Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho, the collaborative album from two of the most dominant wave setters in Hip-Hop today; Travis Scott & Quavo. The flame behind this project was sparked along time ago; with the initial leaks on Beats 1 radio dating back to December 2016. These leaks were more than enough for me and many others to start build astronomical expectations. Especially with them dominating both the sides of the chats(urban/mainstream) equalling the prominence of past collab projects (Jay/Kayne and Future/Drake).
Based on Ralph Steadman’s creepy artwork alone I guess the auto-tune crooning will sway to a darker sound. Saying that, what do I know about art? let me just get to the tracks I’m already quite late hearing this project!
1. Modern Slavery
Hmm, a pleasantly soulful start to the album, it almost sounds like Otis Redding on the backing vocals. I can tell Quavo means business by the way he comes in on the drop is(FIRE!) . I don’t know why I thought they would go deeper on the topic but this is good start.
“All these damn chains, modern slavery, But this ain’t 1800 so they pay me ” – Quavo
2. Black & Chinese
We’ve gone up another notch to Rush Hour in the Trap. I don’t know if I can handle another 11 tracks like this though. If you want to wake up in the morning set this as your alarm clock the bass ridiculous. Feels like its missing a 21 savage or someone of that ilk.
3. Eye 2 Eye Ft Takeoff
The first two tracks haven’t been so bad but nothing out of the ordinary yet. The tempo of this song is weird, even with them ad-libing in the dips it sounds empty. Takeoff is the only one who really catches the beat properly. Going to have to pass on this one.
4. Motorcycle Patches
3/4 hits so far production wise with Eye 2 Eye the only miss. It took at least 40 seconds before the song started to remotely interest me. Even after that 40 second neither the bounce or lyrics have managed to make this enjoyable; another miss.
5. Huncho Jack*
Why couldn’t the way Travis comes in at the 1.10 mark be the intro of the track? That breakdown is a wave. This is easily the best back to back they’ve had I can hear the chemistry. Hopefully, they slow down more into the next tracks, I like it when their vocals take us on wild rides like this one does.
6. Saint*
Ok, even though it’s almost one flow from both them all the way through, they are keeping the heat up. It’s really similar sound to Black & Chinese minus the break-ya-neck speed. It’s not the complete slow down I wanted next (think Drake ft. Travis – Company) but it’s a head bopper.
7. Go
What is this?? Go,Go, Go,Go and put this song in the trash. The most notable thing about the whole song is the flute.
8. Dubai Sh*t Ft Offset
If Offset had a longer segment on this it would drown out Travis’s drowsy vocals. These guys need some new ad-libs too “Yeah Yeah, Its Lit and Alright” start to lose their impact after a while.
9. Saint Laurent Mask
So Quavo is just going to repeat “Yeah” and “Stack It Up Till I Get Mo” about 100 times in a row now? even they are bored of this album
10. Moon Rock
It all sounds the same man how could they make 13 tracks sound like overkill. This-Isa-Throwaway. com.
11. How U Feel*
Quavo is actually kicking some bars here though don’t sleep on this one! I feel like he could’ve kept this as a solo or for the other Migos. Travis doesn’t suit this style and when he comes in it flops the vibe.
12. Where U From
Nice strings, It could be me but Travis has sounded a lot more generic throughout the whole of this album. Quavo has carried him on at least 70% of the songs just by experimenting a bit more.
13. Best Man
Cool, something celebratory and more reflective from overused the trap tracks. A few more songs like this and How U Feel wouldn’t have been bad. This is the best vocals and the clearest you will hear Travis on album.
At points Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho feels like too many chefs. Especially when they are overlapping each other on the hooks / bridges (Travis’s used the same ad-libs like every two seconds) .Once you’ve heard the first heard; Huncho Jack, Black & Chinese and Modern Day Slavery you’ve basically heard all the styles of the whole album.
All in all, I feel they opted for the safest option possible with the sound of the album. The album is just now; in terms of both production and their vocals. I wanted to hear them deliver something which took what they’d already done and really stretched it. Future and Thug had a much stronger collaborative mixtape in my opinion.
Top 3 Tracks: Saint, How U Feel and Huncho Jack
Rating: 7/10
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