by Lancey Foux
Released March 12, 2021 via EMI
Reviewed March 23, 2021
Top tracks (based on community voting)
WHAT U WANT (88%), DONT! - TRUST ME (50%), SEX MONEY MURDER & EXTORTION (50%)
Lancey Foux’s FIRST DEGREE is a great effort that becomes even better when viewed as merely an appetizer to another project releasing in the summer. A sharp turn from his sound on Friend Or Foux, it mainly consists of Lancey going ballistic over catchy, synth-heavy production similar to Whole Lotta Red. Unfortunately, the album falls from amazing to just good in the second half when his aggressiveness takes a backseat and he dabbles with a more melodic flow. What sets Lancey Foux apart from anyone else is the energy and confidence that his music emanates, and that quality doesn’t show as much over the aforementioned singing/cloud rap tracks. It’s short and sweet at 24 minutes, and wisely ends before it can overstay its welcome or take a nosedive in quality. – Alan (8.2/10)
Lancey Foux’s FIRST DEGREE is a fairly distinct showcase of the artist’s abilities and efforts, yet the album fails to land on uncharted territory. With Whole Lotta Red still very fresh in the minds of hip-hop listeners, the market on this kind of ruthless, punkish-rap delivery feels cornered by a very popular figure in the genre. FIRST DEGREE has a few things going for it: infectious energy, intoxicating atmosphere, and somewhat forward-thinking production. The album’s brevity is also appreciated, but ultimately allows the album to come and go without leaving anything very remarkable behind. – DeVán (6.2/10)
Lancey Foux’s fifth album to date, is…okay at best. Energy and aggression are abundant, but FIRST DEGREE lacks in virtually every other aspect. There’s the occasional one-liner that will catch your ear, but for the most part, the UK rapper’s crooning traces back to the typical lyrical tropes of hip-hop and doesn’t offer any sort of unique spin. The production style trails closely, offering up a fusion of grime and trap that oozes crossover potential but always feels one step behind. – Dominick (5/10)
Alan: 8.2/10 | Cam: 7/10 | Enth: 7/10 | DeVán: 6.2/10
Hadley: 6/10 | Dominick: 5/10 | Jared: 5/10
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