Logic has returned with his second LP this year, returning to his sonically ethereal sound of hip-hop to expand on the frustrations of digital culture. The Maryland emcee discusses what unique trends on social media affected his mental health along with everyone that sees the message yet doesn’t realize that they’re embodying the sickness.
An artist of many names (Bobby Tarantino, Young Sinatra, Bobby Hall), Sir Robert Bryson Hall is the biracial rapper with unbelievable rhyming ability that a conscious rap fan wouldn’t think comes from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Logic has built a very impressive line of music before reaching 30 years of age from the Young Sinatra mixtape series, to his first No.1 album “Everybody” now in the present of alt-rock/pop soundtrack “Supermarket.” He’s also an author of the book of the same name that has come to prominence from hits such as the suicide prevention anthem “1-800-273-8255” and from his boomtrap persona Bobby Tarantino with “44 More” and “Flexicution.”
The title track and opener “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” sets the tone. Logic explains why social media has been a constant trigger to his depression through a soulful beat that comes from the heart. He expands on his constant Twitter and Instagram hate of usual ethnicity raps and comparisons of the old and new albums.
“They always compare, they always compare me to others / And try to pit me up against all my brothers / Now why you think so many rappers be overdosin’ at the crib? / 'Cause people just won't let 'em live.”
He discusses how artists in their prime have shockingly passed away due to the characters portrayed in the media. Through a couple tracks, Logic definitely raps from the heart, but some media trolls wouldn’t care but rather tear it or the artist apart.
A dream came true for Hall as he got hip-hop legend and purist Eminem on “Homicide.” Both rappers are committing lyrical mastery and murder at the same time as they address the inferior annoyance of mumble rap. I’d call this a friendly rap battle between a titan and a God of destruction as their flows are literally semi-automatic AR’s punching righteous holes through a style of music that’s beneath them. Some fans would wonder if they’re wasting their breath degrading a millennial subgenre, but the honesty is true to both lyricists as fantastic storytellers.
“Wannabe” is the shortest song but possesses one of the blunt truths about social media: People always compare their social successes to others in a desperate plea for fame. He calls social media a contest in which your page isn’t receiving your desired attention from the public, then it’s a downer to raise your stress.
In “Clickbait,” Logic highlights more on social influence and drug use, illustrating how the media takes advantage of an artist’s lifestyle or passing to make money.
“Say I should empty the whole bottle in my mouth like Peep / And overdose, immortalize myself / While the media use my death, monetize they wealth / RIP Lil Peep, let that young man sleep.”
In “Mama/Show Love,” two distinct trap bangers are inside: One for the braggadocio and one for the rap appreciation of peers. YBN Cordae’s flow is flawless, but Logic raps the message in the best way in flexing integrity.
“Look at all the fame and the fortune, the pain and extortion / The Range and the Porsches, the same, but it’s gorgeous / Mama called me, said your name on the Forbes list / Thank God your daddy never paid for abortion.”
Majority of the production in Logic’s records goes to his close friend 6ix, but the next two tracks would put you back in the early 90’s. You’ll have to “Pardon My Ego” because he can’t help but flourish the rhyming gift that made him famous and the long-awaited dreams that are accomplished, according to Logic.
“COMMANDO” is my favorite track because the beat is divinely outstanding and it unites two rappers who came up about the same time: Logic and G-Eazy. Both emcees’ debut albums released in 2014 and they’ve been compared to each other ever since (make a Pandora station from either and you’ll see my point). G-Eazy addressed these rumors declaring that they’re only brothers in the rap game here to acquire fortune and respect.
Ever since Logic changed his lifestyle into eating right and working out, he’s had a happier, wealthier lifestyle, which he raps on “Icy” and “Still Ballin.” Both of these tracks, with respective features of Gucci Mane and Wiz Khalifa, have the same subject matter on confidential increase through rapping of ascending new heights in different lanes. On a more serious side, Logic’s vocals open up to a negative vice of mental health in “Cocaine” because he feels the need to address some drugs to prove heavy glorification.
“I don't really wanna glorify it, but the streets glorify it / So I gotta glorify it ’fore the people throw a riot / If I don't talk about it on my album, they won’t buy it.”
The Rattpack fans love Robert Hall because he tells fans to “don’t be afraid to be different” no matter what they follow. What better rap and movie legend to help tell the message than Will Smith.
“Bad vibrations, I stay distant / RattPack, MSFTS, doin’ it different / Fortnite doin’ the Carlton dance / Come on, it’s just different, man,” Smith raps.
With a trailblazer like Will Smith referencing his beloved “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” character, both rappers are as charismatic to this dance tempo that puts you in a time warp of imagining Carlton doing his famed dance from Bel-Air.
The ending track is Bobby’s last confession about what’s next for his life in “Lost in Translation.” The song gives that boom-bap wave known in previous albums such as “YSIV,” likening himself to rap legend Andre Benjamin on a booming drum loop.
“I’m feelin’ like Andre pre-3K ’cause all I got is Benjamins / Y’all know the regiment R-A-double-T-P-A-C-K / Rappin’ like back in the day, yeah, you heard what I say / From EBT and watchin’ BET on my TV to platinum CD.”
The second verse delivers aggressive Logic in declaring his progress on his upcoming movie in Japan where the outro is appropriate and humorous in Japanese.
“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” has Logic being a healthier hip-hop enthusiast that showcases Hall’s abilities to deliver boastful bangers and to detach himself from music’s evil vices. He’s still not afraid to speak out on media issues; he rather digests the negativity he gets daily and puts it into melodic or conscious boomtrap. Logic still handles anxiety, however, as long as music is his primary passion, he’s truly “Limitless” with risk-taking energy that only dangerous minds can handle.
