Crime Fetish
Lil B
Self-released
November wouldn’t be complete without a new release from self-proclaimed “rawest rapper alive” Lil B.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with his work, Lil B is an iconic rapper hailing from California who has built himself up to become an internet phenomenon within the past two years.
Using social media platforms such as YouTube and Twitter to gain a massive online following, he is known to release at least one free mixtape per month of new material.
The year 2012 has been a successful one for Lil B, having released some of his most critically acclaimed mixtapes yet, featuring his adopted tabby cat Keke on her own song, challenging NBA star Kevin Durant to a game of one-on-one, and delivering an actual academic lecture at New York University.
This month, he has unleashed his mixtape Crime Fetish upon the world. Featuring 22 tracks, it successfully treads the musical line between intellectually sensible and downright idiotic material in a way that only Lil B can.
“Respect Me” kicks things off with Lil B letting everyone know that he is the all-powerful king of the rap game. Money, women, and power — he’s got it all, and he’s demanding your respect. The mixtape’s title track follows right along in true thug fashion, with Lil B offering up more details on his true gangster lifestyle over a low-key, menacing beat.
“Gone in 60 Seconds” mostly deals with Lil B’s fleeting relationships with the various female suitors in his life. The cover art of the mixtape reads “Ima tell you why I’m thugged out,” and these tracks do just that — portraying Lil B as a cold, hard, original gangster.
Things soon take a turn for the weird, as we get into some material that can be classified as a bit less serious. If you’re reading or hearing about Lil B for the first time, it should be known that he has a tendency to stray from all things that make a quality piece of rap music sometimes.
The result is, at first glance, completely idiotic and low-brow on many levels, but taking it with a grain of salt can often lead to a very funny and rewarding listening experience.
“Lurk N Twerk” is an atmospheric slow-jam tune that is just as ridiculous as the title insinuates, while “Old Sku Mobbin” sees him take on the thug mentality once more in a very loud, brash way.
On the topic of firearms, “Shoot Them Gunz” has a fast beat which may seem unfamiliar to most Lil B fans, but actually works quite well — so much so, that it’s a highlight of the mixtape.
“Stay With the Mack” features all the obnoxious synthesizers you can handle, along with skittering hi-hat cymbals and a plethora of gun references, as Lil B reminds us all that “today is a good day to hold that mack.”
But alongside all this ridiculousness, Lil B includes a few select tracks that actually showcase his lyrical depth and true skill as a rapper.
“Mac Pressed Over,” “Street Dreams,” and the aptly-titled “Life” are all thoughtful, meaningful looks into the life and times of Lil B, and the trials and tribulations he has gone through.
While perhaps not as groundbreaking as the earlier 2012 God’s Father and White Flame mixtapes, Lil B has once again shown that he is fully capable of bringing forth an effort that will appease his ever-growing fan base, while doing so in the most ridiculous (and at times, brilliant) way possible.
It’s important to say that when listening to anything this man puts out, don’t view it with a critical eye. Just sit back, listen, and stay #based.
