Seconds after the confessional opening gambit of “all she ever wanted was my heart to hurt” on "Voices In My Head", A Boogie stands in defiance and forewarns that any “n***a can get embarrassed, come and try it.” Capable of producing heartfelt commentary on both misfiring or rewarding courtships with as much gravitas as he can affirm his unwavering loyalty to his Highbridge kin, innate versatility is something A Boogie harbours in abundance.Ībove all else, it is this eclecticism and knack for creative delivery that spawns Hoodie Szn’s most invigorating moments, with the Bronx native juggling an array of flows, flitting between posturing and plaintiveness, and manipulating cadences at will on standouts such as "Skeezers," "The Reaper," "Look Back At It," and "Beasty." Having enlisted none other than producer du jour Kenny Beats for the latter, this hints towards another defining characteristic, and that is the spirit of collaboration.Ĭomprised of 20 tracks, it's no surprise that there’s a laundry list of features, but it is commendable that he chose to align himself with high-profile artists, as well as an undercurrent of burgeoning stars and longtime affiliates, both behind the boards and in the booth- although to varied results.
Now on his sophomore release for Atlantic Records, Hoodie SZN is not just the culmination of a year-long recording process but an ambitious body of work that is defined by those conflicting personas, his musical ambidextrousness and a mixed array of collaborations.įrom the outset, the portrait of an artist that is fraught with cresting emotions but eager to safeguard himself and embrace the trappings of success is on clear display. Just as he can infuse his bars with those tuneful, attention-grabbing hooks, his tracks unveil a deep-seated duality in both musicality and lyricism which can make his output into a dizzying rollercoaster at its most potent. Championed by scores of his fellow New Yorkers as the heir to its throne, what’s every bit as enthralling as his ability to cohesively intersperse melodies with brash, self-assured rhymes is the multidimensional outlook of the man lesser known as Julius Dubose. On his sophomore effort, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie attests to all that makes him out as a unique force in hip-hop with the ambitious "Hoodie SZN."Īrmed with a distinctive flow, a mastery of cadence that is seldom equaled and an unfaltering ability to marry hip-hop with the serenading ambiance of R&B, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's artistic compass and musical principles that were exhibited on breakout project Artist from 2016 have remained intact ever since, and garnered the Bronx native a worldwide fanbase.