Your Old Droog has arguably been one of the most controversial figures in Hip Hop this year due to all of the “Is that Nas?” hype that followed the emcee during his early releases. Now that things have settled down and fans have a chance to appreciate Droog for who he actually is(and not what some people wanted him to be)we can fully digest his debut album, which consists of tracks from his previous EP & a few new songs to boot.
“Quiet Storm Interlude” kicks things off with a blunted out instrumental and Droog’s gruff vocals informing the listeners that some of the rhymes he spits are old “only cuz it took my whole life to write ’em.” He’s been waitin’ for his turn a long, long time and Droog’s not about to screw things up now. “Bad To The Bone” focuses on Y.O.D’s effortless delivery. He dominates another laid back track, spitting lines like, “I might say some wild stuff on the mic but don’t refer to me as a shock jock.” “Nutty Bars” finds Droog flowing over a funky, fractured groove as he uses candy & dessert metaphors to describe females and weak rappers. “Loosey In The Stores With Pennies”(Extended Version) is another win for the artist as he rhymes triumphantly, spouting clever lyrics such as, “I let Jesus take the wheel and a sound system/he’s a car stealer.”
“Good Times” gives Droog a chance to reflect on all the ladies who passed him over. Look at him now! “Droog’s Anthem” picks up the pace with fun lyrics and a catchy hook while “Gunsmoke Cologne” might make a certain Mr. Jones do a double take to make sure it’s not his vocals on the song. “U 47” has Droog flowing over a feel good track while “You Know What Time It Is”(Extended Version) is an all out aural assault. “Bye Outro” is a quick wrap up to the EP’s selection of songs before the jazzy “Free Turkey” erupts into action. “Loosey In The Stores With Pennies” resurfaces again with a bluesy remix before the dynamic “On The News” takes center stage with Droog obsessing over NBC news anchor, Tamron Hall.
“Boofanickoregs” is an amazing track where Y.O.D. flows over smooth instrumentation with a Calypso bent. “The ’70s” allows Droog to get retro with his lyrical content and music. He chides younger emcees for referencing eras they know nothing about. “48th Street” showcases Droog going in on a guitar-laden track as he discusses window shopping at the historic music stores on that famous block in Times Square. “Senseless Killin'” is a freestyle frenzy of furious bars while the “Bad To The Bone(Remix)” provides a more vibrant spin to the original track.
Your Old Droog proves his worth with his self titled debut. He dismisses the flash and materialistic approach to music many rappers use today and gives the public one of the best Hip Hop albums of the year by taking the music back to its essence.
– Kevin Keith
