Hip-Hop retirements are announced seemingly every week, but Logic seems to mean it. On No Pressure, purportedly his final album, Bobby Tarantino is saying goodbye to rap. Sometimes, it’s with gratitude for the fans he’s touched and the opportunities he’s had. Other times, it’s with vitriol for fame and everything that comes with it. With a title connected to his debut, Under Pressure, and hardly any guests, it’s disappointing how little insight Logic ends up giving.
How much an artist reveals about themselves, on record or otherwise, is entirely up to them. But on No Pressure, Logic has a lot to share but not much to say. For one hour, he’s offering all he can, from rapid-fire bars, to interpolation of songs by legendary artists, to pop hooks. He’s also brought back some of the high-concept sci-fi elements of The Incredible True Story and reunited with No I.D., who serves as executive producer. It’s likely to thrill his biggest fans and be seen as redemption following Supermarket and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Anyone not convinced of Logic’s brilliance isn’t going to be won over by this, despite some well-presented moments.
When Logic approaches a moment to be genuinely pensive, he pushes back. There’s so much potential in an album centered around a 30-year-old biracial rapper, with both great technical skills and mainstream success, stepping away from the mic to focus on fatherhood. But No Pressure is far too busy and easily distracted, like Logic assumes his audience and his infant child are the same, needing shiny things waved in their faces as often as possible. There are very few instances where anything he says carries real weight.
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To be fair, vulnerable moments are present, like him talking about being born to a crack-addicted mother on “Open Mic\Aquarius III.” Then, the next verse has him saying “Become a better man, I better be/For the child in my baby mama stummy, never crummy” without a hint of hesitation. Logic surely knows how ridiculous lines like those are, but awareness isn’t enough to excuse it, not when that same sentiment can be shared in so many other, better ways.
At its best, No Pressure is a flawed but likable work from someone who’s been shaped by Hip-Hop and is working to reconcile his complicated post-fame relationship with it. “man I is” samples both the horns of Outkast’s “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” and the bass of Tarika Blue’s “Dreamflower,” made famous by Erykah Badu’s “Didn’t Cha Know.” Rapping in wistful admiration of Badu, André 3000, Big Boi, Pimp C, J Dilla, and J. Cole, Logic says “I love hip-hop,” a far-more impactful line than a groaner like “I’m like Leo in Revenant, bear with me.”
Then, there are times when Logic just sounds like he’s trying to be as unlikable as possible. The worst case of this is on “DadBod.” After celebrating domestic life, he starts to express his insecurities and how much strain his career has put on him. This leads to a third verse where he starts by ostensibly calling his fans “cunts” and eventually talks about seeing “A really hot girl…with a fat ass” at Target, who he ignores to shop for trash bags before making a limp Preparation H joke.
That’s admittedly a low point, but a frustrating constant of No Pressure is how concerned Logic is with letting people know how much he doesn’t need validation. That’d be easier to believe if there weren’t moments like on “5 Hooks,” where he boasts about signing to Def Jam and working with the likes of Wu-Tang and Gucci Mane. There’s plenty of reasons for him to celebrate his career, but his train of thought is far too inconsistent.
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Although Logic interpolates Kanye West on “Celebration” and references him with tracks like “Heard Em Say,” he never comes close to Ye’s presence or innovation. It doesn’t take a whole lot of self-analysis to come up with “I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I’m not.” Reminding listeners of “Elevators (Me & You)” doesn’t turn “GP4” into a masterpiece, either.
When Logic just kicks back and shows off his skills, without trying to prove himself to anyone, No Pressure feels true to its title. Him floating over the kick-snare patterns of “Perfect” or doing a miniaturized version of “Alphabet Aerobics” on “A2Z” work because he’s just letting himself go for it. It’s only appropriate that “A2Z” concludes with a snippet of his 2005 demo. Hearing a teenage Logic spitting bars, unaware of how recognized he would become, is quite resonant.
Even before reaching fame, Logic had gone through a lot. Whether this is a full-on retirement or a hiatus, he could definitely benefit from a break.
Lmao this shit is AOTY, should be a 4.2 or something
AOTY and you suggest 4.2??? No pun but where’s the Logic in that?
What, this a 4/5. Here we go again with this crappy review. I will pay more attention to DJBooths review
Definitely. These ppl don’t know anything bout music. Last time I browsed this site
This review is a joke. The criticisms at times dont make sense. It’s not a masterpiece but it’s better than a 3
I hate Logic’s corny ass as much as the next guy but this album is not a 3.0. It’s a 4 minimum. Good album, great production from No ID, and great execution.
Shit is hard body karate. Production is incredible front to back
Give it a 03/05 what a joke. At least a 4.2 probably one of the best albums I’ve heard this year so far.
Factz best album of 2020
dope album
Great production
I don’t know why. I tried to enjoy this album but in my ears it just sounds mediocre.
pretty much describes the second half of logics career.
This album review seems biased. Like Logic said, he put his heart on this project. Here they’re only highlighting the “worse” of the album. But honestly, i think it’s a very solid album, he did not miss a single song
Logic doesn’t say anything for most songs and this album really is no different unfortunately. That doesn’t mean there isn’t emotion in the rapping or the flow. Parts of what he does is good, but his content has been severely lacking for a while you can essentially pick any song of his and there are massive filler sections where he just raps words that flow good together but don’t really mean anything.
Logic does have a meaning for everyone song, but not everyone will see that. Only the people who have been following logic for a long time like i have will see how much he improved in this project, and how much it means to him
wassup
this good
This album isn’t meant to appeal to anyone outside of his core fanbase and is comprised of songs full of heart. I haven’t found a single song on this album I’d skip past and it doesn’t feel derivative as much as previous albums.
Great album, it´s funny like people here and in the review write that Logic says nothing on No Pressure. In the times of mumble rap, thousands of shitty albums where these so called rappers really say absolutely nothing because they rarely can even talk :D. I have a family and its great to hear a rapper with album about love to his family.
Great album stop hating
A great retirement album IMO
This album is fire. The reviewer can’t see outside his own prejudged ideas.
Brody don’t write any more reviews bruh. You try to pontificate like you know your ass from a whole in the ground but you don’t. Review your review is 1/5 stars.
This review is shit, the reviewer wouldn’t know good Hip-Hop if it hit them in the face. Only highlighting certain lines in an album that can be seen as cringy to try to bring down the value of the album itself, trash. I’m not a big Logic fan but this album is dope and it at least deserves a 4, the only track I didn’t care for was “Perfect” but it wasn’t a bad track. Logic did his thing and he definitely stepped it up after those last 2 albums he dropped
lol at the reviewer
?
It’s considered “cool” to hate on Logic, so what yall expect…
My first logic album that I’ve ever listened too. I actually enjoyed it, the album deserves more praise than the review given on this site.
I can’t believe how good this is. Lmfao. This joint is phenomenal. Never thought I would jam out to a Logic joint. Anyway salute, this album is at least 4.8/5 frfr.
What a horrible review. This site is seriously losin crediblity. This album was amazing! LOGIC is one of my favorite rappers since 2017. He’s been killin it almost every album now.
You guys understaffed or something? Need me to write your reviews? Not much here considering how much new stuff has come out lately. Aminé, Lupe, Blu & Exile, RA…
Honestly the reviewer was spot on. Got a bunch of die-hards in the comments completely bought in to Logic’s little world. This was a completely fair review.
Probably the worst rapper I’ve ever heard. Let’s hope he sticks to retirement
cool album.
You cant take this site seriously anymore. I haven’t listened to this, but they gave a higher rating to the City Girls album. FOH crappyass website
An obviously biased review. The album is a true hip-hop head’s gem with good lyrics but even greater production. The execution was as good as it could’ve been.
Good return to form and ending on a career: when fans started doubting, he brought it back to the basics in terms of samples/beats, while also getting personal and dropping nice little references that die-hard fans will appreciate.
Overall really enjoyed this project. The instrumentation is strong and enjoyable and Logic handles himself over the mic well with an extreme return to form, making his last album one of his most enjoyable to date.