Lil Herb

Chicago rapper G Herbo started out using the name Lil Herb, back when he was a teenage artist in the evolving 2010s drill scene of his city who was tapped into the grim energy of the emerging subgenre. In the ensuing years, G Herbo found mainstream success with his gruff flows and storytelling lyricism, his sound growing more accessible without losing too much of his initial rawness. Lil Herb harkens back to the rappers early days, with production and flows that evoke the excitement and intensity of his 2010s drill style. Even atop overpowering, thumping beats and dizzy, bleak piano loops, Herbo injects hooks and fluid vocal performances, with tracks like "Reason" and "Went Legit" hitting hard but still making radio-ready impressions. Theres a brief sidestep into R&B-inflected songwriting on "Whatever U Want," complete with a crooned romantic hook from Jeremih, as well as some moments of blockbuster pop-rap crossover on the orchestrated and melodic "Thank Me" with Anderson.Paak and the gospel hooks of "Every Night." The best songs on Lil Herb are those where G Herbo is ruminating on his past, both the memories of struggle and pain as well as the musical foundations that he built his sound on. ~ Fred Thomas

シカゴのシーンを牽引しつつ前線で活動を続けるGハーボのニュー・アルバムはかつての自身のMCネームをタイトルに冠し、初心に返ったような勢いを感じさせる作品だ。初期のミックステープ時代を思わせるハードなドリル路線の曲もありながらジェレマイやアンダーソン・パーク、ワイクリフ・ジョンらとはポップにコラボしたり、とヴェテランらしい懐の広さもあり。"Went Legit"では同郷のカニエ・ウェストの名曲を拝借。さらに"Fallen Soldiers"では同じくシカゴ出身で近しい関係だったジュース・ワールドやキング・ヴォンら故人を追悼し、無慈悲なストリートについて綴っている。
bounce (C)Masso 187um