IT’S REMBLE
Remble's debut tape is pretty cool. It shows off his unique sound, mixing old-school 90s West Coast Hip-Hop with a modern trap vibe. "IT'S REMBLE" gets straight to the point, introducing Remble as an artist with tight flows, hilarious one-liners, and a delivery where every word is overly pronounced for comedic effect. He's just a super charismatic guy who rides every beat with this calm and collected energy that doesn’t rely on any particular gimmick. Since this project is so promising, I would rather talk about how Remble can improve on his next project instead of going over his obvious strengths again. For a debut tape, "IT'S REMBLE" hits all the marks but leaves me wondering how Remble will evolve once the initial hype dies down. It's easy to stick with your style when your songs are blowing up, but if artists get too comfortable, it only takes one misstep for fans to turn on you, like we’ve seen with other viral hip-hop sensations in this TikTok era. Some parts of this tape worry me that Remble might be painting himself into a corner. There are tracks where he thinks his delivery alone is enough to make an engaging song, but that’s not always the case. This shows especially on tracks like "Firesticc" or "No Competition," where the flow feels too rigid, or "Ask Madden," which has a forgettable chorus. This might be due to rushing tracks or not putting in full effort. Even on a track like "Ask Madden," which feels like filler, Remble still has sharp lines, but the structure needs to be just as sharp. Another issue I noticed is that Remble's delivery usually emphasizes either a cold-hearted persona, like on "Touchable," or introspective street storytelling, like on "Ted Talk" or "Watch How You Talk 2 Me." This works well when he approaches it differently each time, but it becomes a problem when he’s not sure which mood to go for, resulting in tracks that are hard to remember, like "I Mean It" with Mozzy. I hope Remble gets more attention moving forward because some production choices here are questionable. There are definite highlights, like the sizzling synths on "Ruth’s Chris Freestyle," which contrast perfectly with Drakeo The Ruler's (R.I.P) menacing whisper flow, and Kenny Beats' appearance on the funny "Book Bag," which has my favorite chorus on the mixtape. But after 13 tracks, the production can feel pretty simple. Skeletal approaches like on "Ted Talk" or "Never Tell Freestyle" aren't bad, but they get redundant. Even though the closer, "It's Been Real," isn't my favorite lyrically, I appreciate the effort to change up the instrumental atmosphere. These things held me back from enjoying the tape as much as I wanted to, but it’s still one of the most entertaining tapes in recent West Coast Hip-Hop. Remble's wordplay should appeal to every hip-hop fan, with replayable tracks like "Gordon R Freestyle" and the other highlights. There’s a lot to love here, and it shows that Remble is just a few steps away from delivering a Cali Classic.
REMBLE - IT’S REMBLE
RATING - 8/10
FAVORITE TRACKS - Book Bag, Ruths Chris Freestyle, Gordon R Freestyle
GENRE - West Coast Hip-Hop, Trap, Rap