“I’m better than the young’uns,” Royce insists in regard to his rap skill, “I’m better than the legends.” I agree if he’s referring to most. Jay-Z, 2Pac, Biggie; all overrated if you ask me. When it comes to dope lyricism, Royce Da 5-9 is the real deal. He’s not on level with Bad Meets Evil partner Eminem and he seems to know it, but this mixtape; the fourth in his Bar Exam series; has him rapping probably the best he has since his 1999 debut. There’s a lot of clever wordplay, but his skills plummet when it comes to making whole songs; a problem for most rappers.
my rating : 3 of 5
2017