College Park＜限定盤＞

Maryland-born, multi-platinum rapper Logics 2020 retirement from music was short-lived to say the least, as his would-be final album No Pressure was quickly followed by more new mixtapes and studio albums before even a full 12 months passed. College Park continues the technical flexing Logic displayed on its immediate predecessor, Vinyl Days, but fixates on nostalgia with both its production and lyrical themes. Musically, Logic ventures back the stoned, jazzy instrumentals and mellow production of golden-era 90s hip-hop, with relaxed horn samples and gentle grooves backdropping lucid flows on "Clone Wars III" and a smiling guitar loop, soulful backup singers, and flute runs on "Village Slum" (the title itself an obvious homage to the influence of Detroits finest late-90s rap group, Slum Village). This vibrant and nostalgic production defines the majority of the album, moving more towards pop on the catchy weed ode "Highlife" and opting for sharp funk and hooks sung by special guest Norah Jones on "Paradise II." While Logics lyrics move between remembering his days making songs in his basement and accessing how far hes come, College Park plays out like a docudrama on the rappers early days, with dramatized skits between songs set in 2011, when Logic and his friends were just getting their start in music and playing their first shows. The overall feel of the album is warm and feel-good, as Logic strolls through the past and considers how it took him to where he is now, as RZA, Bun B, Juicy J, Lucy Rose, Redman, and others stop by to join in on the fun and reminiscing. ~ TiVo Staff

長らく在籍したデフ・ジャムを離れて心機一転となる新作は、若かりし頃に住んでいた街の名を冠し、初心に返ったかのようにピュアなヒップホップ愛を感じさせる一枚だ。冒頭曲でのRZAを筆頭にレッドマンやジューシーJ、リル・キキらレジェンドたちを招聘し、ジョーイ・バッドアス参加の"Shimmy"では故オール・ダーティ・バスタード、バンB参加の"Ayo"では故ピンプCの名曲をそれぞれ引用。随所で巧みなネームドロップも聴け、"Village Slum"というタイトルは故J・ディラの所属したグループを想起させられる。ノラ・ジョーンズやアンディ・ハルといったシンガー勢とのメロウなコラボも良い。
bounce (C)Masso 187um