**WARNING: EXPLETIVES WILL BE USED IN THE FOLLOWING ROUND-UP AS THEY ARE LYRICS TO THE SONGS BEING REVIEWED. THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THESE SONGS MAY ALSO BE OFFENSIVE. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TOPICS I’VE MENTIONED ABOVE DO NOT READ . THANK YOU.**

“Please Me” – Single – Cardi B & Bruno Mars

5/10

Featuring Bruno Mars’ trademark vocals, the track does not disappoint in terms of vocal accompaniment, but that’s about as far as it goes. Cardi B lyrically falls short of anything past “Booty so round, booty so soft, bet you wanna smack it again.” Cardi B, more often than not, proves that she cannot deliver any manner of lyrical complexity. Despite both artists on the track both having won Grammys, it fails to deliver anything deeper than some sort of pop hit. With the likes of rappers such as J. Cole, Ski Mask the Slump God, and EARTHGANG dropping tracks with some sort of meaning behind their word choice, Cardi B demonstrates nothing more than a catchy tune and easily memorizable lyrics.

Favorite Bar: Do my back like I do these records, break that shit.

“Czarface Meets Ghostface” – Album – Czarface & Ghostface Killah

7/10

With the likes of former Wu-tang Clan member Inspectah Deck, Czarface drops another 90s-era rap album. Czarface, a rap supergroup formed circe 2007, drops their second collaborative album, yet again with an artist whose name includes “face.” Providing nostalgic beats and flows, the album serves primarily to please their core group of fans, not top charts. With the normal crude themes trademarking 1990s rap, the group of “faces” presents a well produced project that is on par with earlier released albums.

Favorite Bar: Pull up the drop-top, the block bop. The cops watch, nobody move like the clock stop. I’m in the chop shop, harder than a scotch shot.

“Robbery” – Single – Juice WRLD

2/10

Juice WRLD’s iconic vocalization while rapping takes some getting used to, but the intended meaning behind his lyrics fall short of any deep meaning. The refrain of the song seems to be physically hurting Juice WRLD as he strains to hit that highest note. The mix of seemingly mumbling into a microphone and screaming into that same mic leaves the listener cringling as he tries his hardest to sing. At this point in his career, Juice WRLD needs to realize his strengths, that being loosely organized freestyles, and stop attempting to become the likes of a pop vocalist. The rapper’s vocal range cannot handle the runs and falsetto added on this track and yet again Juice WRLD disappoints to break out of the one hit wonder that was “Lucid Dreams.”

Favorite Bar: She told me put my heart in the baggggggggggggggggggggg

“Red Room” – Single – Offset

8/10

Offset seems to have hit his stride on this single. The delayed album release appears to have exponentially helped his lyrical production, and perhaps greater tracks will also accompany this single. The visual that released alongside this track featured the excellent cinematography of director Aisultan Seitov adds to the theme of the track, as well as the sampled harmonica, played by Offset’s very own grandfather. The clear intention behind this track comes across wonderfully, and the relaxed vibe is executed well also, despite being somewhat uncharted territory by the Migos artist. Offset proves that he is more than a rapid fire feature to be cut into a track, and most certainly will outshine the likes of Quavo and Takeoff, if this single is any indication of what album is to come.

Favorite Bar: How I grew up, my momma was my dad. So when I blew up I put her in a pad

Pornhub Valentine’s Day Album – EP – Various Artists

6/10

With the likes of 6ix9ine (currently incarcerated), Pnb Rock, Lil Xan, and MadeInTYO, this project piqued my interest. What originally seemed likes a wild attempt for publicity, the EP turned more into a joke of a project. Never meant to be taken seriously, each track served more so as a light break from the competitiveness that has overtaken the hip hop genre. 6ix9ine’s track, likely the most interesting of the six, includes his signature steel drum hi-hats that somehow leak into songs despite his imprisonment, and echo the vibe of his previous tracks seen on his most recent project, “DUMMY BOY.” Lil Xan, per usual, disappoints to provide any lyrical satisfaction to the listener, and instead gives his trademark groaning into a mic about “bad hoes.” The EP overall was an interesting listen, as Pornhub seems to be the only pornographic streaming service putting out music.

Favorite Bar: That shit be bustin’ like gravy (Like gravy)

Round-Up by Jack Connolly