The Bigger Artist

About

By the middle of the 2010, formulaic rap–R&B collaborations were no longer passports to commercial succe, with the most popular rappers increasingly relying on their own vocal prowess for memorable hook. Amid this cultural shift came A Boogie wit da Hoodie, a Bronx artist who flaunted his knack for melody on his major-label debut album, <i>The Bigger Artist</i>. Released amid the rise of Cardi B and three years after the arrest of Bobby Shmurda, the LP crystallized A Boogie’s status as one of rap's premier hook makers and a torchbearer for the Big Apple. For the project, he collaborates with artists like PnB Rock, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Trey Songz, and Kodak Black, but more often than not, he's the star of the show. Distilling first-person fly-guy narratives through an infectious singsong flow, A Boogie is able to turn single couplets into self-contained microchoruses that beg to be repeated. On "Say A'," which was inspired by a petty traffic stop, he infuses police taunts with playful wit; his melodic delivery morphs it all into something mischievou. The hook itself only enhances the entrancing effect. A Boogie maintains his style whether he’s bragging about his riches or stunting on his ex. On "Unhappy," he coasts over twinkling piano keys fit for a love song. It's sentimental stuff, but he flips the vibes with mocking lyrics that say, in effect, "I'm doing better without you." .

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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