Last year, Rittz seemed to realize his once-longshot Hip Hop career’s breakthrough moment. After signing to Strange Music late in 2012, the Georgia emcee released his debut, The Life And Times Of Jonny Valiant. Both moves followed an extended Yelawolf assist in the form of a prominent feature opportunity in 2011 and carry-over Slumerican affiliation. The Life And Times… fared well, peaking at #25 on the Billboard 200. The Strange Music signing also validated traits in Rittz common among the label’s roster, namely, he has an appreciation for rapping in intricate patterns and has earned his own following organically. Next To Nothing confirms both of those things—in places he seems acutely aware of fan expectations—but settles too deeply into a single groove at times.
The production on a handful of songs is built from similar synth work and Trap-friendly hi-hats. On these tracks—songs like “Explode,” “Turn Down,” “Wish You Could”—Rittz’s delivery is immediately gratifying, a Southern drawl barely creeping out of his practiced bravado. Still, the songs that fall short don’t succeed at distinctly distinguishing themselves from previous ones. “Crown Royal” is an obvious single, it’s hook inspired by a line from Rittz’s own 2013 track “Switch Lanes.” It’s a peek at Rittz’s knack for catchy hooks and generally stylish rapping.
Traditional songs dedicated to rap brags are evened out by the likes of “Basket Case,” which serves as an example of his agonizing self-doubt. It serves Rittz well that even when other vulnerable moments such as “White Rapper” don’t hit their mark and evoke the type of empathy he presumably expects, the argument is still relevant and timely, as evidenced by the Lord Jamar reference. Here he dwells on a lifetime of feeling like a misaligned outsider, a white person who takes Hip Hop seriously and can rap well by offering the following:
“I would go out and perform at open mics when no one’s white / No one like to clap or give you dap, clubs you be scared to go inside.”
As with all things, for various listeners it will boil down to a matter of personal preference.
To Rittz’s credit, he never sounds off-the-mark or punched in. His flow—or at least speed of delivery—is built on the hard-earned trick of perpetually transitioning into the next bar; the pleasant effect is shared with other fast-spitters like Twista, who features on one track, but less staccato than Yelawolf, who appears on “Profit.” Rittz also manages several-syllable rhymes at speed, but when he switches up his flow considerably or slows down completely he pulls off some of the album’s best moments. “Going Through Hell” is one of them and stands apart from most of the rest of the songs as specifically and especially personal as well as a live instrument outlier. A strong case could be made for Rittz sounding his best on electric guitar tinged tracks. In the second verse he cops to a fear-fueled abortion experience after a generally bleak life update in the first: “My lady just told me she pregnant and begging that we can keep / The baby that she conceived / And wouldn’t consider the total, we gotta get rid of it. Why are you tripping and acting like you don’t remember what we agreed?”
Rittz sounds at home over the more dynamic production on Next To Nothing, and certain songs are proof that he can stick to making an increasingly forgiving type of vibe music to good effect as well. At times when he slips into his impressive double-time for extended bursts and songs on end, the effect seems too isolated to sustain itself, even if the White Jesus emcee rightfully prides himself on rapping intelligibly at speed. It’s more than a trick, though Rittz does well when he steps outside of it. At times Next To Nothing is hard to cut off but there’s too many déjà vu moments and first-time misses to listen through comfortably at once. To a certain extent, that won’t hurt Rittz’s appeal or alienate him from fans. And at the same time, there’s enough to take away to become a new one as well.
Dope ass album. He always flowing shit together.
Gotta disagree and say that at least for now, I’m digging this more than Johnny Valiant. Neither has come close to White Jesus Revival for me, but this one feels less rushed and more personal than the last, with less of an effort to bring in new fans (interpret that as you will). There are a lot of less than memorable tracks, but overall one of the more rewarding listens I’ve heard all year (I know its been a slow year). Cant deny the dude has the skill and capability to be an amazing emcee one day, his choice of concepts or lack thereof at times is what hurts him the most IMO
White Jesus Revival is his most solid, front to back, project thus far. But Rittz did show some stylistic growth with this album. I think it’s his choice to be too singy on some hooks is what hurts him.
The flow is fantastic.
culture vulture
Fucking idiot
King Push, what makes Rittz a culture vulture? Because he’s white? So I guess ALL whites who have made great contributions to Hip Hop culture – from b-boys, to graf artists, to dj’s, to emcees – are all vultures.
Actually, you are probably the real vulture. What do you contribute to this Hop culture?
dis nigga look like undertaker circa 1989
3.5 stars??? really?? this website is shit …Rittz thank you for making music like this post 2000s. It was much needed
Shitty review
Good job Rittz.
To the people that judge this dude by the way he looks you are what’s wrong w this world. This is hop hop judge him by his music and lyrics! My opinion of this album is that it’s amazing. The production lyrics and concepts are great! There’s not one rapper these days can compare to his story telling capabilities and his word play. And when he sings too everything comes together great. I’m enjoying this album over and over and over. Glad I got the autographed copy from strange music.
Fuck DX, you fags always review good albums shittly.
I don’t even know what I just read.
DOPE AF
3.5 is ridiculous. It’s the album of the year so far.
Fuck the review, badass album
Loved this album cant wait to hear some more Yela Rittz SLUM Colab
RITTZ! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you drinkin’ raise your glasses high
Cause we ain’t trippin’ on the past or the afterlife
Cause right now we sippin’ on that Crown Royal
Unbelievably good
incredible flow delivery n lyrics 100 times better than that wigger weirdo poser mgk
Great album from RITTZ! Front to back it’s insane! 3.5 is BS. A 4 at least… A lot of incredible songs & RITTZ’s delivery is on point!
I rate it a 4. Explode, Going Through Hell, and Turning Up The Bottle brought the albums rating down. Explode: I love Burn One and 5PMG, but this was a subpar track for them. The song would still be playable in my whip if the hook wasn’t so fucking singy. Goin Through Hell: Is a great beat, especially for a neo-soul singer. It takes very careful crafting to rap over a beat like this while complimenting the beat’s vibe. The chorus seems too contrived, too forced, as well. Turning Up the Bottle: too cliche of a way to end the album. It’s soft and sappy as hell. Life and Times had a much better ending.
I only listen to Drake & enjoys penis.
I hate when people who hate fast rappers review fast rappers albums, yall don’t get it!! Your mind is to slow to see the beauty of this album!! Album of the year!!!
Dope album front to back. Rittz demonstrated his versatility much more on this one. It would’ve been nice to hear Tech on this one, but it seems appropriate he’s step back and let the man work, which plays out nicely IMHO.
this album share the title “album of the year” with pinata album
Should be at least a 4 … Didnt bother reading cause of your rating.
i love this album, hes genius I think..hes got his lead singles, hes got his high profile collabs, his personal songs, party anthems, if you blended that all together theres easily a song for everyone and the project as a whole is very sound. His ability to be technically good all the while telling a story or having a message really makes him a great writer
i thought this was another great record by RITTZ. his 1st album blew my mind so 2nd time around he had a lot to live up to and i think RITTZ did another great job with this 1… NEXT TO NOTHING
Another craps review from hhdx. This album is on point. Lyrically, beats, concepts, features, and flow this album is great front to back. Once again great music goes over the head of hhdx. It’s a shame you guys have your head so far up drakes ads that you miss out on real hip hop.
This is not a perfect album. It starts subpar, and ends subpar, but most the songs in between the first and the last are good, if not great. Some hooks needed improvement too.
*ass
Way too many people doing hip hop now days, too many styles to get monster fan bases like Jay, Em, NWA, etc. People also go threw phases in and out of artists and styles that they like. Rittz has a more than unique type of music. From production through writing and I feel he is still playing with it to figure out what he likes as well as his fans. Music isnt about being perfect its about reaction and mood and i think he process will make many people feel a little something about most of his songs past to future. Great album many will play songs from this album and others for years to come. For those who say he gets stuck in a flow or rhythm of rhyming what about Juicy or Luda or Fif and etc. all are big timers and all have a generally generic (to themselves) flow, but maybe thats what has got them where they are now. I say this out of observation not dislike as i am fans of all them.
5 stars all the way down and up again back
4/5. Some of the hooks were not good.
best album yet
It would be hilarious if this were really Rittz…
Dope album. Just as good as Johnny Valiant IMO.
No editor review for Twista – The Dark Horse Hmmmmm
Im surprised at this review. Figured it would have at least been a 4. There’s no way this is viewed as lesser quality than The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant.
This is one of the most bipolar reviews I’ve ever read!
Rittz is the shit, take a big whiff!
He’s here to stay, and to take over!
A “single groove”? Nah, not that. His fans know how he raps and that’s what makes him great. What are y’all expecting (HIPHOPDX)?
When Rittz announced this album…He said that it would be considerably “darker” than “The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant”
I believe that Rittz out did himself on this album…Experiencing with different productions, beats other than what we’re used to hearing. The album is truly amazing, Rittz is an incredibly talented artists who deserves the best!
Rittz has gained…Thousands of new fans, and they range from all ages, races and cultures.
“Next to Nothing” is a masterpiece, and Rittz has outdone himself.
So, HIPHOPDX…Your review is pretty much useless. Your writer is just a hater taking shots at a talented artist.
Actually, this writer is like an abusive husband…First you say that you “love” so and so…Then you take a punch..And when you sober up…You apologize. This is what this review is.
I RATE THE ALBUM 5 STARS… YOUR REVIEW IS A -1000000!
I don’t agree with the review, but I also don’t agree with your opinion on this album. This album, while solid, is not a perfect album.
The album is fire Rittz! Blow is by far my favorite right now.
3.5?! Eat a fucking dick. 4.5 at the very least. Album of the year. Did they even listen to the album?
Shit review that contradicts itself. Rittz should be recognized as one of the best right now. The album IS the best right now.
5 stars
Quality production combined with a very talented rapper with incredible flow!
all i can say is he is a hell of a person!!i love some of the tracks not sure about the others! u suggest everyone check it out
This is a very good album, but some songs aren’t for my taste.. 4/5.
What songs?
Yo the marketing team heavy in this bitch
Oh my he is white… Fuck your review.
JAY BALFOUR CAN SUCK A DICK!! DOPE ALBUM!!! ALBUM OF THE YEAR SO FAR!!!
One of the best in 14. Period. Dope lyrics, flow, musicality, production….top notch LP. If you don’t like double time, give this a try. If you still don’t love it, then you cannot be helped.
Going Through Hell was probably the worst song on the album. Rittz’s flow pattern didn’t match the beat. And the hook wasn’t that great. It’s his worst song with Posner yet, though the lyrical content was good. The album is still a solid, well-balanced project. I haven’t been feeling Seven’s beats lately, but the Seven tracks on here surprised me: all of them were pretty dope. Five Points Music Group’s track could’ve been better. All of their tracks on Life and Times were better than Explode, so the album could’ve started better. I also don’t like the way the album ended; Turning up the bottle is too soft and sappy. A track like All Around the World on Life and Times was the perfect way to end an album. However, his best songs on here are better than his best songs on Life and Times. Laf, Bounce, In My Zone, Call 911, and Blow exhibit how Rittz can maintain his core sound, but also how he has grown stylistically.
Not as great as his first album, still solid however.
Couldn’t have asked for a better cd form rittz, with a totally different feel from his last album. If your a fan of real rap and talent you won’t be disappointed. Best in the game right now
too much auotune… he didn’t need it with that flow so far.
There is no Auto tune on this album WTF are you talking about???
his flow wasn’t bad but I wish he could have someone else actually sing the hooks. But the 1st album on strangeland he put on was fire. This one is just sizzling. Only a select few on this album. I’m honestly looking for his older work but it’s hard to find. Don’t think it deserve a 4.6 rating. Maybe a 3.9
Decent album though. Maybe Yelawolf album will be good because that 1st one kinda sucked.
Was really thinking this next album was going to slump. NOPE! Slaps! Lyrics the whole 9! I went on her just to write the review.
Easily the best album of the summer
MGK is wack as fuck Rittz spit way faster harder n actually has dope lyrics
nah MGK fans are just misinformed dumb asses, Strange Music, Funk Volume and ICP fans are the emos of hip hop
jugalos and lace up lames are the true EMO’S
I promise you that you wouldn’t say that to our faces. You’d get lawn-chaired with the quickness.
A corny white boy on a label that appeals to other corny edgy white boys
And what have you ever released cocksucker, nothing? LOL
shut up ape
lol is a broke niggger who hates on white people
Spitting fast does’nt make you a great rapper Rittz…….Anyway you are better than Yelawolf
he never said that……. yo freak
MGK is a corny faggot driving down the road playing air drums lmao what a fuckin lame
BUBBA SPARXXX
is wack
I love this album. Another classic from Rittz
This review is lazy and contradicting of itself. Racism?? maybe?? idk. Rittz deserves credit, he is an amazing artist.
Nawf nawf two fangas and a thumb GC in dis bitch – DOPE
Very solid album
amazing album…. beats all that wack black so called hip hop shit
everything sounds the same. at least rittz brings something different to the table
Rittz killed it… Absolutely killed it!!
Great review!!! And I agree almost 100%. However I think Turning Up the Bottle was a great way to close out this album. Anyway good shit Kwame wish more people knew their shit like you!!!!
fire!
Loved it.
Rittz is real with a refreshing intriquet style. Every song on this album is so well put together. Can’t wait to hear what he makes next. Hope he goes on tour again and visits Denver Colorado again so I can see him perform the new album along with his last album Jonny Valiant.
good album, i really wish he had of used Brotha Lynch for a verse on Call 911, that would have been insane.. Bounce was a stand out in my opinion.
3 n a half stars? fuckin Hiphopdx go to score when they dont know how to rate it. smh
Strange music doesn’t get any respect from HIPHOP DX. I don’t even think they even listen to the albums just give them three and a half. the people have spoken this is a great album, smokes all the commercial friends of hiphopdx
This is just as good as his first album. Dope as fuck. Strange never disappoints.
Yea-yuh
Daf…. Dope as fuck!
Hiphopdx makes me laf Cuz they lame as fuck!
Been following Rittz for awhile now and he’s dope. Sickest emcee in the Hip hop scene right now.
Better than these so called legends out here tell me a story so i can not only hear you but so i can listen
Classic
RITTZ DID IT AGAIN BITCHES
ANOTHER CLASSIC ALBUM
9/10 FROM ME
HIP HOP IS OFFICIALLY WHITE
RESPECT!
Classic Too Short album cover
This was an excellent follow up to the life and times of Johnny Valiant. While you may not be able to relate to every track, you’ll definitely find material that shows Ritz’s depth and open raw discussion about things that do resonate with you regardless of race. 4.5/5. Keep it up
This album, has to be one of the best ever! life and times had the best intro…this had the best outro by far.
Stupid ass double time rappers. rittz speaks the truth about them.
This album is Fucking Amazing Rittz done did killed it once again!
fuck hiphopdx for there bullshit 3.5 star rating this album is by far one of the best albums of the year
This joint is seriously lacking in lyricism.
Best album I’ve heard in months.
yooo
The fact that you gave this album a 3 1/2 is exactly why I don’t take the reviews on this site seriously especially since ya’ll gave the rich gang mixtape a 4..this album is another classic for Rittz, it’s obvious you’re just a hater.
3.5 stars? This review is laughable at best. Rittz delivers on almost every cut. He’s got speed and his lyricism rivals most top introspective MCs today. I’m not a Rittz fanatic but I do know what goes into a good album and Strange Music has given him enough creative control. Rarely does it sound forced, and he picks great beats for the most part. Even when he’s spitting double time every word is clear and concise. Dude is fire.
One of the best rappers I have ever heard compliments to Yella wolf and tech 9 for knowing quality. Give him 10 mics
Many riders of the D on here.