I had the same initial thoughts too, but 'll put my word on the classic album in your avatar...please give these Ransom EPs a chance. Or at least listen to the 2nd one (Scene Two).
Straight up. I didn't even know he rhymed anymore before this year. I thought he was just half of that A-Team mixtape duo in the 2000's. I never really gave him a fair shot.
Someone put me onto Scene Two this year, and I went back after and listened to Scene One. Ransom is legitimately one of the best pens in the game. I think the producer on these, Nicholas Craven, is good but not great. But Ransom's bars are so powerful that I don't even care.
@FreshAIG is right. He can go bar for bar with anyone. Meet Joe Black off of Scene Two is in my top 10 songs of the year.
Ransom's skill level has blown me away this year. I don't now if he was always writing like this, but these 3 EPs are incredible. If you only listen to one though, the 2nd in the series is my favorite.