“Destined 2 Win” by Lil Tjay 

By: Zach Issacs

Score: 6/10

The release of Lil Tjay’s sophomore album, titled “Destined 2 Win,” has been anticipated by many in the hip-hop community. For an album with such high expectations, the record seems stretched and even watered down at some points. 

In this project, Lil Tjay talks about fame at a young age, street life, and romance. The 21-track project runs just over an hour. 

Although there are definitely high points of the album, with instant hits such as “Calling My Phone,” “Run it Up,” and “Headshot” that display Tjay’s enormous versatility, a lot of the tracks in between seem repetitive and without substance. Some features from high profile artists such as Tyga, Saweetie, and Toosii, seem like space fillers.  

There is definitely improvement from his debut album, such as the use of melodies, diversity in subject matter, and experimentation in flow, but also many drawbacks. Diction in some tracks makes it hard to understand lyrics, production at some points seems uninteresting, and repetitive chorus’ don’t do justice to the Bronx artist’s enormous potential. 

Many tracks seem like failed attempts to replicate the success of love-sick Tjay in the enormous hit “Calling My Phone,” such as “Irregular Love” and “What You Wanna Do.” 

Despite the memorable moments,the tracklist is unnecessarily long and underwhelming. All in all, the album was mediocre. Lil Tjay should’ve done more to cement himself as one of hip hop’s rising stars with this album, though it is clear that the potential and skill to do something… is there.

“ROADRUNNER,” by Brockhampton

By: Isabelle Pala

8.5/10

Thirteen-member boy band and rap collective Brockhampton released their seventh album on April 9. “ROADRUNNER” expands Brockhampton’s use of live instrumentals and includes features from various artists, an aspect that is unique to this release. Still, their ability to mesh dark, heartfelt lyrics with melodic tunes and catchy rhythms remains true. 

The opening track “BUZZCUT” dives into the troubles of fame, family, and friendship while successfully engaging listeners with an energetic opening: “who let the dope boys out,” something I could imagine firing fans up at a concert. 

While much of the album has unique sounds and beats, songs like “COUNT ON ME” and “I’LL TAKE YOU ON” conform to the rhythm of some of the band’s most popular songs,“SUGAR” and “BLEACH,” and are vulnerable to surface-level lyrics like. 

However, shallow lyrics are certainly not constant throughout the album. “THE LIGHT” deeply explores how one of the band’s frontmen, Joba, deals with his father’s death and his struggle to find “the light.” Heavy verses like “warped reflection in stainless steel, alcohol, and pills, Deadly combination left with nothin’ else to feel,” make this song truly remarkable. 

“CHAIN ON” and “BANKROLL” are easily the strongest tracks of the album, combining consistent rhythms, background melodies, and meaningful lyrics. A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg’s appearances on the latter add to its overall energy. 

The final song is the ethereal and heartfelt “THE LIGHT PT. II,” with Kevin Abstract’s lyricism and the band’s elegant background vocals making it a beautiful end to a powerful album. 

Though I wouldn’t quite say this album lived up to its predecessor, “GINGER,” “ROADRUNNER” was definitely a success and almost anyone with a taste for hip-hop will enjoy it.