Michigan rapper
DDG
transitioned from social media personality to rapper after establishing himself as an entertainer with comedic videos, and within a few years of pursuing music he was already signed to a major label and collaborating with some of rap's bigger names. The 11-track mixtape
Die 4 Respect
finds
teaming with
Quality Control Music
producer
OG Parker
for a set that glides seamlessly between high-energy trap and commercially glossy melodic songs with R&B undertones. Throughout
,
Parker
's production is as much of a force as rapping from
and a lengthy list of featured artists. "Rule #1" finds
and
Lil Yachty
trading relentless rhymes over a hypnotic instrumental made up of bumping bass, paranoid trap hi-hats, and a slithering xylophone loop. A reworking of
's previously released hit "Moonwalking in Calabasas" includes a new verse from
Blueface
, pairing nicely with
's sung hook and stuttered flow juxtaposed over the mellow guitar sample of the beat. The harder songs are offset by moments like the smooth post-
Drake
R&B/rap hybrid of "Impatient" and the melodic sing-rapping of "Way You Talk." ~ Fred Thomas