A member of Rap trio Travis Porter, Strap Da Fool drops mixtape F*ck Da Critics. Hailing from Decatur, GA this LP is a mixtape gem. Strap rhymes as a street scholar. Travis Porter is known for popular club hits, “Aay Ladies” and “Make It Rain”. This mixtape shows true grit. F*ck Da Critics is throwing the finger to all doubters of Strap’s talents. Strap Da Fool is confident about his skills, compiling a mixtape of 23 tracks. He takes his cues from Southern all-stars Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.
The intro samples the legendary Pimp C on track, “international Pimpin.” He begins with vicious ghetto stories and an in-house Atlanta sound grid. “Get That Dough” totes hi-flying karate chop punchlines. The producer Haz Futcha borrows from Mobb Deep, “Nothing Like Home” on a popular Lenny Williams sample. While Strap infuses miseducated Lauryn Hill influenced bars remixed to the listeners delight. “Wiz Khalifa” is a Kush inspired track with a metaphor for the new weed icon, Khalifa. The mixture of a lavish lifestyle and rotating bottles. “Stay in Pocket” are verses about seducing the finest women with finer things. “Girls in Da Club,” draws from Southern rappers, 8-ball and MJG’s classic, “Sho-nuff,” the remix is well executed. “Love Song” is a Janet Jackson meshed beat of song, “Anytime, Anyplace” in this track Strap Da Fool delivers poetic justice. He continues the 90’s flavor with “G-Thang” motivated by the Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre hit record. He flips the mixtape into Red October type of saturated LP.
The title track “F*ck Da Critics” he sounds similar to T.I. in which he artfully finesses the street game. “Make It” features deceased ATL rapper, Bankroll Fresh. Fresh was tragically killed in a studio shooting in 2016. The video of the incident was released last week. As a obvious scar to the Atlanta scene, young emcees appear to be keeping Bankrolls vision alive. “True Soldiers” is a track for those lost in the struggle. “Weight Up” and “My Life” were both produced by DJ Pusha, and are laced with R&B undertones with hectic baselines. “My Life” is a 2012, Lil Wayne and The Game track both lyrically allow the listener to walk in the rappers shoes. The similarities between the two manifest deeper than affiliations. “Flashlight” has Latin guitar riffs, and is an innovative trap song. In “Vica Versa” Strap exercises his demons. He clearly has no intention of becoming a commercial artist. “1991” is the grand finale, Strap shines as a ghetto poet.
Pledging allegiance to the Thug Life, Strap has the genuine approval of his fellow rappers. He officially gives a champagne toast to the haters. Essentially the perception of entering the mind of an emcee can sometimes be a proverbial nightmare. However the balance of good and evil is evident. The clarity this rapper brings is a rare rap essence. Strap is a new-age lyrical “low-life.” Respectfully emerging from the bottom to master his craft. He shows love to multiple coasts. Overall this is a dope emcee sending a message. “F*ck Da Critics” is one of three of his latest mixtapes available on all media outlets.
J. Sneakerwire Harris
IG: @sneakerwire
Sent from my LG-K540 using Texas Takeover mobile app
