2xLP BLACK VINYL

Maryland-born, multi-platinum rapper Logic's 2020 retirement from music was short-lived to say the least, as his would-be final album No Pressure was quickly followed by more new mixtapes and studio albums before even a full 12 months passed. College Park continues the technical flexing Logic displayed on its immediate predecessor, Vinyl Days, but fixates on nostalgia with both its production and lyrical themes. Musically, Logic ventures back the stoned, jazzy instrumentals and mellow production of golden-era '90s hip-hop, with relaxed horn samples and gentle grooves backdropping lucid flows on "Clone Wars III" and a smiling guitar loop, soulful backup singers, and flute runs on "Village Slum" (the title itself an obvious homage to the influence of Detroit's finest late-'90s rap group, Slum Village). This vibrant and nostalgic production defines the majority of the album, moving more towards pop on the catchy weed ode "Highlife" and opting for sharp funk and hooks sung by special guest Norah Jones on "Paradise II." While Logic's lyrics move between remembering his days making songs in his basement and accessing how far he's come, College Park plays out like a docudrama on the rapper's early days, with dramatized skits between songs set in 2011, when Logic and his friends were just getting their start in music and playing their first shows. The overall feel of the album is warm and feel-good, as Logic strolls through the past and considers how it took him to where he is now, as RZA, Bun B, Juicy J, Lucy Rose, Redman, and others stop by to join in on the fun and reminiscing.

A1        Cruisin’ Through The Universe
A2        Wake Up
A3        Lightsabers
A4        Clone Wars III    
B5        Redpill VII    
B6        Playwright
B7        Gaithersburg Freestyle
B8        Insipio    
C9        Self Medication
C10        Shimmy
C11        Paradise II
C12        Come On Down
D13        Village Slum    
D14        Highlife    
D15        38.9897 °N, 76.9378 °W
D16        Ayo
D17        Lightyear