Whenever a MC puts together an impressive catalog of mixtapes and EP's, there's of course going to be some added pressure when it's finally time to release that major label debut. For Logic, that pressure is certainly present...or is it? After releasing three stellar mixtapes (one of which I had the pleasure of reviewing) the time has come for what his fans have been waiting for since day one. The anticipation is over. This is his debut album Under Pressure. Like many others, my expectations for this were extremely high. Well I can happily say that those expectations were met. This was hands down one of the best albums I've heard all year. Logic puts together a well thought out album that finally tells his life story. Something we've all been waiting to hear. With plenty of influence from A Tribe Called Quest, Outkast and others, the production is so spot on and fits the mood of each song perfectly. Of course I don't need to tell you ho dope he is lyrically. We already know. He has such a array of different flows and he puts it all on display on this album. So pay attention when listening. You might miss something. Here's the break down:
1. Intro
The opening line of this song sets this album up perfectly: "I just wanna make music lovers remember again". As in make them remember that feeling of listening to good real music again. Music with any kind of meaning. Overall here he just tells you his plans and his intentions for the future of his career. He drops a cool line saying "I'm not defined by the sales of my first week/cuz in my mind I'll only fail if my verse weak". That's a mentality a lot of these new young rappers (the lyrical ones anyway) should have. Good intro.
(SN: As I mentioned in the introductory, one of the influences for this albums sound was A Tribe Called Quest. Well throughout this album, you'll here narration from a female computerized voice named Thalia. She gives you info and fun facts about the album and Logic himself. Logic gets this idea from ATCQ's album Midnight Marauders where they did the same thing. Really cool concepts that fit great with both albums.)
2. Soul Food
There's not many songs on here that sound like mixtape Logic. But this is certainly one. The way he's flowing and his lyrics sounds just like his mixtape work. Solid production here by DJ Khalil. The beat switch up in the middle was really dope. I found myself liking the second half of it a bit better. He even spits that dope "energy/inner G" line that Lupe Fiasco once dropped. I don't see it as jocking though because they used it in different ways. Dope track overall though.
3. I'm Gone
Kanye West was another influence for Logic on this album. Specifically Kanye's early work. This track proves it. With the pianos, the soft melody, the background R&B vocals and the Marvin Gaye sample. It's definitely Kanye influenced. The production was again solid. Great job by 6ix who did great on majority of these songs. I also had to laugh at the Ray Rice pun he threw in the beginning bars. But anyway, I like this overall. Great song.
4. Gang Related
It's the shortest song on the album and it's hands down my favorite. Definitely the dopest beat on the album. A uptempo beat with plenty of bass that totally fits Logic's faster rhyme style. He raps about how even though he grew up in the suburbs, he still seen plenty of crime in his area. As a fellow Maryland'er myself I can totally relate to that and know that everything he's saying is completely true. I truly wish this was a longer song. But it still doesn't change how I feel about it. I flat out loved this track.
5. Buried Alive
Here's another uptempo track with some fast raps. Now judging by these lyrics, it sounds as if he's distracted by issues and drama going on in life. He feels suffocated by it all ("buried alive"). But he believes through it all, he'll survive and be able to do what he does best. Not sure if that's what it is but that's how I interpret it. Now I don't mind Logic's singing (even though he's not the best singer in the world) but I would have done something a bit better with this hook. Still a pretty cool song though.
6. Bounce
On an album with a lot of emotional and personal content, not to mention deep soulful production, there's not gonna be many songs that sound radio friendly. This song is probably the closest to that of any song on the album. The beat (which is done well by S-1 and M-Phazes) has a very jumpy and catchy sound like it could make radio. But I still don't think the radio would play due to Logic's incredible over-your-head lyricism. Despite it, the song is still dope and one of my favorites on the album.
7. Growing Pains III
This is the third track in the "Growing Pains" trilogy. It started with the first one on his first mixtape Young, Rich & Infamous, then the second one on his second tape Young Sinatra. This one I probably like more than the other two simply because he goes more in depth with the topic. Much like "Gang Related", he talks about all the crime and madness he's seen in his hood. Along with that however, family drama, friends drama, even drama with this music thing. It takes a lot to make it out of the struggle and out of stressful environments to make it where you wanna be in life. This song pretty much says that to me. Dope.
8. Never Enough
This song features one of the more catchier hooks on the album (despite the repetitive part). Outkast, another one of the albums influences, is shown here as he does his on rendition of Andre 3000's verse from "So Fresh, So Clean" (the beginning lines. Not the whole thing). I do like the jumpiness of this beat. Another good job by DJ Dahi. This kinda reminds me of Logic's mixtape stuff as well. Would have fit right in with any of those Sinatra mixtapes. But overall yes. I like this.
9. Metropolis
Out of all the songs on this album, this is the one that I probably liked the least. Now that's not saying this is a bad song because it's not. At all. I just didn't gravitate to this one as quickly as I did the other songs. The production, while it was good, was merely average compared to the rest of the albums production. I also didn't like how the interlude with him talking to the girl about Quentin Tarrentino films took up most of the song. I would have liked to have heard more rapping on it. But like I said, the song is not bad at all. Just my least favorite.
10. Nikki
It's here, towards the end of the album, where things get more emotional and serious. It starts with this song. He talks about fight his biggest addiction...nicotine. That's what "Nikki" is short for. I know, I thought it would be an actual girl too. Apparently this is something he's been fighting for a very long time. He even talks about how "Mary" was his first love when he was much younger. But once he got his first hit of Nikki, he was hooked. This is a surprising song to hear because I don't think myself, nor a lot of people were even aware of this cigarette addiction he has. He never talked about it until now. Hopefully he can beat the addiction one day and quit the habit. Smoking is a serious issue that may leave fatal results down the road. Great song.
11. Under Pressure
The overload of emotions continue here. The first part of this song featured a dope drum filled production done well by Logic himself. Also a cool sample from Eazy-E's "Eazy-Duz-It". On this part of the songs he talks about how hard he works and ow he doesn't have time for anything or anyone. He too on his grind. But here's where it gets interesting. Right around the third verse the songs sound and mood changes. You'll now here a Grant Green sample as well as the drum patterns from Kendrick Lamar's "Sing For Me". On this third verse, he portrays his older sister. She's emotionally distressed and wants to talk to Logic but he's not answering the phone at all. While she understands he's busy now, it saddens her as she resorts to taking drugs to calm herself. The fourth verse he portrays his dad. He too calls and apparently leaves a message. Letting Logic know how proud he is of him and how he is drug free now. Just overall showing that he is a good father regardless of what Logic previously thought. There's a middle interlude of his brother leaving a message as well. Telling Logic how he's uncomfortable with their dad's new girl and how he wants to bring her around to meet everybody. Then the fifth and final verse, Logic raps as himself. He responds back to everyone by letter basically apologizing for missing so much and being so busy to not catch up with his family. This is what makes Logic one of the best young talents in hip hop today. The way this songs plays out like a story that you can visually see is simply amazing. This song as over nine minutes long but it doesn't even feel like it. An absolutely amazing song. Definitely the highlight of this album.
12. Till The End
Here, Logic perfectly closes this album out by reflecting on everything. How's he got here and what he had to go through to do it, the family issues and so forth. To add to that, he's also seeing the reality of how tough this industry can be on a young new artist. Especially one that's signed to a big label like Def Jam. The song has a true soulful almost religious sound and feel to it (especially with that middle interlude with the reverend). A good outro song to "conclude the Under Pressure program".
In closing, this album met my expectations and then some. This was certainly one of the best listens of 2014. Certainly the best debut album since Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. Logic waited until the right time to show us all who he is, where he came from and what he has been going through. All through amazing lyricism and flow. I give this a final grade of an A. Logic is such a huge breath of fresh air in the rap game. This album proves it. I admire that he can overcome all that drama in his personal life and make to this point. Putting out quality music with such incredible lyrical content. He is certainly years ahead of his time...and he'll only get better. As a person born and raised in Baltimore Maryland like myself, it feels good to see a MC from my home state (which has been quiet in hip hop for far too long) finally make it. This album may be titled Under Pressure but a the rate Logic is going, I don't think the pressure has gotten to him at all. At least not now. End.
Final Grade: A
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CREDITS
Executive Producers
Ernest Wilson
Arjun Ivatury
Lead Artist
Sir Robert Hall
Production
Arjun Ivatury
Sir Robert Hall
Khalil Abdul-Rahman
David Cunningham
Larry Griffin Jr.
Mark Landon
Donte Perkins
Dacoury Natche
Jeremy McArthur
Collaboration
Donald Glover
Sean Anderson
Label
Visionary Music Group/Def Jam Recordings
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