Frank Peters serves up a winning combination of party music and raw lyricism on his B-Major & St. Peters produced project, “Fifty Shades of Frank.” The South Carolina spitter brings so much energy to the table that it takes 21 tracks to contain it all…and even then, we’re left with the impression that he has more power to spare.
On “Intro – A Shade Of Britain,” jazzy horns are complimented by a seductive female voice with a British accent who purrs a brief description of the creative artist leading us on our musical journey. “Mr. Frank” gets the party started by dropping an uptempo track about his sexual escapades with the ladies while “American Interlude” showcases a vocal cameo by another female(decidedly American)who offers more insight into the background of this gifted talent. “Bang” does just that, as it bangs, slams, and KICKS in the door with a hardcore track that releases the reins of any trepidation the rapper might have possessed, allowing him to unleash the full fury of his lyrical prowess. On “A Shade Of El Salvador” we receive a sexy Spanish tribute to the emcee before “Ambitionz” permeates our ear drums with a club-ready cut for the ages. Just as we’re getting revved up, another sensual sounding vocal on “A Shade Of Germany” lulls us into a brief mode of relaxation before Frank regales us with tales of how he’s “turned a couple lesbians” on “Passive-Aggressive,” a slinky, funk-laden track that displays the smooth and raw sides of the emcee’s personality.
We travel abroad for more international action on “A Shade Of China” before launching into the infectious “Get It Right,” a cut with a memorably catchy hook and throwback “Planet Rock” type beat decked out with all the dance music accoutrements. “A Shade Of The Philippines” returns us to the exotic Orient while “Half Dollar” sports a soulful, head nodding groove that must be pumped up loud in the ride for the full experience. It’s one hell of a cut that you’ll play again & again! “A Shade Of Russia” takes us to Eastern Europe with more praise for Frank P’s abilities before “Cocaine Heart” pulls us along for a different kind of trip altogether…Emotional addiction can be the most difficult to quit. “American Interlude” chimes in on the lyricist’s love of women while “Numb” finds Frank highlighting a more clipped, fast-paced flow than what we’ve heard on previous cuts.
“Seat Sit Back” gets into some chopped and screwed territory as he states that he lets his “Seat Sit Back like I’m(legendary gangster & self-proclaimed Mayor of Harlem)Alpo.” It’s a track that offers a cool, laid back vibe before “Drive” amps things up with a Trap infused foundation. “Clarity” stands out for the powerful instrumentation & Frank’s effortless delivery before he scales the slow bounce synths of “Mercy.” The collection concludes with “Carolina Outro,” another spoken word piece that will leave listeners feeling sad that it’s over, yet happy they went along for the ride.
Frank Peters is an artist who will take over mainstream radio because of his club-friendly appeal. Personally, I would’ve appreciated more underground gems like “Half Dollar” and “Bang,” but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the lyricist is on a fast track to the top. “Fifty Shades of Frank” is well worth the listen, but it’s just a small sample of the artist’s abilities. Even with a quality product like this one, you can best believe there are more shades to come.
– Kevin Keith
