A part of Logic’s enchantment depends on his transparency round psychological well being struggles, often sharing narratives about not feeling accepted on this planet, and particularly in hip-hop. He’s a mixed-race, self-proclaimed comedian guide nerd who can remedy a Rubik’s Dice whereas freestyling, a boom-bap-loving thirtysomething vying for relevancy within the age of plugg and lure. Naturally, his model of earnest, wife-guy rap has its supporters and detractors. Joe Budden known as him “one of many worst rappers to ever grace a mic”; Ellen DeGeneres labeled him “the voice of his era.” In 2020, Logic retired from rap to take away himself “from a bunch of negativity” and to deal with being a dad.
He introduced his return in probably the most Logic means potential: By mimicking Michael Jordan’s “I’m again” press launch. Like his music, the announcement was by-product and took itself too critically. (He by no means actually left, both; in his 11-month absence, he launched music underneath an alias, Doc D, and often streamed on Twitch.) His first post-retirement mission, the 2021 mixtape Bobby Tarantino III, leaned into a few of his least compelling qualities: deriding fashionable rap traits whereas concurrently imitating them; hyping up his spouse’s hotness; selling psychological well being consciousness with the directness of a PSA announcement. He’s launched 15 initiatives in 12 years, wrote a novel, retired, unretired, and now he’s prepared to point out us one thing new. However what would a superb Logic mission even sound like these days?
His seventh studio album, Vinyl Days, is his strongest mission in years. The beats listed here are the most effective Logic’s ever rapped on—a lot of the manufacturing is dealt with by longtime producer 6ix and Logic himself—and his rapping is as technically electrifying as ever. Logic can rap, and rap properly, and he showcases this talent advert nauseum on Vinyl Days, which is 30 tracks lengthy. Absent are the forays into ska-rock and Trippie Redd lure; current are the odes to Madlib, J Dilla, and DJ Premier. Simply have a look at the visitor listing: Motion Bronson, RZA, Curren$y, Royce Da 5’9″, AZ. Vinyl Days is a YouTube playlist of Funkmaster Flex freestyles, dudes gripping the mic and flaunting an elite arsenal of bars. It’s spectacular and tiring, but it surely nonetheless highlights the explanation why Logic’s so well-known within the first place: He’s a extremely good rapper, and, resultantly, has earned the respect of another actually good rappers.
