Harold Stallworth will crush you like a jellybean.
Two of rap’s most endearing underdogs, Gunplay and Cormega, have finally joined forces over a flat mafioso beat, courtesy of the invariably generic Hazardis Soundz. The pairing isn’t as unconventional as you might think. Gunplay’s 2009 rendition of “Memory Lane” was among the sharpest barbs thrown during the standoff between Rick Ross and 50 Cent’s respective vanity labels, and Cormega has been forging cross-regional alliances since the turn of the century.
The fact that “Savages” is the most impressive Gunplay record in well over a year is more of an indictment of his post-Acquitted output than anything else. But still, this is mixtape filler of the encouraging variety. It’s a fun, upbeat, collaboration—a much needed reprieve from Cormega’s last full-length album, Mega Philosophy, which managed to coalesce the most unappealing trappings of edutainment, east coast elitism, and adult contemporary rap. And Gunplay, as is always the case when tackling antiquated production, just sounds happy to be here.
