More Album Ratings (08/26/2023): Yung Gravy, Sauce Walka & Akon

Sauce Walka got me embracing my ratchet side this weekend!

DIESEL (SHAQ) – GORILLA WARFARE

Shaq has lived the American Dream like nine times. He was a highly successful basketball player, an owner of a few companies, featured in numerous TV commercials, appeared in movies, released a couple of rap albums, worked as a cop, earned a PhD, and so on. Now, Shaq is getting his DJ on! This weekend, the former Laker dropped an EDM album called GORILLA WARFARE. As expected, the project is as energetic as it gets. I listened to it earlier today, and by the fifth song, I had already experienced nine seizures. What I find cool is that you hear Shaq rapping throughout the project, and yes, he sounds just like Rick Ross. On some real s**t, this album was not a bad listen.

Favorite Tracks: “NO FEAR,” “BANG YOUR HEAD,” and “KXLLA.”

RGM RATING

(C+)

Akon – Afro Freak

Akon needs to stop with these random projects.

I truly don’t understand what Akon aimed to achieve with this project. However, I can tell you this much: it features some authentic African club music. Throughout Afro Freak, the Senegal singer blends Akata (Black American) lyrics with production styles from all over the Mother continent. As someone who grew up listening to African music, I got a nice fix listening to the project. However, I do think it’s a little too random and corny for me.

Favorite Tracks: “So Rough” and “Prolly Cut – Ampiano.”

RGM RATING

(D)

Sauce Walka – DAT BOY DEN

DAT BOY DEN by Sauce Walka features 18 club bangers that hit harder than your mom when she discovers you didn’t take the chicken out of the freezer when she told you to. While you get your typical knucklehead lyrics from Sauce throughout (He mainly talks about smashing freaks, running up on opps, making money, and toying with guns), the energy he raps with will make it feel like you heard s**t like this for the first time. Also, the beats he raps over are simple but boast nice tempos and menacing vibes that will get you excited. All in all, this is not an amazing album; it’s a trill one that you shouldn’t take too seriously. Like, play it when you’re in a ratchet, ignorant mood.

Favorite Tracks: “ONLY FANS,” “4 The High,” “I’m Like That,” and “Steady Poppin It,” and “Smashin’ & Splashin’.”

RGM RATING

(C)

Yung Gravy & bbno$ – Baby Gravy 3

This is the funniest/most entertaining album you will hear this year.

Yung Gravy and bbno$ are rappers you should take seriously, but not too seriously. With that being said, in Baby Gravy 3, they both rap their asses off, displaying great confidence on the mic, killer punchlines, and more. However, their lyrics, for the most part, are so damn goofy. Whatever the case, the album’s bombastic production and colorful deliveries are just too great to pass on.