(Photo By Band Camp)
“Know My Name” (previous review)
“Till You’re Gone” (previous review)
StrangeLand (preview/purchase)
All encompassing duo Strange Tang released their much awaited project StrangeLand early last month. It is hosted by Larry Starks Jr. and tops out at a total of 24 tracks. There are guest appearances from artists such as: Mikey Balboa, Los Peezy, Termanill, and more. Discover what songs The Illixer found the most enticing beyond the jump.
“The Problem”
The production here is decent. It is constructed of: a soft bass, atmospheric musical elements, an unhurried tempo, and a solemn vibe. The hook is solid as well. The delivery is melodic and the lyrics are appropriate. The verses are good. The flows & vocals are diverse, the wordplay hits the spot, and the rhymes & lyrics are telling. The guys ponder over how to deal with a relationship that has gone sour. Specifically, how to address the issues/problems that their ladies have presented to them. Some memorable lines include: “You nourish problems. Then neglect solutions. She said that we need to talk. Can’t never leave well enough or alone. She said that we need to talk. Make a n—a not even wanna come home. Every time I think I’m right, she say wrong. Nothing I ever do is right. So I left. Everything I be writing in these songs is all about her. She couldn’t give a f–k less.” Those bars depict a pretty rough sounding romantic situation. Overall, this track is a gem.
“Hate Me” F/ T-War
The production here is valuable. It entails: a sturdy foundation, desirable secondary components, a magnetic rhythm, and a vibrant vibe. The hook is a winner. The delivery is luring and the lyrics are direct yet catchy. The verses are noble. The flows are full of character, the wordplay is clever, and the rhymes are legitimate. The fellas craft a club worthy offering centered around not being very well liked by their peers and how they deflect it. A handful of lines worth mentioning are: “Okay I came for it and I got it. Took off and I’m pilot. I’m in the club like molly. Any good time, I’m ’bout it. They hating me like violence. I’m like why you n—as so sour? I’m just shifting through my lane. Swear ain’t no team like ours. I came up from them doubters. But them same n—as so cat. How you gone play a n—a like that? Ho you was just texting my jack.” Colorful sly bars being put forth right there. All in all, this song is a smash and a site favorite.
“Ain’t Hittin’ My Blunt” F/ Excluzive
The production here is moderate. The shallow core, durable background ingredients, middling speed, and hood vibe make for a dignified combination. The hook is fair. The delivery has a certain flair to it and the lyrics are real. The verses are of an intermediate quality. The trio come with marked flows, established wordplay, and straight forward rhymes. They convey the explicit message that they have no intentions of sharing during recreational activities if the other parties involved never have anything to bring to the table. A couple of interesting lines are: “You ain’t hitting my blunt dawg. You ain’t never got no loud. Every time you come around, you standing around with yo palm out. Pussy n—a can get the f–k on. Ain’t nothing over here to puff on. (…) You ain’t never got no girls. You ain’t never got no drinks. You ain’t never got no smoke. You ain’t never got no cheese. You don’t never bring s–t. So you ain’t getting no hit a** n—a.” Harsh but true to life bars right there. No one likes a freeloader. In the end, this is an up to par offering.
“On And On”
The production here is of five star quality. It’s actually a sample of infamous Neo-Soul singer Erykah Badu‘s classic song of the same title. It’s a very laid back number with cultivated musical constituents and a soulful vibe. The hook is derived from the original single as well. Which was a rewarding idea. Nothing beats Ms. Badu’s distinct savvy vocals. The verses are estimable. The guys supply mellow flows and conventional rhymes set around parts of the verses from the initial record. They keep the concept pretty basic as they just simply let their easy going dispositions shine through. As a whole, it’s a complimentary remake. Erykah Badu would be very happy with the track.
**My Two Cents: Strange Tang has an admirable mixtape under their belts with StrangeLand. The content was consistently sufficient and went hand in hand with the production. The overall production was of a favorable quality. And the guest appearances were a lucrative addition. In it’s entirety, StrangeLand ranks about a 3.5/5. Readers should consider checking it out if they are in the market for something new and a little different. -MinM
