NF – CLOUDS (THE MIXTAPE) (Mixtape Review)

NF blesses us with nothing but riveting music in “CLOUDS.”

??????

??? ?

HONORABLE MENTION. LAYERS

“LAYERS” has two sides: A club banger side and a kill-a-rapper side. NF kills both sides (Just like I always kill the two sides that I order with my two-piece chicken meal from Popeyes).

Deservedly, NF talks his s**t in “LAYERS.” Throughout the song, he lets the world know that, right now, he is one of the wokest, most motivated, hungriest, most competitive, and most thankful individuals on this planet. While he toys with a bunch of flows in the first section of the song, he approaches the beat that powers the second section of the song like it was a punching bag.

5. LOST

NF and Hopsin prove to the world that they are cut from the same relentless rap cloth in “LOST.”

As expected, “LOST” is more powerful than that one uncle in your family that has a beer belly but still knows how to carry heavy-ass furniture on his back. Since the song is powered by a very gripping beat, you get aggressive deliveries and stupendous flows by both NF and Hopsin. The two rappers also do a fantastic job of hitting us with deep-ass lyrics that will remind you what resiliency, anger, trust issues, and paranoia sound like.

4. PRIDEFUL

“PRIDEFUL” is probably the most structured song on CLOUDS (I do not mean that as an insult to the other songs at all). Not only does it feature a traditional hook, but it also features melodies that literally anyone that likes music will enjoy.

“PRIDEFUL also features a soulful beat that has just the right amount of oomph to it, a crying woman in the background that should send chills down your spine, raps that are delivered with a level of urgency that is captivating, and lyrics that will remind you how wack stubborn/unsupportive/disloyal individuals are.

Casual NF fans will absolutely love “PRIDEFUL.”

3. CLOUDS

Out the gate, CLOUDS starts off explosively with “CLOUDS” (Trust me, this sentence makes sense).

“CLOUDS” is intense. The song features an instrumental that starts out calm but eventually loses its s**t, animated deliveries, impressive flows, and lyrics that will make you think that NF is The Incredible Hulk, the most amazing rapper in the world, and Giannis Antetokounmpo with Steph Curry’s jump shot. In other words, “CLOUDS” isn’t for the weak-minded at all.

2. TRUST

It’s not fair what NF and Tech N9ne do to the beat that powers “TRUST” (Beat-abuse is real, folks).

Seriously, what the f**k did the beat on this song do to NF and Tech? Did it sleep with their sisters or something? What would make two rappers want to destroy it with next-level flows, Godly lyrics, and punchlines that take weeks to understand?

In this episode of Dateline, we talk about the killing of the “TRUST” beat…

1. STORY

NF does some impeccable storytelling in “STORY.”

In “STORY,” NF talks about stumbling upon an armed robbery at a gas station. While I don’t want to completely spoil the story for you (Unfortunately, I f**ked around and spoiled like 50% of the story), I will tell you this: NF’s lyrics and deliveries in the song will literally make it feel like you were a witness to the whole situation that he lays out. When I tell you that he paints one of the clearest pictures I’ve ever heard on a song, I am not lying one bit.

F**k a Grammy, I think “STORY” should be nominated for an Oscar!

???? ?? ???? ?????????

1. CLOUDS (5/5)

2. THAT’S A JOKE (4/5)

3. JUST LIKE YOU (4/5)

4. STORY (5/5)

5. PRIDEFUL (5/5)

6. LOST (5/5)

7. LAYERS (5/5)

8. DRIFTING (5/5)

9. TRUST (5/5)

10. PAID MY DUES (5/5)

??? ??????

(A)

News flash: NF isn’t from this earth; he just came down to take one of our COVID vaccines. He’ll be going back to Mars tomorrow (Yes, there are aliens on Mars that have COVID).

OK, in all seriousness, the rap performances that NF puts up on CLOUDS are the following things: Riveting, captivating, jaw-dropping, fascinating, alluring, memorizing, spellbinding, stupendous, dazzling, entertaining, unbelievable, incredible, staggering, and complex. I give him an A when it comes to charisma, an A when it comes to crafting dynamic flows, an A when it comes to lyrical content, and an A when it comes to punchlines. There isn’t a single song on this MIXTAPE that won’t at least make your ears perk up or your mind enter into a startled state. Flowers must go to NF right now (Not cheap flowers either).

As it stands right now, CLOUDS is my album of the year.