KEY GLOCK ‘GLOCKOMA 2’ KEEPS THE BLOCK HOT

Key Glock has continued to build upon the foundation that Young Dolph laid for him within the Paper Route Empire camp. Losing a family member like Dolph, who was Glock’s cousin by marriage, a pioneer in supporting his rap career, and their rhyming partner for their Dum and Dummer records, might be a setback and cause someone to give up music.

However, Dolph personally selected a talented cast for Paper Route Empire that shares his drive and tenacity. Even though Glock wasn’t yet ready to realize his destiny, Dolph prepared him for success.

He mentioned going to acting school last year since he felt like music wasn’t striking him as hard as it once did. It was a hesitancy that only encouraged him to work harder; on the first annual Dolph Day, a day of remembering to celebrate the life of Dolph, he announced a tour for Yellow Tape 2 and released the PRE5L EP.

In 2023, Glock will only step up the pace. He is currently the most well-known PRE member, continuing Dolph’s legacy by releasing a follow-up to his 2018 mixtape Glockoma and embarking on new tour dates in March.

One of the top mixtapes of 2018 was the first Glockoma, along with Future’s Beast Mode 2 and Lil Baby and Gunna’s Drip Harder. When Glockoma 2 debuts five years later, Key Glock has become a recognized expert in Memphis trap music and is continuing to show promise with improved slick talk and punchlines.

It’s like driving down Elvis Presley Boulevard in an exotic car that’s covered in luxury clothes if you haven’t yet listened to a Key Glock album. Each song depicts a stroll down the street while carrying a cane and wearing a pimp coat.

From a beat perspective, some of the Glockoma producers, like Tay Keith, King Ceeo, and BandPlay, make a comeback to create a Memphis trap that is sparse and rattling with bass hits and hi-hat ticks. With “Pop My Shit” and “In & Outta Town,” Hitkidd succeeds in bringing the sounds of Memphis to the clubs.It is now widely known that BandPlay and Glock are inseparable. Bandplay made his official debut by producing three tracks on Glock Bond, and he has since remained Glock’s go-to producer for all of his subsequent endeavors.

On “Chromosomes,” Glock boasts that he has “money, money, money, money running through my chromosomes” while hustling, bagging ounces, and sporting wristbands that make him look like a pot of gold.

Like any sequel, some viewers will still prefer the original to the sequel. Since “Since 6ix,” “Bottom of the Pot,” and “Gang Shit No Lame Shit” are must-hear Glock tracks he performs live, Glockoma does have a tiny advantage. However, when considered in its entirety, Glockoma 2 widens his universe with a fresh collection of bangers, echoing Dolph’s production and differentiating each project from the next with more in-depth narratives.

Since Glock and Dolph have collaborated frequently during his career, there are moments when Glock mimics Dolph’s style. Songs like “2 for 1,” “Designer Down,” and “From Nothing” practically have the same cadence and structure as Dolph’s, whether this was a purposeful choice or not. When a cover band flies too near to the sun, for example, such mirroring might occasionally approach the point of being tiresome.

On “Dirt,” Glock raps, “No. 1 rule get that money mane, I got that shit from Dolph,” and on “Randy Orton,” he delivers, “I’m savage but don’t call me Randy/I’m slammin’ these bitches like Randy Orton,” a reference to his lightning-fast powerslam.

Glock specifically calls out the industry and talks tough about his independence in Glockoma 2. On the song “Ratchet,” he raps, “Got money on my mind every time a n***a get up/I’m shitting on the industry, can’t crop me out the picture,” which might be his way of saying that you shouldn’t take him out of hip-hop history because of all the fraudulent people he’s met.

On “Homicide Gvng,” he boasts, “Bitch, I’m signed to the field/Yeah, I still haven’t signed a deal,” and claims he might pay himself for a feature because he’s achieved platinum status in the past without one. Only a select few rappers can boast with a straight face that they bought their first million at 18 and 19 and had a McLaren at 20. Glock is selling out concerts and racking up streams thanks to his sincerity and magnetism.

There are plenty of flex raps, pimp energy, and Memphis rap hallmarks on Glock’s sophomore tape to get Huey and Gus bouncing, even though it doesn’t quite match the impulsive enthusiasm of his breakout predecessors.