No Love Boulevard 2017 Album

Z-Ro

Z-Ro has said this will be his last. However, he finishes the album with 'He's Not Done' which features lines such as, "They don't really know who they are fucking with / I am Michael Jordan I retire / Come back and retire again for the fuck of it." It's also rap... There have been few rappers who have actually retired when they first say they will. But, if it is his last, he has left us with a brilliant discography. This album follows his last few, probably since 'The Crown' in that there is a lot of singin'/rappin'. As I mentioned in my review of one of his recent albums, I'd prefer a 16 or two of rapid-fire rapping that Z-Ro does as good as anyone but by doing what he does, he creates nice gangster crooning. He sings on 'Lost My Mind' - "Sometimes I'm cool, sometimes I'm not. You might get a handshake or you might get shot." Or on 'Lit Up' - "Now, how can I ball? / How can I ball? / How can I catch my energy and murder them aaaallllll?" He sings these violent lines in such a relaxed and controlled manner. It's brilliant. The benefit of his singing talent also allows him to create some immediately engaging hooks that you'll be singing along with after one listen. "Here's an invitation from the other side / We're just trying to live a better life / I see the suffering in your eyes / I don't know about you but I gotta survive." - He sings on 'From the Other Side'. To compare it to his last few albums where R&B could be a genre, it's probably more consistent. 'Kiwi' is the only cut I'm not feeling a lot, partly because topically it's basically 'Porcupine' from the aforementioned album. However, there's nothing I like as much as 'Women Men' from 'Legendary' or 'Come With Me' from 'Drankin & Drivin'. Best Tracks: From the Other Side, Brang a Stacc, Devil in Me, Play Me, Lit Up, He's Not Done