Bobby Tarantino II album cover. (Def Jam Recordings)
Rapper Logic surprises listeners and surpasses expectations with his newest mixtape, Bobby Tarantino II. With features from some of the hottest names in music, the 13-track project proves Logic’s recent rise in popularity is no mistake.
Sir Robert Bryson Hall II aka Logic, released his newest project last Friday. Originally from Maryland, the 28-year-old rapper skyrocketed in the charts since his debut mixtape in 2010. Eleven songs from Bobby Tarantino II have already made it on the Spotify top 100 charts. Logic stayed atop the Billboard charts for 42 weeks earlier this year with the track “1-800-273-8255,” which promoted the importance of mental health and highlighted the rapper’s passion for social issues.
While most of Logic’s previous albums showcase his fast-paced rhymes and entrancing beats, he has begun making a name for himself as a social justice activist. The album Everybody, which dropped in 2017, includes tracks addressing race, religion and mental health. As a biracial man, Logic takes a personal stance on race in America with tracks “Take It Back” and “America.” He continues to voice his opinions in interviews and on award shows. Despite this new name for himself, his most recent project focuses on his core talents: witty lyrics and impressive flow.
Bobby Tarantino II includes features from Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Marshmello, as well as animated celebrities Rick and Morty. The intro track, “Grandpa’s Space Ship,” is a two-minute-long conversation between mad scientist Rick and his grandson Morty. The duo, who star on their own show on Adult Swim where Logic made a guest appearance in August, spend their featured time discussing the various forms of Logic’s music. Rick is a fan of “mixtape Logic” and is in the mood to “turn shit up,” and Logic does not disappoint on this project.
Logic boasts his impressive ability to spit fast bars on the track “44 More.” Serving as the first single from Bobby Tarantino II, the song has more rhymes than Dr. Seuss and goes harder than grandma’s candy. “44 More” is the sequel to the track “44 Bars” from the mixtape Bobby Tarantino, which dropped in 2016. In three-minutes Logic manages to rap about his haters, childhood and success. He raps, “Levitated like I’m David Blaine/Livin’ a dream like I’m David Aames/Talk all you want, we are not the same/Step in the spot, now they know the name.”
Logic’s beef with other rappers is notorious. He addresses his “haters” with the track “Yuck.” The song begins with a man speaking, “My name is Paul Rothenberg, Attorney at Law, and I hereby ratify and confirm that Logic is motherfucking paid.” Rothenberg is Logic’s attorney and represents other celebrities such as Charlie Puth, A$AP Ferg, Trey Songz and more. With a first-person account that he is in fact “paid,” Logic leads into the rest of the song which focuses on the young rapper’s success.
Critics and fans assume “Yuck” is pointing fingers at rapper Joyner Lucas who had issues with Logic in the past. Joyner accused Logic of stealing his concepts as well as being a “corny guy.” While Logic hasn’t confirmed or denied the possibility of “Yuck” being a diss-track, the lyrics are certainly directed at someone. He raps, “Talkin’ shit ‘bout Logic, I never respond / I’ll let success talk.” The track continues with a series of fast-paced rhymes which conclude with a voicemail to Logic from singer Elton John, congratulating him on his Grammy performance. The use of audio sampling mixed with complex beats and lyrics make this track one of the most memorable.
Each song on the mixtape is produced flawlessly, as expected for such a mainstream artist, with minimalistic beats that show off Logic’s greatest skill – his lyricism. However, despite this fact each track with a feature seems to take on a bit more character. “Indica Badu ft. Wiz Khalifa” opens with the iconic puff of smoke sound that Khalifa prides himself on. The rest of the track sounds similar to newer tracks from artist J. Cole who has begun using a more R&B style intro to a lot of his songs. Logic adopts bits and pieces of the style from each artist featured on the project while maintaining his integrity.
More and more rappers are combining their beats with electronic music and Logic hops onto that bandwagon with the track, “Everyday ft. Marshmello.” However, while most rappers seem to fall flat with these collaborations, Logic takes the cake for the perfect mix of dance-pop and rap. The lyrics string together the motif present in all of Logic’s work, his remarkable work ethic.
The haters haven’t seen the end of Logic yet. With this kind of trajectory he is sure to rest at the top of the charts for years to come.
You can contact CU Independent Arts Writer Charlotte Spaeth at Charlotte.Spaeth@colorado.edu
