2 years since Chixtape 4 Tory Lanez is back with Chixtape 5, his fourth studio album following the collaborative masterpiece Love Me Now? (reviewed here). This fifth installment of the Chixtape has been in the works for some time now with Tory teasing it on his IG nonstop before putting it out. I have a true appreciation for this series and its part of the reason why I wanted to push for a mix collab with DJDelano.
Typically, I don’t review R&B projects as Hip-Hop / Trap is really my lane but for this I’ll make an exception and open to push my boundaries! Good to see play Picasso back on the picture I expect a constant stream of 2000-2006 nostalgia.
1. Jalissa’s Back! (Skit)
Jalissa the hood chick from the block is back!
2. The Trade ft Jagged Edge & Jermaine Dupri
I’m not going to go on like I know the original (which will probably be the case with many of these) but the strings and serenade segment at the 2-minute mark are smooth for this warmup. I have no idea why Jermaine Dupri was needed though.
3. Jerry Sprunger ft T-Pain
This tune takes me way back to college days and the rework maintains the same chilled vibe as it did back then; complemented by throwback video. Even though this was only officially released I heard it a few months ago on Youtube.
4. Beauty in the Benz ft Snoop Dogg
Again the original of this is full swing college and university nights. Outside of the revamped hook, I’m not sure if I fully get the production. The stutters are throwing me off completely, it’s too much stop-start for me to feel it (Snoop verse is wack too).
5. Blowin’ Mine’s // Leah’s Introduction (Skit)*
Touching up another Pharrell classic, from the jump I already feel like this is Blowin the last track out the water (pun intended). The approach Tory took to strip it down to keys is a very nice touch too.
6. The Take ft Chris Brown*
The most rapid flow I’ve heard from Tory so far, the cohesion between him and Breezy is crisp. A cold addition to the heartfelt Breezy vocals would be Drizzy on his rap-ish (his version of the original is Fuego). This the strongest song so far out of the first few panty droppers.
7. Broken Promises*
The transition into this track from ‘The Take‘ was actually ridiculous and to be honest the lyrics just became secondary to me after that. The high-tempo melodic medley here is a mad ting.
8. The Fargo Splash ft Ludacris
Not going to lie this song feels way too long, at 2 minutes I was already bored and the loop of the same chords really gets jarring. Luda you need to just hang up your boots mate. If I’m honest from a feature standpoint outside of the Breezy they’ve been poor.
9. Luv Ya Gyal // Love Sounds ft The-Dream
Much like the last song while listening to this I’m almost waiting for the predictable dark reverse sound to come in. The smooth serenade greatly complemented by The-Dream goes on a bit too long though, 3 mins would’ve done it for me.
10. Yessirr
Ok, finally we are beginning to come back with some energy after a couple of clear misses. This got that the Houston / Hot Boy Swagga to it. The half rapping, half harmonizing and a calm little breakdown towards the end is my lane. The song gives the same feel of the below from Chixtape 3
11. Best of You // Busted (Skit) ft Mýa
The original of this is a classic and this doesn’t provide anything fresh to excite me. maybe I’ve heard too many Chixtapes to be surprised.
12. The Cry ft Mario
I like this, it’s a cool reverse spin on the original sample. The 3.15 mark is where it really heats up with what sounds almost tribal. So far overall I haven’t been heavily impressed with this album though.
13. Still Waiting ft Trey Songz
Nah not feeling this.
14. A Fools Tale (Running Back) ft Ashanti
Another mediocre song in comparison to the original. He should have had more rapping like towards the 3.50 mark.
15. Thoughts ft Lloyd & Lil Wayne
You know the album is a dud when an old school feeling Weezy verse cant even save it. I have not been truly blown away by one song on this project at all.
16. If You Gotta… ft Fabolous
The problem I have had with this is it just sounds like a batch of remixes there’s just not enough for any of it to be truly refreshing. This is easily the worst Tory project I’ve reviewed.
17. Room 112 ft Slim & Nyce
“Please don’t bore me” well Nyce I’m fully bored.
18. Last Love Letter (Skit)
Nah no more Chixtapes man, low it nuh Tory.
I’m not even going front like this is R&B lane is fully for me but I’ve always had respect for the hood / slightly unpolished spin Tory demonstrated in parts on the prior Chixtape’s. In this, it feels like Tory overcooked it and to me its basically a straight-up predictable karaoke copy and paste for the most part (even down to his falsettos, etc). For a mixtape that’s fine as my expectancy is low but for this series in an album format, less of what we are already very familiar with would’ve been more.
To give the flip side transitional segments e.g. from The Take to “Broken Promises” was stupid and at points what Play Picasso has done to rework but keep original elements is stupid creative (notably Blowin’ Mine’s).
This album is probably for the younger generation (or girls) who haven’t heard much of the Chixtapes or the originals. This is going to sound crazy but this might actually be my least favorite Tory Lanez project in recent years (I’ll allow it to grow on me after this). In summary, no R&B reviews for me, Tory get back to rapping and Chixtape 4 is still the best.
Top 3 Tracks: Blowin’ Mine’s,The Take and Broken Promises
Rating: 6.5/10
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