[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=380494]
It was a rough start (“Bird Walk”, anyone?) but now that Soulja Boy has dodged the sophomore jinx, he’s got his eyes on album number tre and his dream of collaborating with hip-hop’s elite. Plus it looks like the gimmicks are over.
“My first two albums, I never did tell people my story,” he said. “I just put out fun records. … Now that people got these hits, it’s time to go in on ’em.”
I like this kid.
Sidebar: Unplugged!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OePjmmf7dBk]




Great breakdown of Statik Selektah’s *Round Trip*! Honestly, this 2023 Mass Appeal release is pure boom-bap bliss from start to finish. Statik really outdid himself with those smooth, jazzy sample flips and turntable scratches, creating the exact kind of laid-back, golden-era hip-hop vibe you want playing in the background while relaxing at Denmark holiday cottages over a quiet weekend. The guest list alone is stacked—having legends like Posdnous kicking things off on the opener "Round Trip (For Dave)" alongside heavy hitters like Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Inspectah Deck on "Unpredictable" makes every track feel like a proper event. Even the newer-school features like Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, and Joey Bada$$ fit effortlessly over the dusty, soulful production without a single wasted verse. Definitely one of his most cohesive projects in years and an easy front-to-back spin for anyone who appreciates real hip-hop craftsmanship.