RICH SLAVE X YOUNG DOLPH

 

And we are back with another official review! As promised, the below are our metrics for our reviews. To see our previous review of BDAY TUNES 3 X ROD PREVAIL, clickhere.

 

FEEL- What type of feelings does the music evoke? 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 do 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! 

 

RICH SLAVE X YOUNG DOLPH

Release Date: 8.14.20

Number of Tracks: 16

Duration: 44 MIN

Favorite Track: HOLD UP

Rotation Tracks: Death Row, The Land, Cray Cray, RNB, Until it Rot, No Sense, 1 Scale

 

Way back in 2009, when mixtapes were still at the height of their powers, the site Livemixtapes, rivaled the up and coming Datpiff for the top spot in the newly introduced steaming sites. And while Datpiff was largely at the forefront by the time 2012 rolled around, Livemixtapes was still a trusted resource for new music. The landing page was fully dedicated to the pending release of Young Dolph’s High Class Steeet Music 3: Trappin’ out a Mansion. Headlined by his hit single, Lebron, a young Oracle gave the tape a listen, and has been a fan ever since.

 

Dolph’s rise to stardom was a storied run, not without controversy. From label allegations to a constant feud with fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti, (who we have already reviewed on this site) Dolph has seen his name in the headlines more than a few times. His accomplishments however, from building his own label, Paper Route Empire (PRE) and signing his cousin Key Glock, have solidified him as one of the most influential artists out of his city.

 

Young Dolph is what is known as unapologetic. Not to be mistaken for ignorance, he does not care what people think or say about him, his lifestyle, or his raps. And while he is undoubtedly talented, his music is not exactly profound, which limits the times in which his music can be played. With 2020 going the way that it has however, and social injustices at the forefront of most mainstream media, Dolph was set to address current events in his own with the release of Rich Slave.

 

 

Feel

Most of Dolph’s music feels hype, as a means to get hype for a gym run, or a party. It is meant to be played turned all the way up, base high with the intent to beat down the block. Rich Slave does see a bit of a drop off in what we are used to seeing from Dolph, as it does not feel as aggressive as we have come to expect from one of his tapes. This is likely a direct result of 2020 however, as there is likely not a single person who has not suffered this year. Rich Slave feels rather sedated for a Dolph album, but it is my interpretation that it is out of respect for others.

 

“I Feel Like God Blessed me every time that I sneeze.”

 

Lyrics

Young Dolph was never regarded as a lyricist, but that does not mean he cannot be successful. Rap music has many lanes, and Dolph is one who simply puts out bangers. That said, Rich Slave is a step back from his normal raps, as with The Land, Dolph recounts his views on what black America is currently facing.

 

“They say this the land of the free (that’s a lie) but it seem like the land of bullshit to me.”

 

As for features, noteworthy appearances include Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, and G Herbo The spot for best feature on this project is awarded to G Herbo, as his cadence (as offbeat as it may be) perfectly complimented Dolph’s flow on 1 Scale. Each of the three featured artists held their own however, and we would not contest those who picked one over the other.  

 

 

Production

As soon as Hold Up comes through the speakers, and I heard “Let the Band play,” I knew it was about to be a banger. Bandplay has come up on ORR before on previous reviews, but this is hands down some of his best work. Production is a key component in Dolph’s tape since, he is not a lyrist, and it makes or breaks his tracks.

 

Overall

Young Dolph has seen significant improvement since Lebron (2013), and while there is still plenty of room for improvement, it is safe to say he is operating well in his prime. Rich Slave is an example of the growth and development needed to survive the limelight, and packs a few bangers consistent with what we have come to expect from him. Of the 16 total tracks, 8 of them are rotation worthy, giving Rich Slave a high mark of 50%. ORR definitely recommends it for your continued quarantine spins.

 

The album in a word: Consistent

 

10.20.2020 – The Oracle