Back in the Hip Hop’s hardcore heyday, NYC-based acts like Onyx, M.O.P. and Screwball played their part in diversifying the space with heavy metal sensibilities — and even shouldered criticism for not being “lyrical” due to their screaming tactics that all but justified the invention of the pop filter.
As the rap space shifted to favor a less competitive, pop-friendly arena, nostalgia has prompted the aforementioned groups to be cast in a more positive light, with longtime fans yearning for a bit more grit to be represented in the commercial sphere (for whatever reason).
In controversial fashion, Brooklyn’s Tekashi 6ix9ine has answered the call, albeit not in the package anyone would expect.
With his abrasive social media presence, wacky rainbow hairstyle, murky backstory that involves pleading guilty to a charge of use of a child in a sexual performance and flip-flopping gang affiliations, his street cred going into this debut project was already shot more times than the sound effects that permeate his breakout “GUMMO” record.
All of which makes his talent that much more polarizing and intriguing. Gauging from the not-even-30-minute exposé that is DAY69, 6ix9ine’s music stands only to disrupt and destroy, much like a Sticky Fingaz or Fizzy Womack before him.
On “93,” blaring sirens and bass bombs clear the way for nimble lyricism as 6ix9ine fires out “Pull up with the Glocks out/ Red dots out/ Pull them mops out and the chops out/ Niggas air it out/ Go all out when we back out/ That’s a blackout/ Shooters all go/ They don’t clock out” in confident fashion.
Even more impressive is his ability to keep his sound more gutter than bowling alleys on back-to-back records that won’t completely dodge the ladies in “RONDO” and “KEKE.” While the presence of Tory Lanez, Young Thug, Fetty Wap and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie undoubtedly breeds familiarity and digestibility, 6ix9ine doesn’t tone down his tough talk just because the instrumental can safely operate on a dance floor.
Sonically speaking, DAY69 rarely dulls as variations like electronica energy (“KOODA”), personified terror (“BILLY”) and, of course, gunshots provided by emerging beatsmiths such as Pi’erre Bourne, Koncept-P and others keep speakers and earbuds brimmed with angst.
Of course, even with the short runtime, there’s only so much bellowing and make-believe bodycounting listeners can take before they openly admit they don’t want any more smoke. A kick-in-the-door project like DAY69 is ripe for establishing a rap game motif but does little to crack the mystique surrounding the mind underneath the multi-colored mane.
Finding a way to inject the same level of intrigue into the music that he did with his Breakfast Club interview (which garnered 5 million views in three days) will not only ensure career longevity but make DAY69 nothing more than a startup project.
It is what it is, people. If the mere sight of his name, his rap sheet or the audacity of his persona make you grit your teeth, DAY69 won’t have you pledging allegiance to Scumgang anytime soon. The project won’t convert nonbelievers of the thrash rap subgenre either. But for anyone seeking out the mudbank in an era where even diss records come with apologies 24 hours later, 6ix9ine just may be your guy.
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The main problem with it is how repetitive it sounds
waaaaack
Nah u didn’t even listen to it puzzy
You guys are really cosigning this dude? He has buzz now but I don’t see him maintaining relevance. He isn’t the worst ever but artists too reliant on gimmicks rarely have longevity
garbage “rap” from a garbage “rapper”
Lol. Trent the Armond White of rap reviews.
WOW!! 3.7?? You have to be kidding?? This Album has 17 Songs and is only 25 Minutes long and the whole time he raps the same flow and style. This thing is pure garbage from a mediocre one trick pony. LMFAO
To lyrically compare him to Lil’ Fame or Sticky Fingaz, you’re either, deaf, dumb, or you never really listened to the M.O.P. or Onyx catalog.. Horrible comparison.. HipHopDX needs to start doing better. Everything about this kid is trash and he definitely doesn’t represent NYC Hip-Hop..
I dunno, as much as I want to hate this dude with all my heart based off his look and social media antics, his music is straight. No one is saying he’s up there with M.O.P. or Onyx or DMX or whomever lyrically or quality-wise, but he’s definitely trying to recapture that east coast/NYC/Ruff Ryderz type hardcore grit in his sound and videos that really evoke a distinct NY time and place that is refreshing in this mumble rap, leaned out, xanned out era. More than I can say for most modern rappers out there. The songs are all good here, a little repetitive, but solid.
We need Nas right now
Nas is going to save hip-hop in 2018? What planet are you living in guy?
stfu
Oh wtf is going on in HipHop
This SHIT is NOT Hip Hop!
Meh it was alright.
Wasn’t trash. Wasn’t great either. It was whatever’s. Every song sounds the same though.
Any replay value? I say no.
Real neegas waiting on those new albums from MF DOOM, Cypress Hill, U GOD.
Cypress Hill Elephants on Acid drops on 4/20. LIT!!!!!!
…. nobody waiting for U God
eat a dick 6ix9ine trash
DOOM’s Czarface collab leaked the other day
I’m a underground/old school hip hop nerd, so I should hate everything about this dude, but I love the songs I’ve heard. I didn’t know or care who this guy was until I saw the whole back and forth with Game, that was last Sunday about 9 days ago now. I saw the tats and figured there was no way I could enjoy his music for the same reasons as Peep, Xan, Uzi Vert, Yachty, and whoever else, but I checked out some of his tracks anyway for shits and giggles expecting to hate it. Something about the kids energy was really dope to me in the same way Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz used to be, deliberately ignorant yelling, and the kid has a nice style to compliment it, not super lyrical obviously, but relative to all the mumble rap the bars aren’t terrible by any means. I’ve listened to “Billy”, “Kooda”, and “Gummo” everyday since, and the album is a solid 3.5 imo. The comparison to MOP and Onyx was on point, I’d even say theres some DMX in there. I know I’ll get dragged by the heads for this, but don’t really gaf.
I am 36 and I agree with everything you said. I still don’t like him, but his music isn’t that bad actually.
You can tell when the power that be is manufacturing so call artist and pushing a sick agenda and this is one of them every new age fake fruity rainbow so call thug this is garbage so call music im ready for it to DIE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
As a hard core east coast fan dats all about Raw Rap shit im certainly question n not only 69,but da entire skull gang/trey wey camp simply cuz such an artist behavior wood normally been shut down..but has’nt cuz of who he roll wit#FUCK OUTTA HERE#I WONT EVEN GIV IT A LISTEN#
How the faack have you reviewed the dog shiiit and not prhyme 2 .come on man
This site is not owned nor created by an African American so the views an opinions expressed regarding what’s considered Hip hop on this site means nothing. The editor in chief (Trent Clark) is of African American descent which is why I’m confused as to why he’d write this trash article.
So just cause he is mexican u dont fuck with him. Smh
das raciss mayn
I’ve come around on this dude…that breakfast club interview was highly entertaining and all his singles and videos have been grimy and raw…sure he’s channeling his inner tupac and that’s not sustainable but he’s putting New York back on the rap map…when I first came upon him I thought he was corny like stitches and lil xan, but he’s alright…and like he said he’s self made and done all this without cosigns and a tonne of hate…think the review is bang on
ONCE YOU GET PASSED THE IMAGE AND HAIR YOU WILL FIND GOOD MUSIC ON THIS. I WAS IMPRESSED.
Hate or not… dx still be hittin us with the dumb shit
The people posting 1s are haters. This dude seemed dumb as a box of rocks but then he just owned Charlamagne on his own damn show. Music isn’t transcendent by any means but also is far from trash. One of the more entertaining new artists out. To be honest, I banged this album just as much as the Black Panther soundtrack. Both of them were far from perfect but entertaining from two far different perspectives. I’ll give this a surprisingly not trash 4 stars.
69 have more sense than people think don’t sleep on him, I liked it when he was on The Breakfast Club he own Charlemagne
Before they could ask him questions he took over smart move… I’m with you 69 just slow up that gangster Role it’s not you if you do what needs to be done and if your management team step up to the plate, like they should you are a rockstar without a doubt I believe you will have more hits as well as go Platinum a couple more times believe it, you are a rockstar…
If you like this and hate that dude Stitches .. I don’t know what the fuck you hearin?
This kid is dumb…and shit at music
Great work
In this era of mumble rap and being an old school hip hop head that grew up on groups like EPMD, ONYX, etc…..have to say this wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be kind of agree with the review. 3/5
I look at his music as a way to get hype! If you’re looking for real hip-hop or rap you’ll be disappointed because he isn’t that skilled. But as mentioned in this comment section, I like how out of these new school rappers he isn’t a mumble rapper and is the only one who has this hyper-aggressive style that is actually enjoyable at times to listen to.
He is a wack rapper and his albums are wack, this ain’t the gritty ny shit we was looking for. I stop make excuses for this dude because the hype train is about to leave the station. New York music still ain’t shit by the way
My post was taken down because I don’t think this guy is a real artist but in here to undermine and mislead by those who run the industry this what is wrong with music industry
Most of the songs were to short. I liked a few of the harder jams
I gave it a 5 just to offset any hate
Album is HOT!!!
The album is FIRE!!! Hate it or love it. My opinion.
What iz grit without image? Tekashi looks punk wit rainbow colored hair. Dude need 2 shave dat mess off an look lyke a real G if he want anyone 2 take him seriously…
You mean if he wants YOU to take him seriously.
I downloaded this out of curiousity and i must say i was positively surprised. I had not heard any of his music before either
I like it like it
I fuck with it. Reminds me of that 90s grimy NY rap. Plus dude dont autotune which is refreshing.
Most entertaining in the game right now…
This guy needs to take tips from k dot and j cole if he wants to say he’s the hottest in the game right now. Those 2 guys don’t need any antics or need to be in the spotlight all the time. They just let their music speak for itself, like true musicians do. This guys marketing strategy is bad press is still press. Wbich is sad because this guy does have potential, he would jusy rather have the attention than the critical acclaim of being a musician. I could stand the yelling if he knew how to pick a beat. I feel like his beats are a mix between bass and gunshot sounds haha. Please don’t ever compare this guy to MOP or as he says himself DMX. Shouldn’t even be in the same sentence as those 2 legends
Only thing wrong with it is it should be at least twice as lengthy. It’s less than half an hour, but the music itself is good.
Fake thug, no love, you get the slug CB4 Gusto
1 star on principle
FOH DX.
the most young and successful artist in his generation right now. The only one comparable in terms of net worth and success is Lil Pump. They need to collabo. anyway, Tekashi 6ix9ine a fucking God, blood. SCUUUUMGAAAANG
shit is fiyah but we need a longer album!!
Not too bad!
Why this dude dropping N bombs?? Lol not just a few either. I’m confused as fuck
Good luck getting a job after your commercial failure as a rapper. This guy is trash, I swear anybody that is into this shit is fucking trash.
Props for giving a fair and well-balanced review, DX. In the midst of all the hate he has been receiving, it should be accepted that the kid is actually talented. His songs are gritty, hard and catchy as hell.
Loved it. Unique and enjoyable.
Thing project shows no skill whatsoever, 69 has shown no improvment in lyrics or style. every song sound the same, he lyrics are written by a 12yo.