Fetty Wap drops his first album in eight years, “King Zoo.”
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TOP 5
5. Slide
Damn, I didn’t realize that Fetty was with the s**ts like this…
“Slide” features the best hook on this album. I appreciate the lyrical intensity paired with the soothing vocal delivery. As for the song’s content, it’s hard as f**k. In his verses, Fetty comes across as a bigger hitter than Maxx Crosby, continuously talking about spraying folks and doing other unGodly s**t in the streets. The soft beat that powers everything fooled the f**k out of me.
4. Undeniable
Fetty Wap is at his best when he sounds under a chick’s spell.
You get a bunch of ‘yeah, babys’ in “Undeniable” (Don’t you love it when Fetty Wap says that?). You also get a version of Fetty Wap that believes he’s the best singer on the block as he croons his ass off about a chick who he wants handcuffing him (No pun intended). These dramatic R&B records are what made Fetty the legend he is today.
3. Jet Li
Who said that Fetty Wap couldn’t go bar for bar with your favorite rapper?
Fetty Wap appropriately kicks ass in “Jet Li.” I admire how he engages with the forceful, martial arts-inspired beat that propels the entire composition, effortlessly delivering a mix of confident lyrics and consistent flows. S**t, Fetty might be a black belt in the realm of rap.
2. 1738 (Ft. Coi Leray)
In 2023, hip-hop artists are the only ones making duets.
If you’ve followed Fetty Wap throughout the years, you know he’s been screaming “1738” on most of his songs. I can’t believe the song he decided to dedicate to the number is a love song. In “1738,” Fetty Wap and Coi Leray go back and forth about getting freaky after taking a few shots. While I think Coi is the one who puts up a respectable vocal performance that perfectly aligns with the energetic, uptempo R&B beat that drives everything, Fetty’s rough, questionable vocals are what makes the song extra unique (There’s something about his unorthodox sound that sounds both tight and cringe).
1. Sweet Yamz
I just had yams on Thanksgiving (Fetty is talking about candied yams in this song, right?)!
“Sweet Yamz” sounds like some s**t you would hear on an SNL skit. The song, which is about Fetty’s love for yams, almost exaggeratedly takes on this vintage sound that would make your old-ass uncle say, “What you know about this right here, right here?” while doing a slow dance with a constant snap. The song is either the weirdest or dopest thing you would ever hear.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
1. Interlude (King Zoo Call) (N/A)
2. Northern Lights (3.5/5)
3. Spin the block (4/5)
4. Outside (4/5)
5. Undeniable (4/5)
6. Jet Li (4/5)
7. Urus Pt. 1 (3/5)
8. Urus Pt. 2 (3/5)
9. Slide (4/5)
10. superhuman (4/5)
11. 1738 (Ft. Coi Leray) (4/5)
12. Thinkin’ Bout You (3.5/5)
13. Celebration (3.5/5)
14. King is on His way (3/5)
15. Departure (3/5)
16. Sweet Yamz (4/5)
17. Private Party (3/5)
RGM RATING
(C+)
Fetty Wap doesn’t get nearly enough credit for normalizing melodies in the hip-hop world, especially for those who can’t sing. When his single “Trap Queen” dropped, I genuinely felt like I’d never heard a track like it before. It’s unfortunate that Fetty has only released three official albums. I thoroughly enjoyed his latest one, King Zoo.
Fetty Wap does an outstanding job of balancing street s**t with hood romantic s**t in this album. Specifically, you get a good mix of crooning and gritty bars. If you let the album run, you’ll be forced to listen to both styles—something I love.
What I didn’t appreciate about King Zoo were the moments when Fetty deviated from the two styles I just mentioned. For example, on “Private Party,” it seemed like he was trying too hard to align with the track’s Jersey Club beat. Fetty clearly excels in two specific styles, so when he sticks to what he does best, he’s delightful to listen to.
For someone currently in jail and unable to release an album as intended, this s**t is surprisingly solid.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
