Logic returns to form in “Ultra 85.”
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TOP 5 SONGS
5. Thank You for Believing in Me
Well, I’ll be damned, this is a pretty good outro.
If you got weary of Logic rapping as if he doesn’t respect people’s time, “Thank You for Believing in Me” likely felt like a breath of fresh air. For those four minutes, he steps away from his usual rap persona and uses eclectic vocals to express his positive mindset and satisfaction with his accomplishments. I really appreciated hearing the non-yapping.
Sometimes, we get so focused on analyzing rap skills that we overlook the beauty of a truly great song. “Thank You For Believing in Me” is a perfect example of that beauty.
4. Teleport
I wish I could teleport to a nude beach.
In “Teleport,” Logic does some bragging and reflecting. Regarding bragging, he talks about making Ms and doing tracks with Eminem. In contrast, when it comes to reflecting, he speaks on his rise to the top, getting a divorce shortly after that, and his very turbulent childhood where he saw some violence, was molested, and got kicked out of school.
The beat that powers “Teleport” knocks hard and exudes authentic hip-hop vibes. Over it, you get Logic’s fast-paced and slow-paced flows, assertive and laidback tones, and raw amd unfiltered lyrics. I particularly enjoy the last verse, where he skillfully teleports between his troubled past and his new life of success.
3. 44ever
Do y’all care about Logic’s “44” series?
For fans invested in Logic’s “44” series, the journey continues with another compelling addition. In his latest track, “44ever,” the Gaithersburg rapper delivers fierce bars over an intense, uptempo beat. With competitive zeal, Logic draws comparisons to Kendrick Lamar, boldly claiming his own status as a game-changer. However, what truly stands out is the feverish, rapid-fire flow that Logic employs throughout the song. All in all, I think this track is good enough.
2. Innerstellar (Ft. Lucy Rose)
I actually took notes while listening to this track.
“Innerstellar” is the most important track on this album. With beautiful vocals by Lucy Rose and a therapeutic beat that blends atmospheric and jazz elements, Logic delivers a powerful message about staying true to yourself, pursuing your dreams, and letting go of negativity. He also emphasizes the importance of focusing on the future and appreciating life every day. I respect the track’s message and appreciate that Logic keeps it grounded without any of his usual wacky elements.
1. Mission Control
Gucci Mane would be proud of this track.
I’ve always believed that Logic is one of the best beat selectors in the game. That said, I absolutely f**k with the boom-bap version of the “Lemonade” beat that powers this track. As for Logic, he hits us with slick raps that speak on his major come-up, his superior skills, and his love for self-medicating. I appreciate that he didn’t play around on the mic; instead, he uses a steady flow, sticks to one cadence, and sounds even-keeled throughout. T Man the Wizard, the somewhat irrelevant featured guest, closes out the track with a grungy outro that I rock with. The only thing I didn’t need from this track was the Gucci sample at the end.
SONG-BY-SONG RATING
1. Paul Rodriguez (4/5)
2. Mission Control (Ft. T Man The Wizard) (4.5/5)
3. Deja Vu (Ft. DJ Drama) (3.5/5)
4. Glorious Ultra Panavision (skit) (N/A)
5. Fear (3/5)
6. Favela (3.5/5)
7. Gardens III (4/5)
8. Ghost in the Machine (Ft. Robert Ivory & ADÉ) (4/5)
9. Innerstellar (Ft. Lucy Rose) (4.5/5)
10. In Retrospect (4/5)
11. 44ever (4/5)
12. LOVE ME (3/5)
13. Planet Death (skit) (N/A)
14. Teleport (4/5)
15. Chess (skit) (3/5)
16. ANTIDOTE (Ft. Zelooperz) (3.5/5)
17. One Upon a Time in Hollywood (4/5)
18. Peace Love & Positivity (3.5/5)
19. City in the Stars (Ft. Robert Ivory) (4/5)
20. Thank You for Believing in Me (4/5)
RGM RATING
(C) (76%)
Logic can rap his ass off. Logic can rap his ass off. Logic can rap his ass off.
Logic has a serious love for hip-hop but doesn’t quite love what comes with being successful in hip-hop. Throughout Ultra 85, he lets us know this. What I do find pretty interesting, unlike his previous project, is how free he sounds throughout this one. While you get tracks where he puts his head down and straight raps over tough-ass boom-bap beats, he also experiments with other styles of beats from other genres. It’s almost like his true love for rapping showed its face in this album.
Remember when Big Sean said he wasn’t impressed by rappers who focus too much on rapping fast? Maybe he was talking about Logic. Several tracks from this album almost made it onto my top 5 list, but they were bogged down by excessive yapping. Logic gets so wrapped up in the beat that he forgets to pause for breaths or give listeners a chance to process his lyrics. Content-wise, he often circles back to the same themes—being a mixed-race rapper who excels over his competition and struggles with mental health. I just need a bit more variety from Logic to appreciate his work truly.
Logic can rap his ass off. Logic can rap his ass off. Logic can rap his ass off (I’m going to keep saying this until I believe it).
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
This Post Has 2 Comments
obnoxious ass review
Im a slight Logic hater ?. However, I do want to apologize, I had the wrong rating there. It’s been corrected.