RODDY RICCH “FEED THA STREETS 3” REVIEW

Roddy Ricch, a native of Compton, released his second studio album, LIVE LIFE FAST, on December 17, 2021. Although it was released soon after the two-year mark of his highly regarded 2019 debut, LLF didn’t have the same impact on listeners as Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial had. You can either blame the album’s handling of the concept, or you can blame the absence of a decent “The Box” successor.

Whichever topic you consider to be more important, the poor fan response to LLF dominated discussions about hip-hop for months after it came out. Since then, Roddy Ricch has spent the past year working to remind his audience of his musical prowess. As a result, less than a full year after releasing LLF, the Grammy-winning singer is already back with a new project.

The third episode of Roddy Ricch’s beloved mixtape series, Feed Tha Streets 3, is his most recent release and the first new one since 2018. It’s interesting to note that at the start of 2021, Roddy advertised it as the eagerly awaited sequel to PEMFBA. As luck would have it, LLF was given to fans first. The 24-year-old singer is now positioning Feed Tha Streets 3 as a kind of comeback effort. Roddy’s most recent album has 15 songs on it, however it only has a runtime of around 39 minutes.

Due to its length, FTS3 is surprisingly easy to listen to and has a more positive, mixtape-like vibe. That said, your opinion of Feed That Streets 3 will depend on how you evaluate albums in comparison to mixtapes. As an album, Roddy’s most recent attempt is possibly less exciting, intriguing, and well-rounded than his last offering. However, when viewed as a mixtape, FTS3 is actually quite good.

With the somber opening tune “Just Because,” Roddy Ricch successfully establishes the mood for Feed Tha Streets 3. He addresses the issue head-on, dispelling any lingering question that he has fallen off in recent years. He raps in the opening line of the first stanza, “Had to go the humble route, they thought I lost it.” He also makes it clear that he never let LLF’s backlash to affect him. He says, “Countin’ all this pape, I ain’t never think I lost,” in the opening line of the hook.

While “Just Because” isn’t the most riveting introduction to the mixtape, his assurance and combative intensity give some early fire. Sonically, the downtempo, silky music was created by Ambezza and Louis Yung and seems like it belongs on a Rod Wave record. It’s not the only FTS3 song that does, however. Both “Heavier” and the sincere “Letter To My Son” tape outro embrace that mellow, brooding feel, and to be fair, Roddy Ricch sounds much more comfortable on those two songs.

In a way, Feed Tha Streets 3 adheres to the same principles. Even though the mixtape starts off with tracks like “King Size” and “Blue Cheese,” it gets better as it goes along. For instance, the sixth track on the tape, “Favor For A Favor,” has a passable melody. While still melodic and slow-paced, the 12th tune, “#1 Freak,” with Ty Dolla $ign, is much more dynamic and engaging. “Twin” featuring Lil Durk and “Pressure” are two more examples of similar songs with vastly varied quality levels.

The latter, which employs a similar acoustic formula, creates a much more enjoyable, memorable, and exhilarating outcome whereas the former is a strong high-energy effort. Having said that, the majority of the tracks on the cassette, from “Aston Martin Truck” until the very end, are excellent. Listeners are then treated to hard-hitting, whip-ready bangers including “Get Swept,” “Stop Breathing,” “Pressure,” and “No Rest.” Additionally, the project’s softer tunes, such as “Fade Away” and “#1 Freak,” are equally powerful. “Belly of the Beast” is a song that falls halfway in between those two sound worlds.

The ninth single on Feed Tha Streets 3 is unquestionably an outstanding track that perfectly captures everything fans adore about Roddy Ricch. “Belly of the Beast” is an impending anthem thanks to the catchy tune, quotable lines, and inventive, vibrant Beezo and Slizer production. Unquestionably, songs like “Pressure,” “Fade Away,” and “Belly of the Beast” balance out the last part of FTS3.

Overall, Feed Tha Streets 3 is a remarkable release from one of Hip-Hop’s most promising new artists. FTS3 excels as a mixtape despite not being polished or sequenced well enough to make for an excellent album. Despite the intro track’s potential, the project takes a bit to get going before picking up steam. However, when it does, the mixtape moves to a totally new level. The second part of FTS3 combines the best aspects of Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial and its divisive successor, while the first few songs feel like half-hearted LIVE LIFE FAST throwaways.

Fans who are concerned about whether Roddy Ricch on Feed Tha Streets 3 reverts to form are thus worrying about the wrong thing. The Compton-born artist’s innovative and experimental entry on LLF, in fact, didn’t receive the same praise as his debut. Though it wasn’t a good step, it wasn’t a bad step either. Roddy Ricch demonstrates this with FTS3 and definitively closes the interesting first section of his career.

If you have already listened to Feed Tha Streets 3, what’s your take on Roddy Ricch’s new mixtape? Let us know your feelings about the project in the comment section below.