Fighter: Logic
Trainer (Gym): No I.D., 6ix (Def Jam, Visionary Music Group)
Cut Men: No I.D., Logic, DJ Dahi, S1, M-Phazes, Kevin Randolph, DJ Khalil, Dun Deal, Alkebulan, Arthur McArthur, Tae Beast, Terrace Martin, Skhye Hutch, Rob Knox, Swiff D
Weight Class: Rising Star/Lyrical Heavyweight
Notable Fire: Gang Related, Soul Food, Nikki, Til The End
Notable Trash: None
Tale of the Tape: This dude is different.
Sir Robert “Bobby” Bryson Hall II is probably unlike anything you’ve come across in hip-hop. Besides his unique government name, Logic also doesn’t look or sound like anyone you’ve ever seen or heard. For starters, he really really looks white, which presents its own set of obstacles for making it in this industry. He also talks “proper” in interviews and in the booth. Add to that a litany of horrific incidents in his life and it’s easy to see how he’s developed a resiliency that has allowed him to succeed in the rap game.
In short, Logic has been beating the odds from the very beginning. His debut album, Under Pressure, channels the same underdog feel Machine Gun Kelly (and others) produced upon first stepping into the batter’s box. Only Logic provides the listener with a significantly more keen lyrical dexterity.
“Come home and see an eviction notice taped to my door/ Can’t take no more, mama on drugs, daddy M.I.A/ What can I say? I just wanted to be a kid and play/ To this day I pay homage to the Gods, to the greats/ Never stolen, I’m from Maryland/ Where they shoot you in the dark of the night like Christopher Nolan/ For talking outta your colon/ Catch me rollin’ with the realest/ Lyricism the illest, my chain is the chillest…”
You’ll notice the Gaithersburg, MD product referenced his unstable childhood, but calling his childhood “unstable” might be the greatest understatement of 2015. Logic’s brothers sold dope to his father (amongst others), whom he witnessed smoke crack in front of him. He watched his mother get physically abused by one of her boyfriends (she was also stabbed at one point). Both parents battled alcoholism. His sisters were raped. He grew up on welfare and in Section 8 housing. You’d almost think somebody with a life like this would have a rougher exterior— the fact that he doesn’t could potentially be a problem for some.
For those seeking a more hardened MC (like say, Meek Mill) will be disappointed. Logic is willfully entering a crowded lane of young, intelligent and sensitive lyricists (J Cole, Drake, Kendrick etc). They sing, often, and are more likely to rap over baby grand than a traditional instrumental. They rhyme about love and love lost and other “sensitive” issues. Under Pressure shares all of these same characteristics.
Despite this, the album beings with “Soul Food”, a two-part track that Logic uses to prove his toughness. He expresses his desire to murder his sister’s abusive boyfriend, dares his competitors to “test his killa” and to recognize his energy “inner-G”. On “Gang Related”, another signature songs from the LP, Logic tells more of his fascinating story, but from both his own (as a child) and his older brother’s perspective, who is forced to sell dope to provided for his family.
Sidebar: A familiar narrative in hip-hop, yes.
Logic wrestles with his own inclination to fall into the criminal lifestyle that absorbed his elder siblings and friends on “Growing Pains III” saying, “When will I/ lose my anonymity and become one with the enemy?/ Tell me would I be the enemy/ Feel like nobody in front of me, I can feel the vibe.” Logic then expounds on his personal demons by revealing the identity of “Nikki“, whom he had used to start a brief “#WhoIsNikki?” movement on social media. Nikki is a metaphor for Logic’s addiction to nicotine, a habit he kicked after pledging he would do so once his first album was released.
Famed producer No I.D. and 6ix were chiefly responsible for successfully producing a project with fluid live instrumentation. From the piano on the album’s intro, to the horns on “Never Enough”, to the solemn guitar melody on “Nikki”, Under Pressure‘s appeal is broader than that of standard rap album.
Fight Night: Eighth Round KO
Logic doesn’t hide his influences. In both interviews and on the album itself, he speaks freely about the musical and cinematic works that inspire him. One of the factors preventing Under Pressure from being truly exceptional work is that some of those influences appear to bleed into this project to the point that it prevents the listener from truly getting to know Logic: the artist. The intro sounds way too much like Drake. “Soul Food” contains the mid-track beat change Drake has re-popularized in the 2010s. Although dope, “Nikki” sounds eerily similar to “Buried Alive” Kendrick (Logic’s lead single was also entitled “Buried Alive”). “Metropolis” even features a sample of Kendrick Lamar’s “Sing About Me”— the drums were bit harder than ’97 Holyfield.
Sidebar: Yes, it’s a sample. It’s derivative by design. Understood. But this one just felt egregious for whatever reason.
Maybe Logic’s ear for music is such that it would’ve produced Under Pressure, or an album similar to it, if there was no Drake or Kendrick in the collective consciousness of hip-hop. But with this being his introduction to much of rap world, it felt like Logic was either searching for his sound a bit, or there was a concerted effort established to mimic some of the other successful sounds of today’s leading lyricists. Again, this dude is different, and those differences should be embraced fully at all times. Cultivating his own sound will allow him to cut through the clutter; if not careful, Logic could find himself in an Action Bronson/Ghostface Killah situation. The album also lacks any noteworthy radio/club records, which could effect the amount of support Def Jam puts behind Logic going forward.
But it shouldn’t.
By dropping a debut that was easily one of the best albums of 2014, Logic has proven he has enough talent to be thrown into any debate regarding the best young MCs of the day (just ask Lupe Fiasco). His story is beyond unique. He bares all on this project, and although that leads one to wonder what he could possibly have in store for a sophomore LP, his openness should endear him to the public. How Logic goes about harnessing his immense artistry to the point that it captivates and holds the attention of the masses will be his next quest. Otherwise, Bobby Hall’s impact on the game won’t even surpass Bobby Shmurda’s.
Yep, “under pressure” sounds about right.