SremmLife 2 - Rae Sremmurd REVIEW

    The two hyped-up kids that called themselves 'Rae Sremmurd'  have grown up from their 'No Flex Zone' days and are making much music that is better and gentler on your ears. Rae Sremmurd is a rap duo consisting of two young brothers, Slim Jxmmy and Swae Lee. They were brought on by producer Mike Will of Ear Drummers Entertainment. Someone who has worked with rappers like Gucci Mane and Young Thug. They turned heads when they dropped 'SremmLife' last year, which was carried by the songs 'No Type' and 'No Flex Zone' two songs that blew up on the internet. In 'No Type' the duo raps in a very high-pitched voices, which is hard on the ears, and sounds terrible if you listen to it for the first time. This is because the rap-style they have is not very lyrical and it felt worse because puberty hadn't hit their voices yet. Once you listen to it more you notice that Swae Lee's melodies are actually really nice, and feel like a breath of fresh air. Slim Jxmmy's verses weren't good yet and his voice hadn't matured so at that point he was the worst rapper of the two. Their albums sold very well and was a very fun album to people that didn't mind their squeaking voices.
    After touring with all-stars like Nicki Minaj they made some new songs. In these new songs they are noticeably better in every category (Style, Lyrics, Flow).
    'SremmLife 2' starts off with a banger, the appropriately named 'Start a Party'. The rappers come on with a vicious flow accompanied by a fast and trappy beat. The beat is dark and sounds like a Lamborghini engine combined with a synthesizer, and both rappers start rapping with a flow eerily similar to Zombie Juice's. The song makes you nod your head and dance, it is a great track to 'Start a Party' or start this party. 'Real Chill ft. Kodak Black' is the second track and it is not very good. The beat is great but the repetitive rap on it is claustrophobic. Kodak Black's verse is cool, but it isn't enough to make this song a song you can put on your playlist.
   'By Chance' is the next song and was the first music video released to hype up the album. The beat is menacing with a piano riff sounding like a ghost mansion from Super Mario Bros. The rap is breezy with Swae Lee carrying the chorus with a forced low voice. It sounds very smooth, so smooth that it smooths out Slim Jxmmy's scratchy voiced part.
   'Look Alive' was the second single released and is very smooth and well produced. The vibe is amazing, Swae Lee's chorus is beautifully sung and Slim Jxmmy's verse is witty and fits perfectly. Swae Lee's singing in his verse is also well sung and very fun. You notice there is little auto-tune in his chorus, which is impressive. Also worth noting, Swae Lee's chorus is done well live too, as shown on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (During the performance Slim Jxmmy kills a moonwalk as he raps). This is just a great song overall.
   'Black Beatles ft. Gucci Mane' has a beat resembling something from the rock/pop group 'The Killers' with great piano in the background. Gucci Mane raps like his old self and has a verse that fits well with the rhythm. The hook Swae Lee sings is the best part, pulled off so smoothly, it is very impressive-

'That girl is a real crowd pleaser
Small world, all her friends know of me  
Young bull livin' like an old geezer  
Release the cash, watch it fall slowly  
Frat girls still tryna get even
Haters mad for whatever reason
Smoke in the air, binge drinkin' They lose it when the DJ drops the needle.'

'Set the Roof ft. Lil Jon' is another great party track made by the duo, Swae Lee shows his versatility with great speed and timing. Slim Jxmmy also does a great job on his verse which is very catchy.

'Came a Long Way' definitely has the best production with a piano that sounds bittersweet, like the feeling of something taking all your happiness away leaving you with only shattered fragments of what once was. Maybe that's too far, but it's a great beat. Slim Jxmmy carries this song with a hook and a verse that fit the beat like a glove, then he brings in Swae Lee with another good verse. This song shows the duality of the two brothers. This might be the best track on the album, it is very good.
     I take it back, 'Do Yoga' is the most fun, and the best track on the album. The hook is simple and smooth, with Swae Lee talking over the tranquil beat made by Mike Will. Slim Jxmmy pulls off a smooth verse, which is interesting because most of his verses are with his scratchy voice. Swae's verse is also as smooth as the hook, just more sexual. This song could possibly get radio play because it is smooth and catchy. Plus it would be cool to hear trap on the radio. 'Over Here ft. Bobo Swae' is a throwaway track. 
   Although only one of these new songs has potential to become a hit, it is a fun album to listen to, from a rap group that focuses on fun rather than lyrics or message. The duo noticeably went through many improvements, Swae Lee's great melodies, Slim Jxmmy's lyrics, and the outstanding production (mostly by Mike Will). This isn't a great album, but a good one.
GOOD TRACKS - 'Start a Party', 'Look Alive', 'Black Beatles', 'Set the Roof', 'Came a Long Way', 'Just Like us'
NOT SO GOOD TRACKS - 'By Chance', 'Real Chill', 'Over Here', 'Swang', 'Shake it Fast'
Best Track - 'Do Yoga'
6/10
                                                                             --KSP--