Quavious Marshall, known better by his Migos personna ‘Quavo’, released his debut solo record, Quavo Huncho, on Oct. 12. To the dismay of listeners seeking a shift towards conscious lyrical content from the modern hip-hop star, Quavo Huncho is just another bland Atlanta trap project with lyrics that feel ‘copy and pasted’ to no end.
Lyrical rap has not entirely disappeared from the mainstream with artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole putting out thoughtful, chart-dominating records in recent years; however, the scene has become an oversaturation of Young Thug and Migos copycat voices.
Huncho is also the likely response to Culture II, Migos’ second release since their rise to mainstream popularity, which is equally as repetitive and needlessly lengthy.
At the root of their hype is the attention from the music streaming services which plug their songs into ‘hip hop’ playlists. With the advent of the streaming industry, listeners have the ability to listen to the music suited for their taste, but with the front page and ‘recommended’ tabs filled to the brim with rappers of this new genre, it becomes as mindless as listening to whatever is on the radio.
This is not to say the album is entirely unenjoyable. Where Huncho thrives is in its lively production, as this is a project created for clubs and cars with bass-boosted stereos. The rap scene has faltered in its ability to remain conscious in its lyrical content, but producers have only had to double down and innovate to create a blend of sounds interesting to the ear.
Some of the instrumentals feel immense and bombastic where others are more chilling and subtle, but they all feature trap drum patterns with twittering high-hats and bumping bass. The creativity of the samples and the voicing of instruments behind Quavo sound entirely natural, as his producers have adapted to his style.
The problem lies within the artist himself. How disappointing it is, as a rap fan, to have the charts dominated by these star figures lacking good pitch, lyrical ability, and the desire to create meaningful music. Listeners must either begin to hold these clowns to a higher standard or recognize their true place in the industry.
