“ I used to trap and watch bootlegs,” crazy how Netflix killed Blockbuster and the Bootleg man.
It’s hard to peg a flow that’s uniquely 2 Chainz because he changes it so much. Sometimes what can make a rapper memorable isn’t what he says but how he says it. The “ohhhh” flow is fire, I’m here for it. He understands how delivery can make a song an experience. Second verse flow is why Chainz is an insane writer. I’m never been too big on Travis hooks on features, I feel like they’re always a little off. I mean, he is rhyming with such precision. I feel like this is the kind of music that sounds best when you’re on your third drink in the club and start feeling yourself. Ha, I wonder which Tha Carter album is Chainz favorite. We're three records in with no complaints. Hahaha, the perky breast and turkey neck line, I need a collab between Gucci and Giggs. I haven’t loved everything he’s done since “1st Day Out” but this is good and you can find me in East Atlanta if you disagree. When Chainz did it with the choir, talk about trap gospel! If placed on the album, it would be like going from a bar fight to church and all bar fights should end with a little holy water. I love Quavo, I love this hook, but I wish it was the choir version.
Also, he delivers a flawless Chainz verse, it would be a crazy move to allow this only live on a mixtape. I have mixed feelings about this song being on the album-it’s rather old-but it’s everything classic about a Chainz single. How do we go to these elegant keys after that earth shattering bass? Like going from a bar fight to a wedding. “ From grams to GRAMMY.” The beat faded out and came back in with the force of Thor’s hammering colliding with Zeus’ lightning. Song switched up, like a playful singy-songy style. I just want to get into the kind of fist fight you can only have when playing hockey. Chainz hasn’t even started rapping, he's just popping off. MANO AND MIKE DEAN SAMPLED GODZILLA DOING THE A-TOWN STOMP FOR THIS BASS. THIS IS THE SOUND OF A HUMMER COLLIDING WITH A HADOUKEN. OH MY GOD! THIS BASS JUST HIT ME LIKE A REGGIE WHITE SACK. RIVERDALE! Southside Atlanta hasn’t had this kind of homage since Waka and Grove Street. By far the most memorable Chainz album intro. We need more Ducko and Chainz, this is magic. The production dropped the drums, still cinematic.
Chainz said he was at graduation with a bag full drugs, that’s up there with Bobby selling crack in the 5th grade. Reminiscing on the days back in the trap. Alright, this is like Aerosmith trap music. Ha! “ Everybody in the city said that boy Tity back snapping,” amazing timing for that line. The energy has risen, he just threw shots at Cristal and Hilfiger. This intro feels so big, now Chainz is snapping.
His flow is slower, and outside of telling his driver to take off his hat when he arrives, there are no crazy bars. Chainz has arrived, he’s very calm despite the production being the soundtrack to world domination. I heard that McFli tag! Shoutout to Ducko for his first major album placement. An electric guitar just cut right through blazing with fire and feeling. Heavy piano keys, I mean eating McDonald's every day for a year heavy. Each song will receive my gut reaction from start to finish. In usual 1-Listen fashion, the rules are the same: no skipping, no fast-forwarding, no rewinding and no stopping. An excellent album has a chance to be the cherry on top of those 18 months to truly make a case for Chainz as one of rap's best. We know Chainz can make bangers and deliver excellent features, and we know he has classic mixtape material under his belt. Paul Thompson wrote a convincing article for Noisey with the headline, “ 2 Chainz Has Quietly Spent the Last 18 Months Being One of the Very Best Rappers Alive.” He makes excellent points, but the best point might be about 2 Chainz’ albums―the official projects have been good but bloated, the highlights not bright enough to overshadow the forgettable records.