By Ella Mahan
Exec. Arts Editor
On Feb. 4, well-known rapper 2 Chainz released his seventh studio album, “Dope Don’t Sell Itself.”
Throughout his rap career, 2 Chainz has produced seven studio albums, one collaborative studio album, 10 mixtapes and 85 singles. His newest album, however, is produced and executed with such eloquence that it may top all previous albums.
2 Chainz has accomplished a very successful rapping career thus far, creating a large fanbase and establishing an influential platform. Since be began his rapping career in 1997, he has produced three platinum albums, two gold albums, and received six Grammy nominations, one of which he won for Best Rap Performance, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
2 Chainz’s most successful songs throughout his career include “Birthday Song (ft. Kanye West),” “Watch Out,” and “No Lie (ft. Drake).” His collaborations with other well-loved artists, such as Drake and Kanye West, have proven to be fan favorites and attract attention.
The varying, strong muscialities in each song from “Dope Don’t Sell Itself” combined with the meaningful, well-written lyrics make for a catchy, unforgettable album. 2 Chainz executed each song with passion, and the album is bound to hit the charts soon.
“Outstanding (ft. Roddy Rich)” combines both rappers’ sensational skills. While Rich sings in a higher-pitched, more monotone voice, 2 Chainz comes out strong after him with a passionate, fiery few lines. Together, the two rappers make this song one of the most memorable. Also, “Neighbors Know My Name” is a fan-favorite. The first three seconds consist of the sound of a gun loading and shooting multiple times, immediately grabbing the listeners’ attention.
The album uses multiple strategies to attract the listener from the very beginning. In “Bet It Back,” 2 Chainz opens the song with an intriguing background conversation and slowly proceeds to incorporate quick, sharp beats to the song. A unique aspect about the opening of this song compared to others is that 2 Chainz purposefully incorporates glitch-like beats that quickly cut off to catch listeners off guard and keep listeners intrigued.
On the other hand, in “Pop Music,” 2 Chainz opens the song with popular, current references and quotes to grab the listeners’ attention, which it definitely accomplishes. The title for this song is perfect, as the listener enjoys the current trends and slang in the form of exceptional rap.
Lastly, in “Kingpen Ghostwriter,” 2 Chainz utilizes only a short intro to open the song, and almost immediately begins to rhyme about his wealth and the luxuries he is able to acquire because of his success in the rapping industry. 2 Chainz is among the greatest rappers as he bridges personal lyrics with outstanding execution.
2 Chainz is known for adding his own comedic take to his music. In “Dope Don’t Sell Itself,” 2 Chainz lives up to this expectation set by fans. He continues to maintain a good presence throughout the album, while adding in subtle, comical lines to his songs.
All in all, “Dope Don’t Sell Itself” is definitely worth listening to. 2 Chainz’s talent shines through each of the 12 songs. The variety in the albums musicality, background music, and beat in each song makes each song provide the listener with a unique experience.
“Dope Don’t Sell Itself” was released on Feb. 4 and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud.
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