Numbers
MellowHype
Odd Future
Controversial collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA) has been making waves over the past few years within the music world. Well-known rappers such as Tyler, the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, and Hodgy Beats have been featured by numerous publications within the business, noted for the DIY, rebellious attitude the members bring to each one of their musical endeavours.
One of Odd Future’s more prominent projects within the rap scene at the moment is MellowHype, a collaboration between rappers Hodgy Beats and Left Brain. Recently, the duo released Numbers, their first major-label debut under the collective’s self-managed Odd Future Records. However, despite this first release being a legitimate album (it’s been all mixtapes so far), Numbers fails to bring much of anything to the table in terms of progression from MellowHype’s past efforts.
Things start off with “Grill,” a track full of both Hodgy and Left Brain nattering over string samples and more skittering hi-hats than you can shake a stick at. The beat gives a very large tip of the hat to the recently popular “trap rap” stylings.
While not lyrically strong to begin with, Left Brain makes sure the listeners recognize him once again as the least talented rapper in Odd Future within minutes. The hook is just plain obnoxious, with the duo spelling out “MellowHype” for what seems like eons.
Despite the lack of strength in the opener, I found the album’s most redeeming track to be next, a seven-minute jam titled “65/Breakfast.” Over a downtempo, piano-laced beat, Hodgy Beats proves that he is the star of this show, with a flow that has him widely regarded as the best rapper within the Odd Future collective. This track has some serious groove to both sections, as the piano gradually segues into the “Breakfast” portion, featuring a tempo shift and more spacey instrumentals that we’ve come to know from past OF works. Aside from the line in the hook about Hodgy’s lyrical flow being “contagious like a herpe,” the track definitely does give some redemption for a lacklustre opener.
“Astro” is up next, with a synth sample that is, quite frankly, rather repetitive to my ears. The track’s saving grace is the appearance of well-loved Odd Future crooner Frank Ocean, bringing his vocal skills out in full force on the song’s hook, and even a rapped bit nearer to the end. “NFWGJDSH” sees the trap-rap influence rise again at a quicker pace, featuring the sound of many guns locking and loading every other second.
The album’s leading single “La Bonita,” is a track with Spanish flavour, and a very annoying vocal sample that will surely follow me to the grave thanks to its endless repetition. The track’s instrumentation is interesting, with some hand-drums and an accordion being only some of the things heard within the song.
The listening experience doesn’t get much more interesting from here on out. Whether it be hi-hats or brass sections, the trap influences come out in full force for the majority of the tracks. Some of the hooks are just downright awful (see “LeFlair”), and lyrical substance is sparse, if present at all.
Another nice moment on the album comes in the form of the final two tracks. “Under 2” actually has some sort of lyrical substance to it, seeing Hodgy reflecting on life as a father over a very nice, dreamy beat. “Break” makes for a nice closing track. It’s simple, effective, and makes sure to follow suit with the spaciness.
Despite having a few nice moments, Numbers is largely a letdown release within the rap world this year. It seems that Hodgy and Left Brain have made no progress in terms of honing their skills and becoming better at their craft. Lyrical ingenuity and content are both at an all-time low, and the heavy influence from trap-rap shows no sign of the duo trying to create a distinct sound of their own. It’s nothing that we haven’t heard before from the Odd Future crew, and the bad definitely outweighs the good this time around.
