I believe this is my 2nd time reviewing a Dreamville compilation. Over the last 4 years we have seen the frontman of the Dreamers J. Cole dominate the game. And building a crew that rivals Kendrick Lamar’s TDE as I call them “Great Value TDE” However I watched Bas with his three albums continue to be slept on as I reviewed his last album. Cozz dropped two underrated albums. Omen dropped an album that was impressive. Ari Lennox the songstress has developed into one of the elite new singers in the game with her EP “Pho” and debut “Shea Butter Baby”. The more impressive and not enough mentioned is Lute “1996 West” album I view that as a classic due to the sound and the subject matter and dude was insane. They also added young JID who released 2 dope ass albums. So let’s see what Dreamville can do the third time around as J. Cole hyped up a 10 day recording session inviting almost 100 artists in to help.
“Under the Sun” (featuring J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Lute and DaBaby)
This sample is sick as fuck. It’s reminiscent of “A Lot” as Cole starts it off as he should. Kendrick Lamar yells and chants as it looks like he’s passing the torch of some kind. Lute murdered this shit bro. He nice as fuck. DaBaby surprises as he uses that same ass flow but he had shit to say behind those words. Although I don’t like the line “I got a glock with a dick let’s get physical line” pause.
“Down Bad” (featuring J. Cole, J.I.D, Bas, EarthGang, and Young Nudy)
90’s sound effects, 2010’s trap instruments. Dope combo. As Nudy got like 2 bars lol. JID does his thing on the hook, Bas switches up the flow. Cole does what Cole do hold it down. Old boy from EarthGang got busy on here. This shit was a solid single.
“LamboTruck” (with Cozz featuring Reason and Childish Major)
This joint dark as fuck dog. Cozz and Reason are dope as fuck dog. That was a good matchup. I already see Reason as hella underrated due to being signed to TDE so he had to sharpen his knife. This was dope as fuck as both California artists tear this beat up as Childish Major delivers a dope ass hook. Cozz shouts out the TDE niggas. Reason verse was awesome as both plot to rob their bosses towards the end of the song.
“Swivel” (featuring EarthGang)
Good to see Bink! back producing fam, he was underrated in the Early 2000’s as he did early Roc-A-Fella production. But this probably the weakest song on here no disrespect to Earthgang it’s just that I think they could have chose a different song than this one. It slowed the momentum down on here.
“Oh Wow…Swerve” (featuring J. Cole, Zoink Gang, Key! and Maxo Kream)
Cole started this shit out well. I thought this track was gonna get better but judging by the roster on the track we knew trappity trap shit was around the corner, nothing wrong with it. But this could have been two separate tracks in my honest opinion.
“Don’t Hit Me Right Now” (featuring Bas, Ari Lennox, Yung Baby Tate, Guapdad 4000, Cozz and Buddy)
I love this song man. I love the sound, song, verses, hook. Ari’s backgrounds. I love this man just a beautiful dope ass song. No weak links on this shit.
“Wells Fargo” (featuring J.I.D, EarthGang, Buddy and Guapdad 4000) (interlude)
“Wells Fargo” sounded like it was a dope ass session. And a shitload of fun. This reminds me of some up-tempo Dungeon Family type shit. JID bodied this shit. Earthgang did they thing on this shit.
“Sleep Deprived” (featuring Lute, Omen, Mez and DaVionne)
I fuck with this song. The vibe and all that. This sounds like a rough night’s sleep and paranoia. Mez who was on the Dr. Dre “Compton” album does his thing on here. Omen does decent on here. DaVionne was the icing on the cake of the track.
“Self Love” (featuring Ari Lennox, Baby Rose and Bas)
This song arguably the best song on this compilation especially without the team captain being involved. Ari and Baby Rose dropped bodies on this song. Although Baby Rose voice a bit annoying but it doesn’t stain the concept, the sound, or the dynamic or how great the song is which is the worth tolerating. I love the idea of this record and all and Bas tops it off with a stellar verse. This should be a big song.
“Ladies, Ladies, Ladies” (featuring J.I.D and T.I.)
Although I expected a little bit more from this collab. This is reminiscent of an early 2000’s neo-soul bop by like the Roots or Common. J.I.D. comes off like the flashy young nigga with game bragging about the women he boned. As T.I. comes on as like that big brother figure and brags about his past dealings with women back in his younger days.
“Costa Rica” (with Bas, J.I.D featuring Guapdad 4000, Reese Laflare, Jace, Mez, Smokepurpp, Buddy and Ski Mask the Slump God)
For fans of the trappity trap shit. This is definitely for you. This might hit because this sounds like every song that’s out right now so this was a good idea. Although I’m not familiar with Guapdad 400 and Reese Laflare at all so I can’t tell who the fuck killed what. Mez bodied shit with that Scottie wife line. I know Jace from the Mike Will shit. The hook is undeniable no matter how corny it is. Smokepurpp did aight. J.I.D. does a great Kendrick Lamar type flow.
“1993” (featuring Buddy, Smino, Cozz, EarthGang, J.I.D and J. Cole)
Before we get into this. This nigga Buddy was cracking me the fuck up interrupting everybody on here. Which leads me to believe he had a tendency to interrupt the sessions and that was funny. But this beat is fucking fire got my type of sound. That boom bap 93-94 flow. Smino and Cole killed this shit even though Cole had like 5 bars and shit before Buddy interrupted him.
“Rembrandt…Run It Back” (featuring J.I.D, J. Cole, Earthgang and Vince Staples)
This is back to that traditional rap shit. Aye, this bitch didn’t need no hook on this bitch. Not at all. J.I.D., Vince and Cole do well on this laid back ass beat.
“Sunset” (featuring J. Cole and Young Nudy)
Can Cole talk his shit again? Yes he can. Although Cole adopts his “Middle Child” flow on here. Cole bodies this simple trap track. Nudy doesn’t really ruin the song. But he isn’t really a rapper that I’m really interested in I bet this a 21 favor.
“Got Me” (with Ari Lennox and Omen featuring Ty Dolla Sign, and Dreezy)
Although Ari and Ty body this shit. The real star of this track is the closer Dreezy. As Dreezy and Omen flex their Chicago roots for this collab. A duet with a duet so to speak. This will be a lot of closers at clubs. Definitely the freaky love song of the album. Can’t be all shoot em up bang bang, lyrical spiritual miracle, and trappity trap ya dig it!
“Middle Child” (performed by J. Cole)
Man, this was a great idea for Cole for putting Middle Child on here very sacrificial move for a great general. Cause he could have really used that shit for the next album. We all know how great this track is and the significance. Due to some things that I heard it’s Cole calling out all rappers who want the smoke with him and protecting Drake from common enemy in Kanye West. And maybe a few shots at Pusha maybe from the people who dissected the track. I didn’t know none of this shit was going on but this will end up being not only being the best song on the album but at least one of the top 2 songs of the year.
“PTSD” (featuring Omen, Mereba, Deante’ Hitchcock and St. Beauty)
I love this song, love the feel, love the vibe. Mereba is one of the underrated singers out here. I love her album although I don’t listen to it as much as I should. Deante’ Hitchcock the unknown rapper on here does a dope ass verse. Omen does solid work on here with a cold ass verse. I love the chant at the end, the instruments. Seal of approval.
“Sacrifices” (featuring EarthGang, J. Cole, Smino and Saba)
I expected a bit more from this group of guys. But this is soulful and a decent closer. Because I’m a Smino fan, dude super underrated as fuck. And Saba is dope as fuck. I’m surprised Saba and Omen didn’t collab at all on here. They the same type of rapper. But other than that this shit is cool. Nothing super special.
Overall, let’s go over the pros: Pros is this is a lot better than I expected it to be. I liked the fact that the artists were having fun getting work done, you felt that spirit. Lute, J.I.D., Bas (to an extent), Cole, Ari killed this shit. Buddy was dope as fuck through here too even with not being in the group. Although I fuck with Cozz heavy he did well also, I just felt like he got outshined a bit. But not on the track he did with Reason though. The cons is: Not enough Shea Butter Baby, shorty supposed to be on every fucking hook even the trap shit Ari should have been on 80% of this joint. In my opinion. I felt like that J.I.D. and Tip collab could have been a different record. I think it was better fit for J.I.D. album. Honestly as good as this album is, a few like 2 or 3 are replaceable. The joint had a slow start but that 2nd half of the Dreamers made this album an album of the year candidate.
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