Pardison Fontaine – UNDER8ED (Album Review)

Pardison Fontaine proves his worth to the hip-hop game in “UNDER8ED.”

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TOP 5

5. Shea Butter

A song about “Shea Butter” has to be fire, right?

“Shea Butter” is brash, catchy, and raw. Set against a flipped version of Old Dirty Bastard’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” beat, Pardison Fontaine boldly raps about his ruthless treatment of women and authentic street persona. I think ODB would definitely be proud of the track.

“Shea Butter” is going to be loved in the clubs.

4. Too Late (Ft. Jadakiss)

“Too Late” is one of those tracks in which two talented rappers spit carefree bars about every struggle/benefit that comes with being famous, a hood influencer, and luxurious. Yes, it will make regular people jealous.

With “Too Late” boasting this action-packed beat, I love how Jadakiss and Pardison Fontaine get barbarous, hurling out bars like they are frisbees on fire. The way each rapper strikes a balance between villainy and competitiveness in their delivery lends them an air of anti-heroism.

3. Not There Yet

This is an excellent intro.

I know y’all are going to f**k with the tracks that have guests on UNDER8ED, but “Not There Yet,” a solo track, is clearly one of the best on this album. In it, Pardison fearlessly tackles topics such as fake friends, providing for family, struggling in the hood, and newfound fame.

On some real s**t, after you finish listening to “Not There Yet,” you will gain a lot more respect for Pardison.

2. Take It Down (Ft. Offset)

Damn, Pardison made money with the whole Offset household.

Pardison Fontaine, already known for his major hit “Backin It Up” featuring Cardi B, decided to aim for another hit by collaborating with Cardi’s partner, Offset, in “Take It Down.” The duo delivers a gritty banger devoid of singing or sentimentalism, instead opting for unapologetic lyrics, complex yet straightforward flows, and savage perspectives.

1. Backin It Up (Ft. Cardi B)

“Backin It Up” is easily the best track on “UNDER8ED.” It boasts an explosive beat and phenomenal chemistry between Pardison and featured guest Cardi B.

In my view, Cardi B delivers one of her most impressive verses on “Back It Up.” She commands the mic with authority and showcases her street persona by challenging adversaries and adhering to street codes in her lyrics. Listening to Cardi spit on this track, I couldn’t help but feel glimpses of Tupac, especially in her delivery at times.

Pardison did a great job of hyping up Cardi B in his verse on “Backin It Up,” highlighting her independence, focus on wealth, and sex appeal. Honestly, with that kind of support, I’d feel like channeling Tupac on my verse too.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. Not There Yet (4/5)

2. Too Late (Ft. Jadakiss) (4/5)

3. Take It Down (Ft. Offset) (4.5/5)

4. Southside (4/5)

5. Backin It Up (Ft. Cardi B) (5/5)

6. 2 Cell Phones (4/5)

7. Shea Butter (4/5)

8. Pay Ya Bills (3.5/5)

9. Good For You (3.5/5)

10. Peach (Ft. City Girls) (3.5/5)

11. Rodman (3/5)

12. Sometimes (3.5/5)

13. Money Machine (3.5/5)

14. UNDER8ED (4/5)

OVERALL RATING

(B-)

Pardison Fontaine is a hitmaker. In UNDERR8ED, the New York rapper finds exhilarating ways to let the world know he’s stroking, racking up money, and smashing his competition.

So what do I love about UNDER8ED? I love how explosive and unapologetic it sounds. From start to finish, Pardison Fontaine comes across as rap’s Montrezl Harrell, strong-arming beats, playing bad guy, and relying on good energy to carry him to the finish line. Don’t get me wrong; Pardison is a very solid rapper, as he knows how to ride beats, dish out clever punchlines, and speak on some meaningful s**t; I just think his strongest suit is his energy.

So what did I despise about UNDER8ED? There were a few throwaways on the album. Personally, I thought “Peach” was predictable (memorable but predictable), “Rodman” was blah (The energy on the song was off), and “Good For You” had potential but was underwhelming (I loved the beat that powered the song but thought Pardison’s singing was pretty poor). As time passes, I can see Pardison cleaning up some of the errors he made in the songs I mentioned.

I was pleasantly surprised by UNDER8ED. The features on the album are good, the beats are good (they are hard-hitting and action-packed), the topics Pardison covers are intriguing, and the energy level of the album as a whole is great. All in all, Pardison put up an album that I think true hip-hop fans will enjoy.