Too Loyal for My Own Good
If you're immersed in the UK rap scene, you know who Headie One is. An undisputed champion of drill, the 26-year-old reached number one on the UK albums chart last year with his debut album EDNA. 'Ain't It Different' feat. AJ Tracey and Stormzy was one of my favourite rap anthems to come out of 2020, and his collaborative effort on 'Only You Freestyle' with none other than Drake himself was proof of the power he currently posseses in the rap game. On Too Loyal for My Own Good, Headie cements himself in the drill game and showcases a more experimental side to his music; and he does so with no features and some killer production.
After a full listen it's evident that every single producer on this project came through with some absolute heat. The first track 'Too Loyal' starts us off with a low-key beat, sample and subtle beat switch that compliment Headie's trademark flow and delivery perfectly. Headie glides over the trap beat on 'Love Me for Me' where he raps about the doubts he faces on whether or not the people around him love him for him or love him for his money. The two lead singles off this project come up next and both of these tracks come through with hard beats, amazing samples and some of the best adlibs I've heard this year. The strings featured in '2 Chains' are heavenly and easily make this one of the best tracks on the project.
RIGHT: Too Loyal for My Own Good ALBUM COVER
'Nothing to Me' has an amazing instrumental and is a strong example of the new sounds being explored and experimented with on this mixtape. The theme of ‘nothing comes without a price’ is heavily focused on in this song, with Headie rapping about the things he's done and the things he deals with on a daily basis to be in his position. The combination of an experimental sample on the beat, a catchy chorus and a gritty flow make this my favourite track on the album.
Some elements of afropop can be found in the tracks 'Finer Things' and 'Louis Vuitton Collar' but the energy is kept high as the mixtape moves into some experimental bangers on the tail end. 'PTSD' features a magical flute as the sample and Headie switches up his regular flow to combine for a memorable moment on the project. The beat on 'Satisfy Me' is up there with the best beats of the year. The production on this track in particular is incredible and even though Headie does his thing, the instrumental absolutely carries this song. Do yourself a favour and listen to this with some good headphones cranked up to max volume.
There are a few tracks where Headie falls into the rhythm of recycling flows and themes, but the stellar production across the board kept me refreshed and interested in every song as I listened to this mixtape. Gritty trap and drill beats pair extraordinarily well with experimental instrumentals and eclectic samples to form one of the better produced projects this year. Although it doesn't have any big features or rap anthems, I'd say Too Loyal for My Own Good is a step-up from his debut album EDNA, and is another example of why Headie One is untouchable in the rap game right now.
DOWNLOAD AND STREAM Too Loyal for My Own Good HERE
