DC4

About

There's a tragic yet inspirational beauty to the cover of Meek Mill's <i>DC4</i> mixtape, which features an illustration of a mug shot he says was taken after he was brutalized by police at the age of 18. It harks back to a young, fiercely determined Philadelphia street dweller looking to turn his rap skills into a pathway out of situations like the one that led to the image. Released in 2011, the first <i>Dreamchasers</i> mixtape was his debut solo project on Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group label, and it crystallized the Philly spitter's knack for percussive flow, pummeling anthem, and intense street raps that could be as vicious as they were aspirational. He continued in that vein with <i>DC4</i>, the fourth installment in the <i>Dreamchasers</i> serie. With hammering production, agile flow, and a star-studded list of feature, it's like an exhibition for a heavyweight champ. But it's got the ferocity of an underdog. <i>DC4</i> begins with the soundtrack for a climax, sampling Carl Orff's legendary "O Fortuna" for "On the Regular." Attacking the orchestral soundbed, Meek lets loose a classic barrage of dope-boy exploits for an opener fit for gladiator. For "Froze," he, fellow Philly native Lil Uzi Vert, and Nicki Minaj bounce across a demonic trap beat for a flex anthem that meshes melody with invincible braggadocio. Teaming with Young Thug and an ascendant 21 Savage, Meek combines glimpses of rap-star luxury with tongue-in-cheek death threats that evoke a rare level of sly menace: "When them things hit 'em, that's an L, n***a/So you should be home before mama got dinner for sale, n***a." .

via Apple Music

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