Savage

Recording information: Greystone Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Platinum Sound Recording Studios, New York NY.
Photographer: Eric Williams.
The follow-up to Sex Love & Pain II, Savage marks the second time Durrell Babbs has released solo albums in consecutive years. He hadn't done it since his first two full-lengths came out in 2001 and 2002. Capitalizing on the commercial momentum of three straight number one R&B/hip-hop chart-toppers, Babbs refers to the previous set's "She wit the S***" and "I Love Ya" as the explicit, trap-styled template for the majority of these subtlety-free tracks. He does it with a large group of beatmakers completely different from the cast on Sex Love & Pain II, including Cardiak, Swiff D, and Stronger contributors Da Internz, as well as a bunch of newcomers. Lyrically, this is true to the title in its single-minded forcefulness -- materialistic propositions that reduce romance to a financial transaction, vows to beat it up, boxing metaphors, police detainment fantasies with actual cuffing, the works. There are sleek, steely, predominantly lurching beats to match, with Babbs occasionally adopting a vocal approach akin to significantly younger, less technically proficient vocalists like Future and Migos. The singer even has some fun with the terminology, detachedly boasting in the opener, "I'm a real fuckin' trapper/Once I set the trap, I be fuckin' somethin' after." Babbs is genuinely plugged into the material with a voice at full, commanding power. ~ Andy Kellman