Best Rapper Cameos On FX’s “Dave”

Lil Dicky’s hit television series Dave has been airing since 2020 and has brought with it a host of exceptional cameo appearances. The series has seen Don Cheadle, Kourtney Kardashian, Marshmello, and even Brad Pitt appear as fictionalized versions of themselves, often for comedic effect. Of course, the series centers on Dave’s rise through the ranks of hip hop, offering an opportunity for many of rap’s finest contemporaries to make their mark. Throughout Dave‘s three seasons, dozens of rappers have popped up to interact with a fledgling Lil Dicky, as he progresses through such gauntlets as the Met Gala, the XXL Freshman cover, and a cross-country tour. Here are seven of the best rapper cameos in the series.

7. Trippie Redd

Unlike most of the other cameos in the show, Trippie Redd appears across several episodes of Dave and even takes Dave’s in-house producer and longtime friend, Elz, under his wing. As an established name in hip hop, Trippie Redd represents what Dave and his cohorts are trying to achieve while also serving as an intimidating figure the main cast is desperate to impress. In fact, Trippie is responsible for kicking off the plot of the Season 1 episode “What Wood You Wear,” after tasking Dave and Elz with babysitting his young and reckless nephew.

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If Trippie Redd represents a daunting force to Dave, Rick Ross is an untouchable leviathan in the series, a proverbial god amongst men. Ross appears in a brief but memorable role in the show’s third season, which sees him bestowing his massive and expensive diamond-studded chain upon Dave for safekeeping. Unfortunately, Dave is set up by a couple of thugs in Atlanta and must go through the wringer to ensure he doesn’t disrespect Rick Ross’s generosity by losing the chain. Eventually, Dave’s relationship with the Maybach Music pioneer paves the way for his success within the industry.

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Doja Cat never actually shared the screen with any of Dave‘s main cast members during her Season 2 appearance. However, her cameo says a lot about societal expectations of women and the mistreatment of artists within the music industry machine. In the episode “Somebody Date Me,” Doja Cat matches with Dave over the celebrity dating app Raya, and the two share a genuine connection over a weekend of texts. Unfortunately, Dave’s self-centered neuropathy results in him blowing his chances with the “Paint The Town Red” vocalist, as Doja’s constant work obligations prevent her from devoting 100 percent of her time to him.

4. Drake

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The hype surrounding Drake’s appearance marked one of the biggest moments in the entire show, concluding the third season with a stunning and hilarious interaction. Drake and Dicky showcase a surprising amount of chemistry during the “One Dance” rapper’s brief appearance on Dave and serves as a punchline to a season-long arc about Dave’s ongoing quest for love. The only reason this cameo doesn’t top the list is because there is a bit of shaky green screen happening in the interaction, which suggests the cameo may have been filmed remotely. While Drake’s first stab at the show was a huge success, fans would surely welcome a chance to see the two rappers reunite in person with a proper cameo next season.

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Killer Mike appears in the same season 3 episode of Dave as Rick Ross and offers a similar awe-inspiring window into success. After spending the entire episode concerned that Killer Mike would not approve of his place in the rap landscape, Lil Dicky happens into a chance encounter with the Atlanta native and pours his heart out in the interest of securing his place in the culture. Killer Mike offers some genuine insight into black culture and the influence that certain elements of the Black experience have on hip hop and successfully convinces the ever-frugal Dave to make a sizable donation to a charitable organization.

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Between the brown curly hair, the beard, and the complexion so white you could probably deep-fry him with a flashlight, Jack Harlow serves as something of an evil twin to Lil Dicky during his Season 3 appearance. Throughout the season, Dave finds himself burdened by unflattering comparisons to Jack Harlow, setting the stage for comedic exploration when they eventually meet up. Unlike many other rappers who appear too big to be aware of Dicky in the series, Harlow is all too familiar with his pale counterpart and was just itching for an excuse to drive Dave out of the Met Gala. The interaction is reminiscent of high school bullying in the silliest way possible.

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Legendary West Coast rapper YG appears in the very first episode of the hit FX series and offers Dave his first real shot at impressing the masses. For many fans who were not aware of Dicky’s music before watching the show, his on-the-spot freestyle, which he drops for YG and company, provides fans and critics alike to see that he truly has a mastery of bars. Over the course of just a few minutes, YG goes from dismissive of Dave to playfully ribbing him to being downright wowed by his lyrical and technical capability. In the end, YG agrees to do a song with Dave and collects a hefty sum for his collaboration. Of course, the episode ends without YG holding up his end of the bargain, leaving Dave to wonder if he’s just made a sizable investment or been scammed.

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GloRilla Is Related To Philly Rapper Not Named Meek Mill?

Believe it or not, GloRilla has extended family outside of her hometown of Memphis, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania. During a recent interview, Big Glo revealed that she’s related to none other than Lil Uzi Vert in real life. While discussing her fellow Leo zodiac sign artists she would collaborate with, including Chief Keef, Soulja Boy and Lil Pump, GloRilla exclaimed, “That’s my real cousin,” when questioned if she would work with him.

Glo continued, remarking on their process to keep it in the family, even though they haven’t gotten the chance to kick it like cousins do in the studio yet.

“We actually working on it,” she said. “We gon’ get it together. We never started on a song, we gotta get it together. That’s my cousin, though.”

The “Yeah Glo!” lyricist went on to reveal that Cheif Keef is her favorite artist, she and Soulja share the same birthday and that she once fantasized about being his “Soulja Girl.”

Check out the full interview below, GloRilla starts talking about Uzi around the three minute mark.

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Pittsburgh Rapper Jamal Knox Sentence To 24 Years For Drug Trafficking

In 2022, a federal jury found Jamal “Mayhem Mal” Knox guilty of conspiracy to distribute Fentanyl. According to reports, a judge has sentenced the Pittsburgh-area rapper and alleged Hustlas Don’t Sleep gang associate to 24 years in federal prison.

Authorities accused Jamal Knox of supplying fentanyl to the HDS drug trafficking organization. Twelve other individuals also faced charges related to the case. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force’s investigation led to the prosecution in Pennsylvania.

“This investigation and prosecution of the HDS gang is the result of sustained, coordinated work by federal, state and local law enforcement working together,” then-U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady stated in 2019.

The Pennsylvania State University School of Law graduate also added, “As long as there are neighborhoods in western Pennsylvania terrorized by gang violence and drug dealers, we will continue to fight for you and your families.”

Jamal Knox Previously Appealed State Conviction On First Amendment Claims

Jamal Knox made national news in 2019 after the United States Supreme Court rejected his case over First Amendment rights. Hip-Hop stars such as Killer Mike, Chance The Rapper, Meek Mill, Yo Gotti, Fat Joe and 21 Savage supported Knox’s artistic expression when creating a track titled “F### the Police.”

A 2012 arrest for gun and drug charges led to Jamal Knox and Rashee “Souja Beaz” Beasley recording “F### The Police.” Knox’s song included lyrics that mentioned killing the two Pittsburgh police officers who arrested him.

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The following year a Pennsylvania state jury convicted Jamal Knox of committing terroristic threats. The jurors disregarded the rhymer’s argument that the First Amendment shields “F### the Police” as protected speech. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld that conviction.

In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act into law. The legislation made California the first state to limit prosecutors’ use of lyrics in criminal cases. Rap lyrics as evidence became a controversial part of the ongoing RICO trial against Jeffery “Young Thug” Williams in Georgia.





T.R.3 & Youni Soul Give Life A ”Second Chance” In New Video

Have you ever got a second chance at life? If you are a father like T.R.3 & Youni Soul you probably understand exactly what they mean to have a “Second Chance” literally, bringing new life into this world. This is their expression of having a second chance physically & spiritually. 

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LEVI – “Second Chance” EP

During these rough times we are living in today, rising Spoken word artist/rapper out of Hampton, VA LEVI releases his powerful new EP speaking on injustice titled “Second Chance“.  Make sure to follow him on Instagram @levi_heron.

LEVI · Second Chance

Industry Plants Are Consuming the Convo, But Are They Real?

In hip-hop, the term “industry plant” is thrown around by fans more frequently than ever. When a new rapper begins to rapidly blow up within the space, they are often accused of having been strategically positioned into the mainstream by music business insiders. The most recent examples being labeled with no proof are artists like Ice Spice and 4Batz. In most cases, detractors let those accusations fly without any concrete proof. In fact, it can be argued that one is hard-pressed to find what exactly defines an industry plant or if such a thing exists at all.

Typically, an industry plant is a negative term used to describe artists who become popular through their connections in the music industry rather than on their own merits, whether that be nepotism, wealth or inheritance.

There’s no doubt that being referred to as an industry plant carries a negative connotation for any artist. However, when put into perspective, it almost seems counterintuitive to scrutinize a creative in any way regardless of whether or not nepotism, media training or being discovered by a proven professional has anything to do with their success. Talent is talent, is it not?

Who Are Hip-Hop’s First Industry Plants?

The rap game’s first instance of what many perceive to be the definition of an industry plant can be traced back to the late 1970s with the origin story of The Sugarhill Gang. When the founders of Sugar Hill Records, Sylvia and Joseph Robinson, came up with the concept for “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979, the husband and wife duo hand-picked Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee to form the group and had them recite the song’s previously written lyrics.

The result was hip-hop’s first commercially successful record. Even though the authenticity of The Sugarhill Gang remains in question, how else would rap music and what it represents have grown beyond New York City’s five boroughs into the global phenomenon it is today without their contribution? So, it can be argued they’re not industry plants at all.

The Term “Industry Plant” Comes to Prominence in the 2010s

As hip-hop progressed through the years, the word industry plant wasn’t being thrown around to describe rappers until the 2010s. The term got more popular when the blossoming careers of rhymers such as Chance The Rapper and Travis $cott took off. Then the “industry plant” label became part of hip-hop’s common vernacular in the internet age. Despite both artists being considered creative masterminds in their respective ways, many naysayers believed, at the time, that their come ups were forced upon the culture rather than finding success on their own merit. They are plenty of conversations online that date back to articles and message boards that discuss the industry plant claims.

Cardi B is another example of a rising star whose legitimacy was brought into question during her rise to the top of not only hip-hop but pop culture as a whole in the late 2010s. Following her days as a popular exotic dancer in New York City and a run on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop, Bardi decided to lean into her increasingly growing social media following by pursuing a career in rap music. In 2017, Cardi B reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bodak Yellow,” which was met with claims that Atlantic Records actually paid for the Bronx rhymer’s success. In response, Cardi hit up social media to dispute the industry plant accusations.

“I’m thankful for Bodak yellow cause it had people and even the label believe in me,” Cardi B wrote in a 2018 Instagram post. “YOU CANT NOT BUY THE GENERAL PUBLIC NO
MACHINE NO MONEY CAN’T BUY THAT! Having stadiums sing out your s**t YOU CANT BUY THAT!”

She continued: “Having artist listening to your music and supporting you can’t buy that! A NUMBER ONE YOU CANT BUY THAT! If it was that easy why can’t they buy everybody on the label one? YOU CANT BUY THE PEOPLE.”

Is the Music Industry a Game of Who You Know?

Whether or not major record labels can use influence and finances to sway mainstream audiences remains a heavy debate. Many hip-hop fans have accused artists of finding their way into the spotlight through those within the industry they are related to. In 2020, Staten Island, N.Y. native CJ landed a top 10 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 “Whoopty,” the most commercially successful New York drill song that wasn’t released by the late Pop Smoke. During that time, CJ was the subject of rampant industry plant rumors given the fact that his uncle is longtime record executive James Cruz.

Similarly, Baby Keem‘s position in hip-hop has been widely ridiculed simply for being the cousin of A-list MC Kendrick Lamar. Even if nepotism did play some sort of role in the careers of artists such as CJ and Baby Keem, it hardly seems fair to diminish their creative output based on the families they were born into.

Artists Who’ve Embraced Being Called an Industry Plant

Some artists have embraced being called an industry plant regardless of the negative undertones the label carries. Georgia-bred rapper Raury made a tremendous splash with his 2014 hit “God’s Whisper” and was immediately lambasted for what was deemed as inorganic success. Rather than deny the jeers, he boldly sported an “Industry Plant” T-shirt on the cover of XXL Magazine as a member of the 2015 Freshman Class. After his rapid ascent in 2019, Iann Dior coyly titled his debut album Industry Plant as an apparent nod to the internet’s keyboard warriors.

Rising Rappers Are Being Accused of Being Industry Plants More Than Ever

In 2024, industry plant accusations have all but ramped up. Platforms like Reddit have found rappers like Ice Spice being referred to as “the biggest industry plant of our lifetime,” all due to a meteoric rise that includes chart-topping songs and brand deals in a relatively short time.

Most recently, some hip-hop fans have had an incredibly difficult time embracing Dallas rap newcomer 4Batz as anything short of an artist being planted into the spotlight. Primarily off the strength of his viral track “Act II: Date @ 8,” which has amassed a staggering 85 million Spotify streams since its release in December of 2023, the rap crooner’s come up has become a daily conversation in the hip-hop space. He’s only dropped through songs so far and a remix with Drake, but 4Batz’s minimal output and current success doesn’t make him an industry plant.

With only four songs to date, the bit of mystery behind 4Batz has seen a social media following that increases by the thousands with each passing day. Along with major cosigns from the rap game’s top acts such as Drake and Kanye West, 4Batz is just the latest in a seemingly never-ending barrage of industry plant accusations without any concrete evidence. Videos of 4Batz went viral early last year for the simple fact that he’s catching attention by wearing a ski mask and beater while singing his heart out. Attention shouldn’t equal accusations.

In all, as the music industry continues to evolve in the ever-changing way fans consume music, the existence of so-called industry plants continues to dominate the conversation. Is the record business purposefully injecting artists into the game in hopes of people gravitating toward their catchy music and magnetic personalities? Or is it nothing more than a conspiracy theory designed by those who live by hitting up the social media comments sections? That’s for you to decide.

See Quickest Come Ups in Hip-Hop

7 Best Hip Hop Moments On “Sesame Street”

Hip hop and Sesame Street have more in common than people realize. For one, they’ve both been around for relatively the same amount of time. Sesame Street celebrated 50 years in 2019 and we know hip hop celebrated 50 years in 2023. Both are also staples in American history and have changed and progressed with the times.

Sesame Street has continued to find more and more ways to appeal to their current audience as time has progressed. However, having current musical personalities as guests will always be one of their sure-fire methods to bring smiles to viewers across the generations. SZA is the latest artist to appear on Sesame Street. While she is certainly not classified as a “hip hop artist,” she did some rapping on her Grammy-winning album SOS.

Music has been an integral part of Sesame Street since it’s been on the air. Artists from all genres have appeared on the show, joining the Muppets to sing about a variety of letters, numbers, and positive topics. Several rappers have appeared on Sesame Street across the years and in some cases, they didn’t even rap in their appearances. In this list, we’re looking at seven rappers who have appeared on Sesame Street.

Read More: Sesame Street Introduces New Black Muppets To Teach Kids About Race

Ice Cube is a hip-hop artist who appeared on Sesame Street in 2014. Though a pioneering figure in gangsta rap, Ice Cube certainly shifted towards a more family-friendly image as the years went on. He began to mostly use it for a comedic context which longtime supporters continue to have mixed perspectives on.

However, his appearance on Sesame Street is not surprising given his starring roles in the family comedies Are We There Yet? and Are We Done Yet? In his time on the show, Elmo and him discuss the word “astounding.” Cube performs some magic tricks with his final one being turning himself into a literal ice cube. Interestingly enough, his connection to Sesame Street does goes back to his days as a rapper. He sampled an original song from the show called “Big Bird Writes A Poem” in his song “A Bird In The Hand.”

Ice – T (2007)

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Similar to Ice Cube, Ice-T is an integral figure in gangsta rap, though as time went on, he also began to embrace a more mature presence in the media. As a result, he appeared on Sesame Street, though his appearance on the show wasn’t his first time brushing shoulders with the cast. Elmo was there during his appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in 2009.

During his segment on Sesame Street, the rapper appeared on the set of Law & Order. While weaving the crime thriller’s essence into the family-friendly show, he came through with some educational bars surrounding rhyme schemes.

Read More: Lil Nas X & Elmo Put New Spin On “Elmo’s Song”

Queen Latifah (1992)

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Queen Latifah established herself as hip-hop royalty early on and her appearance on Sesame Street arrived at the height of her music career. Her friendly personality translated well to her segment where she did a rap about the letter “O.” Her segment was actually a music video complete with costume and background changes where she was joined by Muppet co-stars Merry Monster and Prairie Dawn, who were dressed like her. Telly Monster is also on the song and his dilemma is the center of the song’s subject. The flow and production on the song may cause some to think of “That’s The Way We Flow,” which this song parodies.

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Chance The Rapper is one of the two rappers from the current generation who’ve appeared on the show. And surprisingly, his segment doesn’t deliver any bars. The rapper’s appearance focused on the letter “T” and how it stood for “theater”. He was in a play with Cookie Monster that Elmo directed but there was a small humorous miscasting with their roles. The segment showed Chance’s comedic side which has shown up throughout his career and music. It came to the forefront when he became the host of Punk’d in 2020.

Read More: Chance The Rapper In Talks To Join “Sesame Street” Movie

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Out of everyone on our list, Pharrell may be the least surprising entry. Pharrell has expanded far past the world of hip-hop with his entrepreneurship, fashion and other endeavors. Appearing on Sesame Street in 2016 was another notch on his endless resume. During his appearance, he performed a song that focused on his singing abilities. This one was also a music video with several shots of Elmo and Cookie Monster dancing along to the song. The song was about the letter “B” and more specifically – how it’s the first letter in the word “book.” Pharrell sings about the importance of imagination with books and as many of his supporters know, innovation, imagination, and creativity are pillars of his brand and image.

Common (2012 & 2019)

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Common is a hip-hop artist who has always had a positive image and message in his music. It’s very fitting that he would appear with the Sesame Street characters. It’s even more fitting that he wrote an original song for them about the forever important concept of respect. The song titled “Give It, Live It, RESPECT” was shared via a music video that featured practically all the Sesame Street Muppets. Appearing alongside Common in various areas of a recording studio, they happily rapped the chorus and other parts with him. This did not take place on a specific episode of Sesame Street but was part of their campaign to celebrate 50 years of Sesame Street in 2019.

Common also appeared on the show in 2012 alongside Colbie Caillat to perform a song called “Belly Breathe.” Elmo was also included in this song. The song taught children how to calm themselves when they were upset by just putting their hands on their stomachs and taking deep breaths. Common’s rapping once again was utilized here positively and educationally.

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Anderson Paak is the second current generation hip-hop artist on this list. Unlike Chance, music was at the forefront for his segment on Sesame Street in 2022. Once again, Elmo and Cookie Monster were the featured characters. In it, the trio sings and raps about holidays of all kinds from around the world. Anderson .Paak’s fun personality translated well through his performance in the segment where his wide smile was on display as expected. He also played the drums while performing the song, a feat he often does in his music too.

What are some of your favorite hip-hop moments from Sesame Street? Let us know in the comments section.

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Adi Oasis and Jamila Woods turn “Red To Violet” [Video]

Paris, France-born, NY-based singer/songwriter Adi Oasis is a multifaceted musician whose other skills include the bass and smooth choreography to boot. She bursts through the doors in 2020 with the captivating duet with Kamauu, “Mango”, which was produced by her own outfit Nightshade with partner Morgan Wiley. She has gone on to perform at numerous events and festivals such as Central Park Summerstage, and Afropunk to name a few and done fashion campaigns for more than a handful of brands.

Her latest release “Red To Violet”  is a brilliant sultry collaboration with R&B poet/musician Jamila Woods, the long-time collaborator of Chance The Rapper, Mykki Blanco et al. The Nightshade-produced record is a blend of retro funk, neo-soul and a dash of classic R&B twisted in the singer’s own unique manner. The singers deliver a sultry and soul-lifting performance ripe with vivid songwriting that dwells on the need for empowerment in the minority community regardless of their background, identity or creed. The record is a staunch declaration of ownership and the chance to live up to one’s potential without barriers. The record also pays tributes to women like Kentanji Brown Jackson, Stacey Abrams, AOC and all the other people out there who are taking charge and making change.

Director Simone Holland‘s visuals really stand out with the use of performance shots, retro-styled aesthetics and effects that accentuate Adi and Jamila’s femininity while exuding their strengths as women who are taking the lead in changing the world, one step at a time.

Stream “Red To Violet” on all DSPs here.

Check out Adi Oasis International Tour Dates below

# = w/ Chet Faker

 

9/8: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts #

9/9: Boston, MA @ House of Blues #

9/10: New York, NY @ Terminal 5 #

9/12: Montreal, QC @ MTELUS #

9/13: Toronto, ON @ HISTORY #

9/14: Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall #

9/16: Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre #

9/18: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue #

9/20: Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall #

9/21: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot #

9/23: Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre #

9/26: San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield #

9/28: Seattle, WA @ The Showbox #

9/29: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater #

9/30: Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre #

10/22: London, England @ Lafayette London

10/23: Barcelona, Spain @ Sala La Nau

10/24: Madrid, Spain @ El Pavón Teatro Kamikaze

10/27: Paris, France @ Cafe de la Danse

10/29: Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje

10/30: Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Muziekcentrum Frits Philips

10/31: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet

 

Keep up with Adi Oasis | Soundcloud: TikTok: Website : Youtube : Instagram

Krizz Kaliko – “Wrapped Up ‘21” (EP Review)

This is the 3rd EP from Kansas City recording artist Krizz Kaliko. Coming up as one of the first acts to sign to Strange Music alongside Kutt Calhoun, he would go on to work very closely with the local independent powerhouse’s founder Tech N9ne for nearly 2 decades whether it be providing featured rap verses or simply providing background vocals for a number of albums & EPs that Tech has put out. As far as his own output goes, Krizz dropped a total 7 full-length albums & 2 EPs through the Snake & Bat before amicably departing over the spring to form his very own label Ear House Inc. alongside his wife Shoo Shoo. They’ve dropped a handful of singles throughout the year since & are now combining them into Wrapped Up.

“Gifted” is an energizing opener to the EP with Krizz & Shoo Shoo hopping on an aggressive trap beat from Seven to spit some hardcore braggadocio raps whereas “Snowfall” switches it up into a lighthearted Christmas ballad with some warm piano melodies throughout. “Somewhere” takes things into a more glossier route singing his ass off providing motivation for those who’re in a dark place this holiday season just before “Weight” comes through with an ode to body positivity fusing elements of gospel & trap pretty well.

The song “Feelin’ Good” is a decent summertime bop with an “All Night”-esque instrumental from Wyshmaster that’s all fine & dandy until Futuristic comes in sounding like a blatant Chance the Rapper clone while the penultimate track ”Pressure” goes into a darker direction talking about moving forward despite the struggles of everyday life. Then there’s “B.B. (Birthday Bitch)”, where Krizz & T-Pain deliver a hyphy-tinged banger for all the ladies out there that want to celebrate their special day.

Krizz has always been a man of many talents with Wrapped Up, we got a respectable kickoff to this new chapter of his career. Much like his Strange swan song L.I.F.E. (Legend Immortal Forever Eternal), the EP is a healthy mix of his lethal MCing skills & powerful singing voice except he’s proving that he can hold it all down without Tech N9ne.

Score: 7/10

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