Cruel Summer is supposed to be the album of the summer and quiet possibly the album of the year. It feels like we’ve been getting music from the album all year, having already heard “Cold,” “New God Flow,” “Mercy” and “Don’t Like” for sure, we had no choice but to expect good things. Kinda just feel cheated with just twelve songs and the additional release of songs like “Clique” and “The One” in the last couple of weeks, I’d already experienced half the album. Nonetheless here is our Cruel Summer album review.
Things start off at their peak with “To The World,” an R. Kelly and Kanye West collaboration. The first of the album’s surprises, it sets the bar high for the rest of the product. “The Morning” is the album’s next stand-out featuring one of the album’s best verses from Raekwon and the only verse from Common over a Kanye led production.
With so many members and affiliated members, 12 tracks just doesn’t cut it. Teyana Taylor finds a way to impress on, “Bliss,” her duet with John Legend, but more would’ve been nice from her. The same can be said for Cyhi the Prince, who is only featured on two tracks. Kid Cudi provides a perfect emo track in “Creepers,” making him the only artist with a solo track besides Kanye.
The album is an amazing collection of Hip-Hop and music. With production geniuses like Kanye, Hit-Boy, Pop, Mannie Fresh, Hudson Mohawke and Mike Dean involved, anything less than the best in instrumentation would be unacceptable. Just think another 5 tracks is what separates this from being a classic.
Cruel Summer receives a PARL
Rating:
P…Horrible
PA…Tolerable
PAR…Good
PARL…Kinda Great
PARLÉ… Classic
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