OFWGKTA - The Odd Future Tape Vol. 2

The sequel to the Odd Future Tape begins with ‘Hi’ an enlightening insight into the members and history of Odd Future or “dusty ass motherfuckers” as L-Boy refers to them as. And of course the usual hijinks are there! Plenty of insults, plenty of swearing and of course, the obligatory mention of “Free Earl”

Quite a lot has changed since the first Odd Future Tape came out in 2008. Earl’s come and gone and come back again, they’ve matured a hell of a lot, and realised that they don’t have to rap about violence and misogyny to entertain people! They’ve also increased in members which makes the Tape Vol.2 feel more like Radical then the first Odd Future Tape. And like Radical, The Odd Future Tape Vol. 2 is ideal for new fans as it showcases each individual of the group perfectly and as a collection of songs, is totally unique.

At times The Odd Future Tape Vol. 2 comes across as repetitive with songs like ‘Bitches’, ‘We Got Bitches’ and ‘Real Bitches’ (notice a pattern there?) sounding a little too similar by following the traditional, misogynistic, aggressive Odd Future approach. Those songs will also help rile up us feminists with lyrics such as “I need a real bitch who can make French toast and suck dick”. Misogyny in hip hop? How cutting edge. It’s a tired format that makes Odd Future come across as ignorant and just plain stupid. Or maybe I’m just being cynical and taking them too seriously…

But amidst the hyperactive rapping about ‘bitches’, drugs, the Pope and the stress of fame, Frank Ocean comes crooning in with ‘White’, a chilled interlude, which would be more fitting in the middle of the 18 tracks than towards the end. But that doesn’t matter because it’s perfect. Along with ‘White’ tracks like ‘Sam (Is Dead)’, ‘Doms’, ‘NY (Ned Flander)’, and of course ‘Analog 2/Wheels 2’ – a summery follow up to tracks off Goblin and Bastard – prove that Odd Future are capable of great things.

The album ends with ‘Oldie’, a 10 minute rap free for all that features verses from every Odd Future rapper. Even Earl! That’s right, Earl is back. Tyler sums up everything that Odd Future are about in the last few seconds “So instead of critiquing and bitching, being mad as fuck just admit, not only are we talented, we're rad as fuck”. And maybe we should.

7.1


Eden Young

Tyler The Creator- Goblin

Is this guy serious? Tyler the Creative? Tyler the Masturbator? For someone who makes as many jokes as Tyler, Goblin could not be more of a contrasting rap masterpiece. In behind the incessant insulting of vulnerable social groups and joking about Chris Brown beating up Rihanna, lies a revolutionary who has experienced way beyond his 19 years. Tyler has developed a new romantic side and slightly impersonates Drake in 'Analog' alongside Hodgy Beats, both voices sound equally smooth and sexual with the pitch changed. Although this is one of the slower points of Goblin, the line 'could you meet me by the lake?' is weirdly infectious and forms one of the overriding phrases on the album. Other recurring phrases on the album are most noticeable on 'Bitch Suck Dick' and 'Radicals', with the unforgetable catchphrase 'kill people, burn shit, fuck school' which is inevitably going to be recited by every teenager who's been sucked into the Odd Future hype these past few months. Tyler has certainly moved from strength to strength and as questioned in 'Goblin', 'Bastard intro, how the fuck I'm gonna top that?' the answer to your question Tyler is 'Goblin', a perfect synopsis of Tyler's career and his life story in just under 7 minutes. The closest to accessible is 'She' which features Frank Ocean, the most smooth talking member of OFWGKTA and a renowned ladies man, 'She' is somewhere in between a Drake and an N.E.R.D song. Goblin' has arrived and it's safe to say that Tyler has shown an incredible amount of life experience for a '19 year old fucking emotional coaster with pipe dreams'.
8/10

By Aurora Mitchell