Travi$ Scott
“Antidote”
#75
I could give examples, but what would be the point of demonstrating how dumb this record is? Dumb and self-satisfied and condescending and exploitative and whatever other negative attributes you can think of—they’re all there. The echoey, self-congratulatory background vocals are the worst part, but there are plenty of other reasons to dislike it. Did I mention how boring it is? It’s really boring. The only reason Scott isn’t worse than, say, Big Sean, is that Scott isn’t that ambitious. That’s the closest he comes he comes to a saving grace.
Wiz Khalifa Featuring Rae Sremmurd
“Burn Slow”
#83
Given a decent hook, Khalifa’s constant celebration of weed can be entertaining, and here, with the help of Rae Sremmurd and Mike Will, he gets one of his best. Ironically, the hook is so good it renders Khalifa’s presence insignificant. Khalifa reminds me more and more of Ludacris, a guy with only one good trick up his sleeve, who’s pulled it far too often.
Post Malone
“White Iverson”
#84
The music is striking: slow but never ponderous, graced with lovely and distinctive touches. The lyrics, however, are ridiculous: an endless stream of basketball references and players’ names and the obvious rhymes that go with them—rhymes that are neither informative nor illuminating; they’re just rhymes. Thanks to the tempo, they don’t work as jokes, either. Judging by Malone’s voice, it’s possible he can’t rap any faster than this, at least with any kind of credibility. As if a title like “White Iverson” hadn’t destroyed that already.
J Balvin
“Ginza”
#98
If dancehall can make a comeback, why not reggaeton? Admittedly, this is reggaeton-lite at best, and unless there’s some depth to the lyrics I don’t understand, it’s as slight and shallow as pop music gets. It’s good for what it is, though, and the beat lends some life to it.