Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon

The first posthumous album from Brooklyn rapper and drill pioneer Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon expands the rappers legacy with an expansive set of anthems. With a more varied feature list than ever before -- including 50 Cent, Quavo, Roddy Ricch, and DaBaby -- the album is perhaps Smokes most diverse offering to date, providing ballads, throwback rap, and radio-ready trap, alongside his iconic drill sonics. Within these, some refreshing directions arrive: Gangstas is a superb cut reminiscent of prime 50 Cent, while Got It on Me finally provides Smokes fans a high-quality version of the leaked Many Men. Yet it is still in drill that the rapper shines most brightly. He sounds vivid and resonant on cuts like Make It Rain, Tunnel Vision, and Aim for the Moon, bringing his signature charisma and booming tone to the genre. Yet 44 Bulldog, borrowing its beat from Rack5s Giddy, proves the true highlight of the lot, ranking firmly among the rappers best. The album saw release on Universal in July of 2020.

ブルックリン・ドリル界隈の首謀者として数々のスマッシュ・ヒットを放ち、正式デビュー前からすでに知られた存在でありながら2020年2月に他界した故ポップ・スモークの、生前に制作されていた公式ファースト・アルバム。同じNYのレジェンドである50セントの影響を感じさせるドスの効いたラップと、ハードでありながら中毒性高めのフロウが武器となるが、今作はその50がエグゼクティヴ・プロデュースを担当し、客演した"The Woo"や"Got It On Me"などでは50の名曲が引用。先人への敬意とNYシーンの新たな顔役としての気概を強く示し、同じくNY出身であるファボラス"Into You"を引用した"Something Special"も見事。フューチャーやクエイヴォらゲスト勢も豪華だ。
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