Some general thoughts, instead of a review.
1. Hit Boy got me looking at a loooooot of NY producers (including legends) funny. Breh gave us knocking beats that have that east coast inspiration (but updated) largely without samples. It knocks. Drums are dope. Bass is dope. I can't imagine listening to this and going back to Beat Butcha's weak to middling no-sample production style. Hit Boy has this shyt sounding musical. He's re-creating samples, creating new ones...without sounding like the typical "oh this came from Illmind or Frank Dukes" vibe. This dude is a real producer. Salute him.
2. This album is like a love letter to Hov/early 00s Roc. The guitar riff that starts the album, the horns in the beat switch, the Dynasty Intro-reminiscent synths on a couple tracks...it just has that Hov bounce. While I'm not too big of a fan of him bringing back Pain In Da Azz and some of the other on-the-nose throwbacks, in general they nail the sound and it just works.
3. There are a couple tracks where Benny's flow sounds like a kid trying desperately to parallel park. New Streets is the type of song where Hov would give you that conversational slick flow that just weaves in and out of the chops. Whereas Benny sounds like he's reciting a court statement. This pops up on 1-2 other tracks so thankfully it's not a big issue.
4. One Way Flight is the best non-Future He Man Woman Hater shyt since YG's She Wish She Was lmao.
im waiting patiently
