West coast producer DJ Fresh tapping in with Houston, Texas emcee, DJ & businessman Paul Wall for the latter’s sixteenth studio LP. An affiliate of Swishahouse Entertaimment & a co-founder of The Color Changin’ Click, his sophomore effort albeit main label debut The People’s Champ propelled him as an H-Town veteran 2 many years in the past & has since been steadily dropping music whether or not or not it’s Bounce Backs Over Setbacks turning into the most effective album of his from the earlier decade to the combined reception of The Great Wall couple years in the past. Once Upon a Grind dropped on my birthday weekend final winter making up for The Great Wall’s divisive suggestions by homaging town who made him the particular person he’s presently & DJ Fresh has introduced again The Tonite Show to make Paul the latest visitor.
“Wake Up” blends jazz rap & lure collectively so the Oiler Mobb Entertainment founder can speak about getting his thoughts proper the second he will get up each single morning whereas “It’s Necessary” turns the jazz influences up even increased to debate doing what’s obligated & his legendary grind. “Dedicated to the Game” provides off a west coast Mobb vibe with a touch of lure speaking about his loyalty to this shit main into the piano-driven “Husslin’ For Eons” boasting his hustle.
We get a bluesy guitar pattern on “Same Ol’ P” speaking about nothing altering with him just a little over 2 many years into his profession whereas “Drink 1st” fuses cloud rap & lure opting to take a sip from his cup earlier than he heads out. “Blanton’s Tonite” takes a smoother method instrumentally for an ode to my private favourite alcoholic beverage bourbon whiskey whereas “Out Yo Mind” talks in regards to the crowd who thinks he ain’t paid tweaking.
“Riding with the Top Down” whips up a breezy anthem for the California & H-Town to blast of their whips on a sunny day whereas “Money on My Mind” shifts his focus in direction of the bag. “Still Froze” hooks up some synthesizers to point out off the watch on his wrist whereas “Get the Paper” talks about grinding to the utmost. “Whatchu Really Kno” concludes The Tonite Show with a unclean south outro advising to maintain a transparent imaginative and prescient.
Approximately a pair days following Wednesday’s season premiere of South Park on Comedy Central poking enjoyable on the Paramount Skydance Corporation cancelling The Late Show in 2026 due to a joke Stephen Colbert made relating to his present’s guardian firm settling a $16M lawsuit, Paul Wall & DJ Fresh get collectively to make a extremely profitable try at capitalizing their chemistry 7 months in the past & my favourite late profession entry in Paul’s catalog.
Score: 9/10