THEY DON'T LOVE YOU X DON TRIP

And we are back with our seventh official review! As promised, the below are our metrics for our reviews. To see our previous review of JOELL ORTIZ X MONDAY, click here.

FEEL- What type of feelings do the music invoke? What does it make you want to do?

LYRICS- Are there bars?

PRODUCTION- Does the artist ride the beats? Does their cadence match the production? Does the production fit well with the project?

OVERALL- How many tracks to we like compared to the number of tracks on the project?

Feel free to use the above for your own reference as you go through the music and let us know what you think! 

THEY DON’T LOVE YOU X DON TRIP

Release Date: September 13, 2019

Number of Tracks: 13

Duration: 43 min

Favorite Track: Breakfast of Champions

Disclaimer: Don Trip is one of my favorite artists, and because this is our first look at him, there will be a lot to unpack, so be prepared for a lengthy review.

The year was 2015 and mixtapes had recently seen their popularity taper off a bit. One of the most popular sites, Datpiff, was especially relevant in generating hype around an artist, and their rating system allowed for the users to choose which mixtapes would be featured. I found this especially useful in discovering new music and artists as well, despite their fall in popularity, and one day my search brought me to the near-perfectly scored mixtape, “In the Meantime,” by one Don Trip. At that point I had never heard of him, but because the tape was rated as high as it was, I decided to give it a listen. What I was presented with was a tape that was extremely aggressive in nature, but was also filled to the brim with bars, and after further research I found out why. The mixtape opens up with one of Trip’s critics, Peter Roseburg, blasting him for what he felt like was a “straight up lack of personality,” and that they had to, “burn the seat to get the personality back,” after Don Trip’s interview with him was over. I take pride in putting others on new music, and after I listened to the self-titled intro, I became an instant fan. What began as a calm rebuttal quickly turned into an increasingly aggressive clap back, as Trip made it clear that he would not stop employing the same tactics that got him to where he was today. To listen to that same intro for yourself, click here. Four years have passed since then, and Don Trip’s latest release Breakfast of Champions is up for our next review. Let’s get right into it.

FEEL

Don Trip is what I would call a “motivational,” rapper. However, his motivation is not geared towards your average person. His recounts of life and struggle are specific only to those who have grown up in low income areas. In the typical story of a struggling black man, who grew up in the hood, and who was raised without a father in his life, Don Trip suggests not pity, but hard work. Unfortunately, his idea of work, (outside of rap,) is selling drugs. This is certainly not uncommon in rap music, however it can be extremely limiting for those who are looking for another way out. Still yet, Trip’s work ethic shines through the music, as he shuns days off and excuses especially. He constantly addresses a topic that is not very well done in rap today: taking care of your kids. In my opinion, it is easy for a famous mainstream rapper, like Drake for example, to take care of his kids. He has the income and revenue to do so, even if he does not take part in it directly. Because Don Trip is neither a mainstream rapper nor a household name, this is much more difficult for him. Additionally, because he was raised in an environment where most men did not raise or take care of their kids, for one reason or the other, he was exposed to the struggle early on. All of this is prevalent in his raps, and whether you agree with his use of drugs as a way to do it, you have to respect his drive. So, when I say that Don Trip’s raps are motivational, I mean that whatever your situation is personally- there is no excuse not go out and make it happen. They Don’t Love You is an album geared towards motivation, with the intro “Get It,” setting the tone for the soundtrack to your grind, whatever it may be.

LYRICS

When it comes to metaphors, Trip is one of the best in the business. His bars were what drew me to him initially, with the aforementioned intro one of the better displays I have ever seen. His content on the album is transparent, which is what I have come to expect from Trip. On “Get it,” he talks about his drive to get up and get to it (the money) everyday whether he feels like it or not. And on “Disappointed,” he expresses his disdain for his father’s lack of presence in his life. His work ethic, paired with his refusal to accept excuses has made me a lifetime fan. Some of our favorite quotables are below.

“Starred Medusa in the eye and I refused to turn to stone,” – Don Trip, Get it

“If my dough aint like Papa Johns – I really don’t f*** wit you niggas,” Don Trip, Guerilla, Guerilla, Guerilla

“I got something to prove- I aint having no fun lately, no I can’t chill until all my children are trust fund babies,” Don Trip, Trust Fund

PRODUCTION

Unfortunately, I could not locate the production credits for the album, nor did I hear any tags or drops that I recognized. Don Trip has an aggressive cadence that rarely changes, and his beats have got to match in order for the song to sound like it is supposed to. The album does provide a few bangers, and I do not have much more criticism in that department.

OVERALL

They Don’t Love You, is Don Trip’s 2^nd studio album release this year, and it has been a welcomed one for his fans and those who seek motivation. The bangers and the bars are well placed on the album, and pair well with the emotional tracks where he addresses black men’s residual inability to care for their children. Trip’s aggressive nature does limit him in the sense that if you are not looking to be motivated, you may not turn him on. However we all will find ourselves in a situation in which we can use some motivation at one point or another, and all rap fans can appreciate bars. I am glad to have discovered Trip back in 2015, and do not hesitate to turn my friends on to his music, and will continue to push They Don’t Love You as one of the top albums of the year. The album earns the high mark of 9 out of 13 tracks, and is a must listen for your 2019 rotation.