to get off the mud and keep pushing deeper into the relations, but 21 is married to the game.This same softer note comes through in the dreamy, contemplative "Ocean Drive" as he raps about how far rapping has taken him and the places rapping has taken him. it’s been a long and hard road making it in the music industry. Regardless, he says he remains the same. You can take him out the hood but you can’t take the hood out of him. He still rides around with a loaded weapon.

21 Savage is a new form of Trap music. His style is gruesome, dark, unique compared to other Trap artists. He is advancing the genre and challenging the status quo of it. 21 Savage is good for trap music. He like many new trap artists are bringing new fans to the genre and staking this genre’s place in rap history. They make the genre relevant and worth noticing. New artists like him that bring new styles to the genre make it complex and flexible. It could help etch this genre into being one of the greatest rap genres of all time.

Summer Songs 2 Review

Miles McCollum was an unknown college drop-out about a year ago. Now he is known as Lil Yachty. He is riding a wave of success from his mixtape Lil Boat that has propelled him to become a name to remember. Lil Yachty and the Sailing Team's Summer Songs 2 mixtape continues his reign as the “King of Teens”. Lil Yachty's style is almost a protest to the universal appeal of many rappers today. The songs have a fresh summer feel that does not follow the conventional rap traditions.

Summer Songs 2 features a lot of bangers that are anthems for the younger generation in America that made Lil Yachty famous. In "Intro (First Day of Summer)", Yachty begins the mixtape with, "That's right, That's right, That's right/ Nigga’s Kawasaki bike riding on a nigga wave." It's the introduction the mixtape needed to show how original Lil Yachty's rap game is. He ignores something that has always been a pillar of rap. He ignores the rhyme and explains that this is his wave. He’s uniqueness is what drove him to the spotlight. He said he is influenced by Andre 3000 and Lil B for how they also created a style that challenged the norms of rap music. Lil Yachty's style that can’t be matched with anyone else in the history of rap. His sound combines trap rap with bubblegum pop music.

The next song on the mixtape pokes fun at the older demographic of rap fans who hate Lil Yachty's music. This track specifically addressed to the famous Hot 97 hip hop radio station. Ebro Darden put the young Atlanta rapper on blast during one of their interviews because Lil Yachty wasn’t freestyling seriously. In the interview, Ebro said, “So people who love bars are so about hip-hop, and the reason they’re so mad is because they think the young kids don’t take hip-hop seriously.” Lil Yachty replied that he doesn't.

These two songs set the tone for the rest of the mixtape. The mixtape addresses Lil Yachty's haters, fame, and his fans. It's him trying to prove that he isn't just a one-trick pony. 

“Why (Interlude)” just asks the question, “Why do they hate on me?” He says that people should want him to be great and then thinks that maybe people hate on him because he makes a lot of money off his music. After this break in the mixtape, the songs are just Lil Yachty having fun and give that summer vibe to them. 

The songs in the mixtape feature mainly members of the Sailing Team, but “Dipset” features Offset as a nod to Lil Yachty’s new record deal with Quality Control. The song light and fun to listen too. It is what made Lil Yachty famous. His nonchalant attitude and carefree songs that resonant with younger people and the whole “live your life” movement. He makes rap songs for the fun of it and to hang with his crew (as seen in the song “All In”). He once said that he only raps about things that have happened in his life. That’s what this mixtape embodies. It is the feelings and experiences that Lil Yachty has encountered since the success of Lil Boat. Each song has experiences and emotions associated with it through his lyrics and the beats of the song.

“Such Ease” (ft. thegoodperry & Tyler Royale) is Lil Yachty’s reflection of his life for the past few years. Lil Yachty was bullied in high school and did not feel like he fit in the college life. He talks about in the song how sometimes his life was hard. This song’s beat and hook help the listener sort of feel the feelings Lil Yachty must have felt looking back on how far he has come. It is a calm song that gives off the feeling of being content.  

The mixtape is a celebration of his success and motivation to continue what he does. He brushes off his haters and praises fellow rappers who’s styles challenge the conventional traditions of rap. The mixtape signs off with the song “So Many People”. This song is the perfect ending for the mixtape. It is Lil Yachty’s thesis statement for why he does what he does. It features sound bits of people praising him, and the lyrics are all about how he is just doing this all for fun. Lil Yachty didn’t start rapping because of the money, lifestyle, or the fame. He began rapping because it was something fun he could do with his best friends. This mixtape is just a fun project that Miles and the Sailing Team produced. 

Track by Track Analysis of Culture by Migos

Few influence modern American culture more than Migos. Since 2013, they have popularized dance moves, new slang words, had memes created from their songs and always come out with catchy tunes. Their new album, Culture, is a victory lap for Migos. The album is packed with bangers. 

1. "Culture" ft. DJ Khaled

DJ Khaled, a living meme, fittingly opens the album claiming Migos the kings of culture. The song acts as nothing more than an introduction, but it is a grand entrance for Migos. 

2. "T-Shirt"

This track has the best music video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VUa99-tJqs) with Migos acting like explorers in the American wilderness.  It's got best of all three rappers with Takeoff bringing in a bass, Quavo floating, and Offset serenading. Producers Nard & B made a great beat and the group’s bars mix well with it.

3. "Call Casting"

After hearing all the food references in this song, it makes me hungry. The song names Atlanta favorites Zaxby's, Shane's Rib Shack, and Cup O' Noodles. Besides appreciating these food joints, the song is a sum up of the sauce of Migos. It's a song that demands respect for Migos.

4. "Bad and Boujee" ft. Lil Uzi Vert

The bestselling single on this album gained popularity when the internet turned the lyrics "rain drop, drop top" into a meme. This song could have been corny with all lyrics like "Still be playin' with pots and pans, call me Quavo Ratatouille," but the group played into it and made it casual. Lil Uzi Vert also adds a nice squeaky verse. 

5. "Get Right Witcha"

The hook of this song strangely works. It's what you would say if you're trying to disregard someone. The lyrics alone of the song would have made the song annoying, but the rhythm and delivery of it make it work. 

6. "Slippery" ft. Gucci Mane

Quavo starts off the song with a fun verse saying things like, "I heard your bitch she got that water, (Splash, drip, drip, woo, splash), Slippery, 'scuse me, please me (please)" Gucci Mane whips out a unique flow. It is honestly best described as being slippery. He raps slip'n and slid'n over measure breaks and snapping with ease. 

7. "Big on Big"

This track seems like a filler track. It has a descent Zaytoven beat, and the hook is fun. Other than being nice to listen to it doesn't have much going for it.

8. "What's the Price"

Quavo sounds like a sad robot over the guitar intro. They trade flows on the inflation and trade of drugs. These are put over a simple sample beat, and the baseline is banging. 

9. "Brown Paper Bag"

Zaytoven's piano beat makes for a great foundation for the lines to lay over. The song is filled with some clever bars. Who knew that "Brown, (Brown) Paper, (Paper) Bags, (Bags)" would be a catchy hook? Migos did. It is hooks like this that brought Migos fame and fortune. The song is full of Migos ad-libs and could be used as a good way to describe their style.

10. "Deadz" ft. 2 Chainz

This song almost got cut from the album. I'm glad it didn't because it's nice to listen to and breaks the streak of Zaytoven beats. 2 Chainz also delivers some nice bars.

11. "All Ass"

Strip clubs need songs for their playlists too. This song fulfills that role well. Purps On The Beat made a nice and smooth beat over the thumping bass.

12. "Kelly Price" ft. Travis Scott

This song starts off very soothing and relaxing. It got a calm, mellow beat with serenading lyrics. All of that is interrupted by a screech now and then but is probably needed because this song would probably put you to sleep without it.

13. "Out Yo Way"

This song is an ode to all the woman in the Migos world that have stuck by them from the beginning to now. From thots on tour to their mamas and grandmothers, it shouts out to the real homies. It's about those who have always stuck their necks out for the group. Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset all do what they do best in this song. Purp On The Beat makes another great beat on this album and helps makes this song great. Everything seems to fit in the song. It's a great ending to the album.  

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About Me

My name is Jack Hall, and I formed this blog to write music reviews on rap music from Atlanta. I’m an undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina. I love music and listen to music all day. My love for music stems from my parents. They always encouraged me to go to concerts and listen to music. Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, I listened to all sorts of rappers. My first mp3 player had Atlanta rap artists like the Ying Yang Twins, Lil Jon, and Outkast. I love rap music because it varies so much. Rap has so many sub-genres, and there are always new artists with very different styles. Atlanta has become a mecca for rap music. There are a lot of artists that hail from this city. The city boasts a broad spectrum of styles and sub-genres. From Kriss Kross to Lil Yachty, I hope to share the songs, playlists, and artists that I like from Atlanta. It has become sort of a hobby of mine make playlists of songs that I think fit together. It felt natural to start a blog on rap music because I have a passion for listening and talking about it with my friends. I want to share my personal favorites from the past and hopefully share new music with other who share my passion. There are so many songs and artists that I want to write about.