NLE Choppa and DJ BOOKER keep the hits coming in “The Chosen One.”

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TOP 3

3. Off The Muscle

“Off The Muscle” features the exact kind of energy NLE Choppa needs to succeed.

In 2024, I’m keeping it real. That said, I have to keep it real here: “Off The Muscle” sounds like some s**t that That Mexican OT would make, which also sounds like some s**t that DaBaby would make. Everything from NLE’s flows in the song to the exuberant horns on the beat to the reckless lyrics (NLE talks about everything from taking lean to shooting more shots than Katt Williams) makes me say that. At the end of the day, NLE delivers, though.

2. It’s Up

NLE Boogeyman?

Sidenote: “It’s Up” is the hardest term in hip-hop history. Anywho, in “It’s Up,” NLE Choppa sounds like the second coming of Freddy Kruger, delivering horror-filled lyrics that have him sounding like he’s ready to shoot, chop up, and stir-fry his foes. Though I feel like he sounds just a little too sluggish at times, I do think the way he slides on the dark beat is immaculate.

Like, in what scenario would a song like this get played? At a haunted house?

1. Switch The Beat Up

Unpopular opinion: I think NLE Choppa is at his best when he’s on some humble s**t.

NLE Choppa is one of those rappers who has been through more s**t than a 40-year-old (he’s only 21). In “Switch The Beat Up,” he discusses his turbulent come-up. Over this pretty emotional trap beat, the Memphis native brings up troublesome baby mamas, shootouts, and all the things that turned him into the hard worker he is now. Though NLE doesn’t sound super gassed up vocally, he does rely on this relentless flow that definitely makes it seem like he’s trying to give us a condensed version of how he got it out of the mud.

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SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. Off The Muscle (3/5)

2. Big Homie (3/5)

3. It’s Up (3.5/5)

4. Switch The Beat Up (3.5/5)

5. MEM (2.5/5)

6. From The Heart (3/5)

7. Purge On Em (3/5)

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OVERALL RATING

(D-) (61%)

NLE Choppa reminds me of that one NBA player who has serious talent, but when he gets on the court, he tries to do everything. This sometimes results in amazing points being scored, while at other times, it leads to turnovers. This album perfectly symbolizes what I am talking about.

In terms of energy, this album delivers. The Chosen One features bombastic beats and animated deliveries from NLE Choppa. However, my issue with the project lies with almost everything else. While I appreciate the consistent flows NLE presents from song to song, there are moments when he sounds a bit out of control. If he opted for a slower pace, say 50MPH instead of 120MPH, I believe his verses would sound more tolerable.

Another aspect of this album that I didn’t love was the content. While most rappers talk about smashing chicks and shooting people in their music, I believe NLE Choppa’s personality qualifies him to explore a broader range of subjects. In several songs, I felt that he straightforwardly discussed shooting people without injecting cleverness, which felt a bit stale for me.

This project definitely feels like a loosie, so enjoy it for what it is.

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