Every Pusha T signed with Good Music people have been wondering how its was going to work out. Good Music is a good look from a creative control aspect, and people instantly expected major beats , ill collaboration, and a much needed push.
But questions would circle , how would Pusha do on a solo effort without Malice ? And after the Good Music cypher on the BET Awards, slew of radio verses , a well received mix tape, the answers would come back wait and see.
Pusha - T finally delivers Fear of God II to answer the questions.
There is no denying that Pusha can rap, and has flow, lyrically its good, but its not very very creative, its average for him, knowing he could do better. He could have dug a lil deeper for for some of the lines or tightened up in between the punch lines. He doesn’t really show a variety of techniques for the album, its usually the same type of flow, and delivery that we’re accustomed to from him and the same goes for versatility and subject range, its a lot of braggadocios and street talk as usual, not a really a problem but we could do to hear a little something different. But he does show a little difference in approach on “Alone in Vegas” and “What Dreams are Made of” is bragging on a new level, using a sample of Ric Flair in the background ranting, its major league cool.
Production wise, the beats work, but was expecting bigger beats, considering its a Good Music release. Sonically there isn’t a real over all sound, its not a very musical album, there basic good street beats, a few head nodders, but nothing that really really stands out. Honestly I think he would benefit from working predominantly with one producer to craft a solo sound.
On the song making side of things, as stated earlier, lyrically its straight, but the hooks need work, some of the songs don’t seem fully developed. So sometimes it seems more like a mix tape than an album.
The album is pretty good, it suffers because there are good songs but no one song stands far out and beyond. Pusha doesn’t seem comfortable yet creating by himself, it seems as if something is missing, he does much better on the tracks with features, so the album is feature heavy. He doesn't seem as if he can yet carry an album by himself. The good things about the album are the consistency, there is not really much fall off song to song, line to line, lyric for lyric. The collabs work, Check “Amen” the best song on the album, featuring Kanye and Jeezy. “Trouble” f/ Tyler the Creator, “Raid” f/ 50 Cent and Pharell and “I still Wanna” f/ Rick Ross who delivers a stellar verse and Ab Liva. and “Body Work” f/ Juicy J, Meek Mill and French Montana. As far as collabo go he’s definitely getting the push.
I don't know how it will sale, I can see “Amen” possibly getting some radio play hopefully. Pusha’s calm cool delivery almost hold him back a little, because there is not much change up and very little enthusiasm in his voice and its hard to pull off the monotone on every track. Its very consistent, he stays in his lane and does what he is comfortable with and thats a little bit of a fault. I wish he would have taken a few risk, tried something new, given a surprise or two, because the album doesn’t show any growth as an artist, depth or development. The Album is not bad however, its a better second listen than first, it may grow on you, maybe a cult favorite. I expect it to be a very polarizing album among critic and fans. I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 6
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