ian takes his haters to school in “Valedictorian.”
STREAM
TOP 5
Honorable Mention. Never Stop
The way this track transitions from DJ Holiday’s intro to “Never Stop” hyped me the f**k up!
Wait a damn second, when the f**k was ian born? Was he alive when Gucci had the game on lock in ’08? In “Never Stop,” ian does his best impression of the Atlanta legend, talking major s**t over a beat that definitely deserves a few burrs. Though I really like how he initially rides the s**t, once the hype dies down, so does my interest in his flows. Nonetheless, the track is still impressive.
5. AirBnB
Oh s**t, ian doesn’t f**k with airbnbs either? My wigga!
In “AirBnB,” ian fearlessly exposes the façade of his adversaries, pointing out their false claims of wealth and tough personas. He also boldly declares how rich he is, even suggesting that he has placed bounties on certain individuals. Overall, I like the vintage beat, catchy hook, and cocky delivery that helps “AirBnB” go.
4. Figure It Out
“Figure It Out” is currently ian’s most streamed track.
If you’ve ever played the original version of Sonic The Hedgehog, you’ll recognize that the beat driving “Figure It Out” is inspired by Dr. Robotnik’s music. If it’s not, I would be flabbergasted. As for ian, he relies on an erratic style of rapping to talk about the consequences of crossing him. He also compares himself to Batman and boasts about his two-toned watch. Overall, I really like the song’s hook and appreciate the way ian puts his head down and just raps.
3. Hermes Sheets
These aren’t those dusty-ass Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sheets you have in your closet.
Did this guy say he spent 100k on sheets? Let’s be real: That’s excessive. The other excessive s**t he says is that he is willing to buy a second house for just a little more space and that he can walk a mile in fake Ricks. If you’re bothered by these feelings, I will tell you this: “Hermes Sheets” features an excellent chorus and maybe the trillest lyrics on this album.
2. Grand Slam
Nope, this ain’t no damn single.
ian is ready to steal your girl like Barry Bonds used to steal bases back in the day before he had a refrigerator head. In his verses, ian outlines all the reasons he can win her over, from his expensive cars to his deep pockets. You’ll love how the dapper rapper sounds cooler than a cucumber over the booming, extraterrestrial-sounding beat, dropping impressive punchlines along the way. He definitely has an effortless swing like Manny Machado.
1. Bentayga
I want to hear this s**t at a disgusting strip club tomorrow.
How does ian handle yet another ’06 Gucci Mane-esque beat? With pure ease. In “Bentayga,” he exudes confidence as he effortlessly flows over the instrumental, listing expensive cars just as fast as they drive and ensuring that he will always chase paper as long as he’s alive. Though I wouldn’t say I love his verses, the way he imposes his will on the chorus is impeccable.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
1. Holiday (Intro) (N/A)
2. Never Stop (3.5/5)
3. Bentayga (4/5)
4. AirBnb (3.5/5)
5. Hermes Sheets (3.5/5)
6. Omakase (3/5)
7. Chauncey (2.5/5)
8. Judgment (3/5)
9. Grand Slam (4/5)
10. Figure It Out (3.5/5)
RGM RATING
(D) (64%)
I have a confession: I just found out about ian last week. I remember seeing the artwork for this particular album floating around and thinking it was either a prank or a new cover for a Tyler, The Creator single (you know how Tyler likes to put random people on his artwork). Eventually, I noticed people hyping ian up as the best thing since sliced bread, so I decided to do this review. And now, here we are!
Let’s keep it a stack: ian sounds like a refurbished version of Yeat. In Valedictorian, he uses comparable flows and even mirrors Yeat’s style of s**t-talking. However, ian has some key differences: he flows a little better, is more coherent, has cleverer punchlines, and feels more relatable. He also tackles old-school Gucci Mane-like beats pretty often. That said, I enjoyed listening to this album. Way to go, jit!
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
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