'No Pressure' Review: Logic takes a dig at 'modern-day rap' in powerful and infectiously catchy swansong album
Logic has released his sixth and final album 'No Pressure' on July 24. The highly cherished American rapper announced the bittersweet end to his remarkable career earlier this month saying, “It’s been a great decade. Now it’s time to be a great father."
His departure will no doubt leave many in tears and feeling nostalgic in the future whenever his music pops up, but what about his final project? Speaking of nostalgia, a sense of it already underlines the 'No Pressure' LP. Like many albums, artistes often tend to create them as a form of a diary entry, but Logic has understood its creative importance as he bids goodbye to the industry. The 30-year-old rapper talks to the now, the future, leaves traces of the past and simultaneously squeezes out his feelings to the last drop.
'No Pressure' shows his music booms as loud as ever, but attention should be best paid to the lyrics. A line that stands out for Logic's take on the current world is "So much happenin' in the world, I can't touch on every topic. I know you hear it in my voice, make the devil stop it" found in the lengthy verse of 'Hit My Line'. A looped piano sample, warm bass, and soulful synth tones play over a thick offbeat as Logic raps, "Now I ain't sayin' this my 'Jesus Walks'. I'm just sayin' God, I need to talk. Too many kids in the community outlined in chalk. Scared of drive-bys when they should just be scared of the dark. Who's really doin' they part? They say they don't want messages in rap, it ruins the art. Well, here I am, people, yeah, now tear me apart." At the end of the track, a robotic female voice reveals, "This album was written over the course of one week and mainly created in just four studio sessions between Logic and No I.D, but perfected over the course of the year that followed."
In 'Soul Food II', Logic calls out the music industry with hard-hitting lyrics such as, "If you're searching for love in the industry you'll be let down. They don't love you 'til you dead and then they call you profound. No matter how mainstream you was in the end, you still underground" and "Money ain't the key to happiness and this the proof. Modern day rap is like a golden era spoof." In the followup track to 'Soul Food' from his 2014 album 'Under Pressure', he also raps of his accomplishments in music but rounds it all up with "I wear this 24 karat solid gold Rollie for my son. As an heirloom, not for looking as dope as I rhyme. As a representation to give your family your time."
Sonically, the LP cheekily adopts several old-school throwback styles but leaves modern instrumentalization and crisp recording as its proverbial icing on top. Every layer, loop, riffing, and beat are woven together to form a groove that is both catchy and easy to vibe to on every track. 'No Pressure' also pushes a tangible variety of sounds and textures while still remaining committed to the trademark Logic sound.
'Celebration' takes synth-stabbing, fattened bass drums, staccato snare, and soulful gospelesque chanting on repeat to back the fire rapping. 'Dadbod' gets a slick jazzy rhythm, '5 Hooks' applies DJ mixing concepts with glitching samples, and 'Dark Place' is a sweetened ghostly synth tune that tightens the snare drumming. With these tracks, it is clear that Logic has pinned down his craft to perfection after a decade of leaving his mark in the industry. And with tracks like 'A2Z', which features an adorable dad-to-baby-son dialogue, 'No Pressure' is truly special.
If your son is why you have left the music game, Logic, then we cannot top that with a better reason for you to stay. 'No Pressure' is the food, the decor, the company, and the perfect parting gift at a going-away party.