NLE Choppa
branches out in multiple different directions on his lengthy sophomore studio album,
Cottonwood 2
. The Memphis rapper broke into the mainstream with his rapid-fire flows and melodic drill traps, but across the more than 20 tracks and hour-plus runtime of his second LP, he explores a spectrum of unexpected styles and approaches. There's still plenty of trap and booming drill in the catchy but bloodthirsty hooks of "Disability Checks," with cameos from
G Herbo
and
Polo G
, or the bass-booming sex rhymes of "Slut Me Out." Out of left field, however, are moments like the house-informed bump of "Do It Again" featuring
2Rare
, the old-school Southern rap throwback of "Ain't Gonna Answer" (perfected by a feature from New Orleans royalty
Lil Wayne
), and the grime instrumental of the appropriately named "In the UK."
's stylistic experiments never go so far into uncharted territory as to be jarring, instead offering a deeper display of the nuances of his rap abilities. The standout moments are a breath of fresh air for commercially successful rap in the 2020s, which plays it safe more often than not.
's glimmers of unpredictability are its best parts, and make the more by-the-numbers tracks all the more interesting by offering a contrast. ~ TiVo Staff