This is the third studio album from popular rap trio Migos, who had a big year in 2017 with the release of their commercially successful album “Culture,” an album that included their first Billboard Hot 100 #1 single “Bad and Boujee,” along with other hit singles “T-Shirt” and “Slippery.” Quavo was also featured on several Top 10 singles throughout the year (including “I’m The One,” which made it to #1), Offset collaborated with 21 Savage and Metro Boomin for the critically-successful album “Without Warning,” and Takeoff…well, he wasn’t left off “Bad and Boujee,” that’s for sure. The group also ended the year with the release of “MotorSport,” another huge-charting single for this new album.
However, despite the laundry list of accomplishments, I’ve generally been iffy on a lot of their stuff, as I notably gave “Culture” a “bad” rating when I wrote my review of it, and after hearing “MotorSport,” my views on the group didn’t really change much. Who’s to say, though? Maybe they could surprise me with this record (though, given that it’s an hour and 45 minutes, I’m not holding my breath). Let’s give it a listen and find out.
Higher We Go (Intro): As the Migos boys start off this epic by talking about how high they’ll get, I’m already thinking to myself “man, they really didn’t make a concerted effort to do anything different already!” This thing just feels way too long and way too boring. The hook is fun, if very repetitive, and Takeoff’s verse is particularly strong, but it feels like he’s not there long enough. If not for his verse and the hook, this would be absolutely terrible. As it is…it’s not great, but it could be worse.
Supastars: Here, the Migos talk about…oh, what else, the amount of money they’ve gotten because of their big 2017. Is anyone shocked? No. And usually, I actually find Quavo’s hooks and performances to be fun, but here, it just sounds like he’s phoning it in on the hook (repeating “yeah” eight times in a row doesn’t make things any better). It’s honestly just wallpaper trap music that never even tries to do anything different or remotely interesting in comparison to other Migos songs.
Narcos: Alright, this one is actually pretty interesting to me. Sure, it still feels like a regular Migos affair, but the group added a more reggae-esque feeling. And again, I like the way it sounds. It’s brighter, it features some more fun and interesting vocal performances, and all in all, it’s a more enjoyable listen than other Migos songs.
BBO (Bad Bitches Only) (ft. 21 Savage): One of the many songs on this thing that enlists features, this one actually feels pretty fun: it’s bright, the boys clearly have their fun on their verses, and 21 Savage has a pretty fun hook on this thing. Usually, 21 can bore me a bit, but here, his flow keeps things interesting. Sure, it’s just Migos talking about women again, but it’s definitely an energetic, fun turn-up song.
Auto Pilot (Huncho on the Beat): I was really liking how this one was starting out, as it felt kind of epic and action movie-esque, but then it basically turned into a very standard Migos track with the same annoying staccato flow on the hook, continued uninteresting and unorganized vocal performances, and a very wallpaper, run-of-the-mill trap beat that just doesn’t sound all that exciting. I was getting a bit excited after the last two tracks, but this definitely brought things back to Earth.
Walk It Talk It (ft. Drake): Quavo…did…did you…did you really consider that hook before you threw it on this thing? Because WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!?!?!?! I might enjoy a repetitive hook every once in a while, but that was just…appalling. And beyond that, it’s another song firmly planted in Migos’ comfort zone (I get some “T-Shirt” vibes on this one) where even the best parts aren’t enough: Drake’s verse is rock solid, as is Offset’s, but both of their verses feel too short compared to Quavo’s overly-long hook and verse. Yeah, this one was bad.
Emoji a Chain: I was actually a little interested when I saw that Offset was handling the hook on this one instead of Quavo, but unfortunately, said hook is not as interesting as his verse. I like his flow overall, and he sounds pretty solid on it, but everything else about the song just screams “comfort zone,” as if the boys really don’t want to try anything new or interesting this time around. Ugh, next.
CC (ft. Gucci Mane): This song makes me wish my reviews were in video form because you guys needed to see the look of pure despair on my face when the hook kicked in on this one. I’m cool with a brighter sounding song (I’d actually prefer that, to be honest), but Quavo’s drowning-in-autotune vocals remain as uninteresting as possible. And then Gucci Mane comes in and delivers a really boring verse that, again, ends too quickly, which adds to my ideology that the features are hideously underused on this record. Neither of the other Migos save this one, either, and then to put the cherry on top, the track literally just ends. Like, it shrugs, throws in the towel, and walks away. It doesn’t even feel like it’s over when it ends either. I keep thinking this won’t get worse, but even if it doesn’t, it certainly doesn’t get better.
Stir Fry: FINALLY, A TRACK THAT’S ACTUALLY WORTH A DAMN!!! On this one, the Migos boys rap over a more bright, pop beat that, while still slightly trap-flavored, feels much more fun and energetic than a lot of the other tracks on this thing. This is what Migos needs to do: try some different avenues with their formula! This one actually sounds interesting and infectious, and I might honestly say it’s by far my favorite Migos song. I can actually see myself coming back to this quite a bit in the future, believe it or not!
Too Much Jewelry: Right after I say that, though, the boys jump right back into their comfort zone. Ah well, it was fun while it lasted. And I’ll be honest, I don’t think Takeoff or Quavo were able to make this hook all that interesting: Takeoff’s performance was boring and Quavo’s overly-autotune vocals just lacked anything interesting this time around. I applaud it for being slightly more piano-driven, but I don’t applaud it for not having Offset, because so far, he’s been the best thing about the record. Not one of the worst songs, believe it or not, but it’s not all that great.
Gang Gang: Nice! This, again, is what Migos needs! Here, they experiment with something more poppy and slightly more R&B-esque, and all in all, they stick the landing nicely. The vocals are smooth, the instrumental is bright, and the track as a whole is very fun. Gives me some really nice flashbacks to “679” by Fetty Wap, and I can appreciate the Migos trying that with this one. Again, kinda sucks to see Offset not on this track, but I’d say that this time around, Takeoff and Quavo do a fine enough job lifting the track on their own. Again, I think I’ll be coming back to this one for sure.
White Sand (ft. Travis Scott, Ty Dolla $ign and Big Sean): This track is honestly so stuffed with features it kind of just feels like they blend together a little bit. Travis Scott, Quavo, and (to a lesser extent) Ty Dolla $ign just sound so similar that it honestly was a bit tough to discern who was who at some points, Big Sean is out as soon as he’s in on this track, and neither Offset nor Takeoff’s verses do anything interesting for me. Might honestly be one of the worst on the record just for how overstuffed and unfocused it feels. Not really digging this one, next…
Crown the Kings: Literally, the beat on this one sounded so similar to the last one, I almost didn’t know the song even changed. And again, it’s nothing you haven’t heard out of the group before: same flows, same drowning-in-autotune vocals, and same wallpaper, by-the-numbers trap beat. This one isn’t necessarily obnoxiously bad, but it’s just nothing all that memorable.
Flooded: It honestly feels tiring saying that this song sounds like everything else they’ve put out, but unfortunately, I have to review each track on this thing and give you my full thoughts on each of them, so…*sigh*…it’s nothing you haven’t heard from the group before, and none of the vocal performances are interesting this time around. Why can’t this be done sooner?
Beast: *sinks face into hands* Guys, remember everything I said about the hook on “Walk It Talk It?” This one is nearly as bad. And even though the vocal performances on this thing are a bit more interesting at points, the song as a whole just blends together with everything else. Just…next one, please…
Open It Up: *slowly sinks further and further into madness* “UH, OHH, OPEN IT UP, UH, OHH, OPEN IT UP” PLEASE OPEN IT UP SO THEY CAN STOP!!!!! Boring hook, boring beat, instrumental that I feel like I’ve heard a million times before even in non-Migos tracks. Guys, the migraine is growing.
MotorSport (ft. Nicki Minaj and Cardi B): Now this track won’t make me slip further into madness because, having heard this one before the review, I can easily skip over it in my listen. Anyway, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B run away with this song, as they provide the only really interesting performances on what is essentially an extra-autotuned version of “Bad and Boujee” to me. Hearing it again, actually, it doesn’t grow on me at all. The hook remains boring, and Nicki and Cardi remain the only things I even like about the song. The less we talk about this one, the better. Next…
Movin’ Too Fast: *resists the urge to fall asleep* It’s slightly brighter, but…guys, do I really need to say it again? Can we just move on to the next song and forget about this one. It’s not one of the worst on here, but it literally just sounds like everything else. Can we just move on? Good.
Work Hard: Honestly, I’m hardly even paying attention anymore. It’s kinda brighter, but it’s still sleep-inducing, and it’s doing my migraine no favors. The only thing that keeps it from being one of the worst on this album was that I actually liked Quavo’s vocals on the hook. Otherwise, skippable. Next…
Notice Me (ft. Post Malone): While I like some of the slightly more R&B vibes I get off of this track, and Post Malone’s vocals are very nice on the hook, I feel like this one would be a lot more fun to listen to if it wasn’t the 20th song on a 24-track album. Still, it’s definitely a fun one, and after the long string of really bad tracks, it does feel pretty refreshing to hear something like this. Still a bit too comfort zone, but definitely more fun overall.
Too Playa (ft. 2 Chainz): A more saxophone-driven track sounded really interesting to me at first, but then they added the average trap beat and did nothing different in regards to their flow or vocal sounds. Instead, Quavo just decided to say “we too playa” way too many times, and the group enlisted 2 Chainz to basically be the only fun, exciting part of the song. It’s definitely better than a lot of the others on here, but I definitely don’t see myself coming back to it (especially considering that it’s 5 minutes too long).
Made Men: Here, the boys actually go with something a bit different, trying something a little jazzier and, to an extent, R&B-esque, and for the most part, they stick the landing. The vocal performances are smooth, the instrumental is nice, and the song itself definitely gets points for trying something different (it’s definitely too late for that, though). I can’t say I’ll be coming back to it, but I do like the feel of this, and I’d definitely be willing to see them try this style again.
Top Down on da Nawf: While I appreciate this song for being slightly more introspective, and I like some of the vocal performances on here, I again feel like things just feel too rooted in the group’s comfort zone, and honestly, given the introspective feel of the song and the discussions of their return home, the overpowering drum beat just kind of feels like it doesn’t mesh well with the more subtly-emotional vocal performances. Not one of the worst on the album, but it’s definitely problematic.
Culture National Anthem: Finally, we’ve reached the end of this thing. And, it’s slightly more political, oddly enough. And I can appreciate this, as it’s pretty unexpected for the group, and being a more piano-driven track, that’s something really interesting. Unfortunately, the song ruins what they were going for by layering the generic trap beat over the piano. And it’s a shame because I like the smooth vocals on the track, and the more subtly political lyrics that discuss equality and kneeling for the anthem are interesting for me since political topics like that are things they don’t really explore all that much. Unfortunately, the trap beat, for me, takes away from the impact that it could’ve had. A decent ending to the album, and better than some of the other songs on here, but a track that definitely could’ve been better.
Guys, I’m sorry. I wanted Migos to win me over with this record, I wanted them to light a fire under their asses with this album, but they just don’t. I applaud tracks like “Stir Fry” and “Gang Gang” for actually trying something different, but they literally feel like constellation prizes when every other song is just obnoxiously bad retreads of the group's old stuff. And maybe it’d be less of a problem if it wasn’t AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES LONG!!!!! Honestly, I feel like this is gonna be one of those albums where not even the hardcore Migos fans will be able to defend it. I mean, honestly, if you do like it, that’s fine of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I can’t help but feel like some of the hardcore Migos fans might even feel like it’ll get a bit tiring hearing the same by-the-numbers trap beats over and over, and they'll eventually demand something different, and something shorter.
For me, it feels like “Culture II” is an example of the ideology that “bigger” doesn’t always mean “better,” and throwing a big ol’ number 2 on something doesn’t mean it’s gonna be better than the first. Resting on your laurels is only gonna get you so far before it just starts to feel old, and when the music is as one-dimensional as the stuff on this album, you’re gonna need to change if you don’t want to get left behind, and unfortunately, Migos just keep themselves in their comfort zone (outside of some scattered instances), and the result is an album that can’t help but feel like a group obnoxiously ripping off their old stuff because they’re just not interesting enough.
I…I’m sorry…I just can’t…
Favorite tracks: Narcos, BBO (Bad Bitches Only), Stir Fry, Gang Gang, Notice Me
Least favorite tracks: Supastars, Auto Pilot (Huncho on the Beat), Walk It Talk It, Emoji a Chain, CC, White Sand, Flooded, Beast, Open It Up, MotorSport
Rating: Awful
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