Hate Logic all you want — you're only giving him more ammunition.
He spits quicker than an automatic rifle on "Homicide" (the smash single from the Maryland rapper's new album, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), spewing pointed bar after bar at his detractors at a rate that one can't help but applaud, even if some lines have truer aim than others. He even raps at a clip rivalling renowned MC Eminem, and their knowing inclusion of a spoof of Slim Shady's mangled style by comic Chris D'Elia puts the track over the top.
But Logic is even more impressively reflective on the title track. It finds him candidly rhyming about social media barbs tearing at his heart: "I ain't black in the slight least / I ain't good enough, I should quit, I should kill myself." The muffled melancholic percussion supplied by 6ix, Logic's in-house producer, subtly but effectively drives those lines home. Even if the naysayers deem his path to be smoother than that of rappers with darker skin tones, or accuse him of cynically biting Kendrick's flow (which he also mentions on the track), only the truly heartless won't be engrossed by Logic's compelling, nakedly relatable insecurity on this track.
Sadly Logic fails to always dig that deep. Both "clickbait" and "Wannabe" feature grating instrumentals and cloying lines about longing for fame and social gratification (though the former at least has a gossip-inducing diss at Charlamagne Tha God).
More worthwhile Confessions tracks include "Out of Sight" (on which Logic scoffs at those who hope to see him fall while synths murmur in accord), and "Pardon My Ego" (which boasts a tight vocal sample that hums like an insect, exotic flutes, and percussion more rapid and pointed than karate chops all courtesy of 6ix and German production duo Cubeatz). And when you have Gucci Mane drawling hilariously about his jewellery on "Icy" ("I'm a human glacier, wrist full of frozen water (Well, damn)") or none other than Will Smith cracking wise about the Fresh Prince theme, then there's little more your haters can do but look on with envy.
Fun and compelling as such high points can be, nothing on this album reaches the strata of the title track. If Confessions of a Dangerous Mind had a few more compelling confessions and vulnerable couplets, then Logic wouldn't need to impress us with flexes like a Fresh Prince feature.
(Visionary Music Group/Def Jam)He spits quicker than an automatic rifle on "Homicide" (the smash single from the Maryland rapper's new album, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), spewing pointed bar after bar at his detractors at a rate that one can't help but applaud, even if some lines have truer aim than others. He even raps at a clip rivalling renowned MC Eminem, and their knowing inclusion of a spoof of Slim Shady's mangled style by comic Chris D'Elia puts the track over the top.
But Logic is even more impressively reflective on the title track. It finds him candidly rhyming about social media barbs tearing at his heart: "I ain't black in the slight least / I ain't good enough, I should quit, I should kill myself." The muffled melancholic percussion supplied by 6ix, Logic's in-house producer, subtly but effectively drives those lines home. Even if the naysayers deem his path to be smoother than that of rappers with darker skin tones, or accuse him of cynically biting Kendrick's flow (which he also mentions on the track), only the truly heartless won't be engrossed by Logic's compelling, nakedly relatable insecurity on this track.
Sadly Logic fails to always dig that deep. Both "clickbait" and "Wannabe" feature grating instrumentals and cloying lines about longing for fame and social gratification (though the former at least has a gossip-inducing diss at Charlamagne Tha God).
More worthwhile Confessions tracks include "Out of Sight" (on which Logic scoffs at those who hope to see him fall while synths murmur in accord), and "Pardon My Ego" (which boasts a tight vocal sample that hums like an insect, exotic flutes, and percussion more rapid and pointed than karate chops all courtesy of 6ix and German production duo Cubeatz). And when you have Gucci Mane drawling hilariously about his jewellery on "Icy" ("I'm a human glacier, wrist full of frozen water (Well, damn)") or none other than Will Smith cracking wise about the Fresh Prince theme, then there's little more your haters can do but look on with envy.
Fun and compelling as such high points can be, nothing on this album reaches the strata of the title track. If Confessions of a Dangerous Mind had a few more compelling confessions and vulnerable couplets, then Logic wouldn't need to impress us with flexes like a Fresh Prince feature.