Never giving even a hint of consideration towards Hip Hop’s unwritten rules (i.e. place thought and sense into your raps), the entity known as RiFF RAFF is an experiment that thrives squarely around the attention it receives. Having gone on record claiming he isn’t Hip Hop (despite rhyming over our genre’s familiar rhythms and developing a public persona that suggests otherwise), the most logical assessment views him as a 34-year-old caricature endlessly devoted to shtick. As a result, disapproving onlookers have been left offended (or confused at the very least) as his whiteness prospers off of buffoonery that primarily comes off as black mockery.
With Balloween, RiFF RAFF persists at treating rap, his image within it and the world around him as if he’s above the maturity required of a well-adjusted human being. Operating around the “all news is good news” maxim, his utter lack of regard is rather off-putting as he spits in the face of quality control, ultimately aggravating those inclined to taking art seriously. Undeniable proof of a widened generation gap, he’s a mental midget whose stunted growth caters to teenage aux cord enthusiasts who just got their driver’s licenses, ironic nerdy DJs who open up at Downtown LA Hip Hop shows, and the drugged out attendees at these youth-driven soirees using music as just another escape mechanism.
“Back From The Dead” sounds like a blinged-out spin on the most popular Tetris theme song, with Riff Raff’s trademark goofiness making nonsensical claims of having Versace gingivitis (this apparently being his favorite fashion brand to name drop alongside other random nouns including a wallet and salad on Balloween). A fine melee of messiness, DJ Paul channels the crunk spirit of vintage Three 6 Mafia on “Fuck ‘Em All” (which is ruined by Quavo’s horribly recorded vocals), while Houston legends Lil Flip and Lil Keke tag along for the authentic yet meaningless 8-minute “Aqua Berry Freestyle (Remix).” In turn, young OG Trae Tha Truth makes his best effort at a solid performance on the comically exaggerated “Diamonds Jumping Off My Necklace,” but RiFF RAFF is barely capable of inspiring any of his guests with a perspective mostly confined to codeine consumption and hyperbolic stunts derived from rabid degeneracy.
Having designed a quasi-career off of pushing the limits of absurdity, Balloween has RiFF RAFF and his Jordans tiptoeing into territory that’s bizarre even by his standards. “Bitches in My Driveway” just begins to scratch the surface with eternal manchild Andy Milonakis living up to his weirdest expectations, while “Sold the House” is a meaningless techno instrumental that literally exists without rhyme or reason. As if this weren’t enough, “Take You Away” and “Heart of Gold” are country tunes treading the line between earnest tries at placing hijinks to the side and little more than a different variation of RiFF RAFF’s whacked out performance art.
Balloween is full of shiny objects that are a momentary distraction from the tail end of the presently horrific election cycle, as RiFF RAFF consistently extends the boundaries of what internet fandom allows a rapper to be. He succeeds at creating a mini spectacle with outlandish verses and constantly changing hair colors that command a response to his freak show narrative, but the problem is these shenanigans don’t make a statement that’s deemed overly insufferable by the masses. Instead, he’s merely an annoying niche act whose ongoing trolling has become almost completely devoid of humor (that is if there was ever anything worth chuckling at to begin with). As it stands, RiFF RAFF’s lack of restriction amounts to a running case study in just how low the bar has fallen with regards to public acceptance.
the author of this article seems like an absolute dweeb…i tried to read the review and i couldnt. This reeks of some 21 year old white kid fresh out of college who thinks he is now the authority on hip hop related matters. Whether riff raffs album is terrible or not, you need to get an identity of your own and stop writing corny ass articles full of unoriginal thoughts and ideas that u think will appease real hip hops heads and translate to article clicks. Poser.
Savage!!!
I was thinking the same sh!t when i was reading this corny article. I also had to stop halfway through the article.
go listen to some real hip hop and stop defending this trash
@Smfh
Shut up riffraff
Terrible review. This is a decent project.
said no one ever
nope, its actually decent. The reviewer has something against riff raff and its apparent during the whole review. Production on the album sounds pretty good, lyrics aren’t that great, but there really isn’t that many lyrical south rappers. This is Riff Raffs best project to date, probably not saying much.
Krizzle
fuk the haters riff raff is a musical genius if u dont like it then yall can go sleep outside in his versace sleeping bag FOH tbh
A musical genius?! LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! How did this bullshit get so many likes?! Smh the game is fucked.
i honestly like this album, this review is shit. it might be not everybodys cup of tea but hes good at the kind of music he makes.
lol i get deleted for criticizing you mentioning whiteness and black mockery. foh stop trying to divide people like the rest of liberal media
And I agree that this article is just over inflated with saltiness
bih this joint was some heat
Riff Raff is the future of black exploitation! He does it with the best of them too…white, black, or puerto rican.
The author is a straight hater of everything good. Who the hell is Jesse Fairfax anyway? What does he know about Riff and his balling abilities. HHDX needs new reviewers…for real. The album is fire. Get with it.
Not the biggest riff fan but he has some solid tracks… this review is just a pathetic attack on him… grow up n write a proper review….
RiFF is an aquired taste and his wacky raps, big ass grillz and colored braids may annoy you but this man who wrote this article acts like it’s wrong to do something unique in the rap game which is dominated mostly by generic rappers and rappers who are extremely tallented lyricly and artisticly so yes RiFF RAFF definitley isn’t the most tallented rapper but he’s not gonna change to a boring fuckboi rapper just cause you haters don’t like funny shit and can’t stand when a fine institution such as rap isn’t taken seriously because at the end of the day who has more money, a better life and more ice on his chest.
Jesse Fairfax just mad cause his girl got invited backstage last week at the Riff Raff show.
Thanks for trying.
To appreciate Riff Raff, you need to look past the superficial, which admittedly is difficult since he so shamelessly flaunts his wealth and possessions. But there is musical quality here, for those patient enough to give Riff a chance.
He has a great ear for a dope beat and a nice hook. ‘Stay Away From You’ and ‘Care Free’ are excellent tracks, it’s just a bit frustrating that Riff didn’t take more time to develop them. I don’t know if Riff is even aware that he’s doing it, but he shows vulnerability on both of these songs, and it may seem like a joke given his goofy delivery, but it’s a double bluff. When he wants, he expresses himself more poignantly that most other rappers. (Check out ‘Time’ and ‘Versace Python’ for revealing material from Neon Icon).
I know it’s odd since he looks like a bit of a joke and doesn’t seem to take himself to seriously, but I find him more accessible than most other rappers out there. I still think he could make a classic album and prove the critics wrong, he just needs take a bit more time on each album.
Jessie Fairfax has his panties in a knot. Riff Raff is the GOAT
Reviewer’s salty for some reason… I enjoyed the album.
This review can take an L it this project raw Asf
WOW YOU DELETE MY COMMENT TWICE? YOU SALTY LITTLE BXTCH. I SHOULD HACK YOUR COMPUTER YOU SWEATY CHEETOS EATING FxCK! IF I EVER SEE YOU IM GOING TO TOSS WATER ON YOU FROM A GOLDFISHES POO WATER AND DRIP YOUR CLIP ON TIE INTO DOG SxHIT
HE IS A SEXI MAN with a big DICK!!!!!!!!!
Hahahahaha OMG DX is really gonna bitch about an artist placing “thought and sense” in his raps?!?! You fucking hypocrites. Shut the fuck up and keep dick-riding all those mumble rappers. Buncha fuckin’ idiots. GTFOH
Yet you continually give 4/5 stars to these mumbly ass, snoozy lullaby rappers. Half the shit you guys give high ratings for fucking put my 4 month old baby to sleep. At least this shit has some fucking passion and is enjoyable to listen to.
So you can only be AUTHENTICALLY a buffoon if your black? Thats some racist shit. F**K this reviewer
Hip hop dx blows. It’s like they just say what they think people want them to.
“as his whiteness prospers off of buffoonery that primarily comes off as black mockery.”
There’s the media trying to push more racial segregation, grow up DX. As a reviewer you are certainly entitled to your opinion on the album but make your sentiments about the album, not your agenda. You don’t see me getting down on the Wayan’s bros for always pretending to be white.
I can’t believe the comments I’m reading. I didn’t think anyone took Riff Raff seriously. I thought he was supposed to be a joke and kidding around. I don’t think the man really thinks he’s spitting bars. His stuff is like the Kevin Hart album. He doesn’t really think he’s nice.
The thing is that Riff Raff’s “joke” is better than half the rap on the radio. Listen to Future, Young Thug, Migos, Lil Yachty, 21 Savage, D.R.A.M, Drake, etc. It’s all trash. At least Riff doesn’t take himself seriously.
the Riff hate from DX is laughable. you guys support artists that are FAR worse. Drake’s albums aren’t as good as this and you’re a moron if you think they are. Riff writes his own rhymes and they are actually clever. He is like a white 2 Chainz. You guys support 2 Chainz like he is the second coming of Biggie
people rating this a 5 are fucking ridiculous. troll generation is fucking up real talent
riff raff and his fans are all fools who think acting like a fool makes you cool. stay in school, ya fools!
Riff raff is a lyrical genius and anyone who can’t appreciate that doesn’t realize the true depth of his art form.
Defiantly not deep and meaningful lyrics, but you have to take it for what it’s worth. Rating this a 1/5 is like raitng anchorman 1/5 for not having the subleties of citizen Kane. This is the type of music you blast when you are working out, or to get you pumped before going out for the night. Riff Raff is one of my favorite rappers because his lyrics never fail to put a smile on my face.
Instant Anti-Depressant.
I’ve listened to every single fucking rap artist in the world, Riff Raff deserves his place. People who says he’s purposely mocking black culture, grab a mirror and verify if your panties aren’t twisted, pinching your pussy lips.
“I came through in a Phantom / and I bought a Panda”
Diamonds.