Sometimes getting dropped from a label is the best thing for an artist. This happened to Lil Durk recently, and it seems like it made him a better person/rapper since. In Signed To The Streets 3, the Chicago native does his best to prove his worth to the people that doubted him, getting back to doing the things that got him signed in the first place.

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TOP 5

 

5. HOME BODY

“Home Body” is the definition of a hood love song. On it, Lil Durk, TK Kravitz and Gunna talk about their down b*tches, discussing sexual favors and expensive s**t they want to buy for them. Other than the vibes, what I love about this song is that you get three different styles on it, with Durk playing hypeman, Gunna playing mumbler and TK playing that one quiet n***a in your crew that swears he’s bussin’ down chicks but can never give you any evidence of someone he smashed. S**t, I felt like I was in the club with my n***as listening to this joint!

 

 

4. SPIN THE BLOCK

What does spin the block mean? I’m asking for a friend.

Lil Durk has been releasing some pretty passionate sounding records lately, but today, he gives us something extremely gritty. “Spin The Block” features this action-packed instrumental that has a bit of a boom to it, and for that reason, you get a version of the Chicago rapper that leaves the harmonizing at home in favor of some traditional sounding bars. Content-wise, he talks about his gangsta ways on his lone verse, reminding people that he’s unf**kwithable. As for Future, he delivers this explosive hook and second verse, and on both, he sorta plays Durk’s hypeman that is all over the place with his savagery.

Honestly, the s**t both of these dudes are bragging about on this song is sad.

 

 

3. PLAY WITH US

I don’t know a n***a in the game that doesn’t have respect for Kevin Gates or Lil Durk. In “Play With Us,” the duo unite, gifting us with this fast tempo banger that has each of them reminiscing on some deep s**t and confirming their street ways. While they both sing on the track, similarly, nothing about what they are saying is soft, as they each spew some powerful words that seem to hit harder than Adrian Peterson (Was that a low blow, guys?).

 

 

2. HABIT

To be honest with you, I wasn’t super impressed with the musicality behind “Habit,” but I definitely love what it stands for. Over this emotional instrumental, Durk gets a chance to talk about everything from his regrets to mistakes, doing his best to piece together where s**t has been going left for him in his life as of late. His bars come across as extremely genuine, and the singing he does throughout it is beyond heart-warming. I swear, if I wasn’t a robot, I would be in tears right now after listening to this song.

 

 

1. 100 GRAND

Correct, Lil Durk is a n***a you probably don’t want to f**k with, but in actuality, he is more of a singer than a rapper. With that being said, music like “100 Grand” makes sense for him. It boasts this smooth instrumental (By Hitmakaz) in which he gets a chance to go back and forth with Ty Dolla $ign and A Boogie on some luxurious s**t. No need to worry, the trio also gets a chance to talk their s**t, intimidating their ops with threatening lyrics, too. All in all, I f**k with the vibes on this track, and definitely see this being the hit record of the album.

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SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. TREACHEROUS (3/5)

2. DON’T TALK TO ME (3.5/5)

3. SPIN THE BLOCK (4/5)

4. NEIGHBORHOOD HERO (3/5)

5. 100 GRAND (4.5/5)

6. HABIT (4/5)

7. SKRUBS (3.5/5)

8. PLAY WITH US (4/5)

9. PREACH (3/5)

10. INDIA, PT. II (2.5/5)

11. SPAZZ (4/5)

12. HOME BODY (4.5/5)

13.BENIHANA (3.5/5)

14. I KNOW (3/5)

15. ASTRONOMICAL (3/5)

16. DOWNFALL (4/5)

17. DID FOR THE STREETS (4/5)

18. IS WHAT IT IS (5/5)

19. WAY MORE (3.5/5)

20. ROCKSTAR (3.5/5)

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OVERALL RATING

(C)

 

Look, I love Lil Durk’s artistry just as much as the next person does, but in all honesty, I’m not feeling this mixtape. After listening to it a few times, I cannot tell the difference between this s**t and his last three projects. His music is starting to sound monotonous, to me, and I think he’s way too talented to end up in this predicament.

So here’s the thing: I do not think Lil Durk is a bad singer, I just believe he abuses that s**t at times. For example, in “India, Pt. II,” the n***a sings like he’s Usher, hitting notes higher than Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wing span and s**t. I don’t need that from him. What I need from him is singing in doses, because in doses, he gets a chance to remain this trill figure that doesn’t feel like he’s playing a character he’s not. Songs like “Spin The Block,” “Play With Us” and “Habit” felt natural, and when he makes natural-sounding music, he’s a special artist.

I’ll tell you what I didn’t have a problem with on this mixtape: Durk’s lyrical content. This aspect of Signed to the Streets 3 made it feel riveting. His tales of shootouts, lost homies, scandalous chicks and being counted out by everyone but his mama will have you glued to your seat. Matter of fact, I’m starting to think this project will sound better if it was accompanied by a TV movie.

I hated the production on this album, mainly because Durk picked the easiest beats to sing/rap over on it. Every one of them seemed to have this soulful trap sound to it that hip hop artists all over have already exhausted. I want to hear Durk experiment more in this department.

Signed to the Streets 3 features Future, Gunna, TK Kravitz, Lil Baby, Big Baby, Young Dolph, Lil Skies, Kodak Black, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, my cousin, your cousin, etc, etc. In my opinion, each of them were more interesting to listen to than Durk. That’s no knock on him (Well I guess it is), I just think the guests he had on here were willing to turn s**t upside down a little more than he was. If it wasn’t for them, I would probably be bored listening to this mixtape.

Durk has talent, but he isn’t standing out among-st a now cramped rapper-turnt singer crowd. In 2013, I would’ve thought his music was the best thing since sliced bread, but in 2018, I’ma need some type of crazy ass spread on that bread to be moved. So with that being said, if I were to put on my Shark Tank hat, I would tell him that I enjoyed his music and definitely feel his life story, but at this time, I just don’t see how he can survive in an industry that is getting more creative by the day. For that reason, I am out.