Multi-platinum Mississippi rap duo
Rae Sremmurd
went relatively silent for five years following their 2018 triple-LP
SR3MM
. Five years is a lifetime in commercial rap terms, and their fourth studio album
Sremm4Life
reunites brothers
Slim Jxmmi
and
Swae Lee
(along with longtime producer/label boss
Mike WiLL Made-It
) for a collection of concise, immediate tracks that make up for lost time. While
was solid, its triple threat of an album's worth of collaborative tracks and dual solo albums from each of the brothers made it a lot to digest.
architects its flow to do more with individual pieces. Album-opener "Origami (Hotties)" eases listeners in with its slow, drunken trap pop beat before ramping up to the hypnotizing synth horns and
Young Thug
feature of the ceaselessly hooky "Royal Flush" or the throwback party bop of "Tanisha (Pump That)" complete with DJ scratching that's rarely heard in streaming-era rap songs.
Future
shows up to add some mist and mystique to the already vaporous boom of "Activate," and "YMCA" almost approaches synth pop territory. Bombastic closer "ADHD Anthem (2 Many Emotions)" continues the rock star energy
have been cultivating since their early days, with passionate melodic vocals about mental health struggles gliding over a chaotic uptempo instrumental. The songs that make up
are lean, purposeful, and to the point. One of
's greatest strengths has always been their ability to create incessantly catchy material and deliver it with a casual confidence that makes their meticulously crafted hits seem effortless. That gift is clearer than ever on
. ~ Fred Thomas