Usee4yourself

On his second studio full-length USEE4YOURSELF, Maryland rapper IDK brings his personality to the forefront, exploring complex emotions in a way that was only hinted at on earlier projects. Though his early EPs and 2019 studio debut Is He Real? touched on themes of struggle and trauma, IDK lays it all out in specific detail here. This ranges from bluntly expressing insecurity about how critics will rate his music on Dogs Dont Lie to vulnerable autobiographical lyrics of complicated family dynamics on Hey Auntie. The emotional upheaval is balanced out by tracks that are fun and irreverent, and IDKs sometimes-barbed internal world is padded by an impressive list of guest features. Slick Rick, Offset, the Neptunes, Rico Nasty, and Young Thug all make appearances, and highlight cut Red features MF Doom, Jay Electronica, and Westside Gunn all contributing verses over an inventive trap beat. IDKs personality shines on USEE4YOURSELF, at times recalling the wild mix of energy and self-consciousness that made Graduation-era Kanye so captivating. Presenting raw emotion and over-the-top braggadocio with such exacting balance is part of IDKs talent, and he delivers on USEE4YOURSELF like never before. ~ Fred Thomas

メリーランドをベースとする実力派MCによる約2年ぶりのセカンド・アルバムはファーストと地続きにある作品。昨年発表のコラボ企画作で多く絡んだブルー・ロンドがメインでトラックを手掛け、IDKの巧みなラップを活かした多彩な楽曲が揃う。ヤング・サグやオフセット、スリック・リックといったゲスト陣もヴァラエティーに富み、故MFドゥームらを招いた"Red"でのビッグ・タイマーズ名曲の引用も最高だ。
bounce (C)Masso 187um