An Abandoned Review of Blaqbonez' Last Tape As An Underground Artiste

Blaqbonez has been on his grind for long, steady putting in and putting out work since he became Terry's Zombie in 2011. A growing entity, he is constantly evolving. I know this since we were promised numerous tapes which projected his state of mind. From the heralded Blaqbox, MUSA and CTAT 2.0 we didn't get. Although we got Blaqbox dey road (A pretape), the fact remains "Dr. Blaqbonez Dre" is an artiste that acknowledges growth... and has been trying to find himself or his sound lately... I think he found himself the moment I heard Glory on CTAT... but he had not found his sound which I hope he has now.

This tape is a prelude to the real Last Time Under album (which I hope we get, don't be another Detox, man). It boasts of 19 tracks and opens up with "Blaq album done" (Blaq album done and If are actually bonues), a fully bar'd up song to go with a sombre soft rock sample. He made it clear he would be pursuing a new direction as an artiste.

"Left the hottest for coolest

I left the realest for the chillest" 

That was him taking off the sash that pronounced him the future of Nigerian rap scene for another that pronounces him the "leader of the new school". The second track is "If", a cover of Davido's hit song with a wonderful hook rendered by Kyle B... these two songs are so out of place in the overview of things because from the 3rd to the 19th track, it starts it's unending descent into a trap tape.

Subsequent songs offered a glimpse into the mind of a hungry "trapper" who is willing to go lengths to get paid. The mumble rap and trap melody were hits and misses throughout the tape, with Wave Boy being the lowest ebb of these stream of tracks. The love songs (were they really love songs??)..err... lifestyle songs set the mood and atmosphere for that trapper life. And the strongest points were the songs Blaq actually rapped on, albeit a trap flow, but the bars were a joy to listen to and the skits... oh the skits....the Kevin Hart bit killed me.

The over-the-top brags were juxtaposed with messages to fans, shots at critics and former friends alike showing a jagged mindset that isn't afraid to burn bridges he might deem useless.

"They calling me a sell out but I didn't buy it"

Even those who ask for features and favors were not exempted (I fucks with that paypal line...sheesh!).

 f you are all about the Hiphop, I don't think this tape is for you... Blaqbonez really wasn't saving babies, fighting the government or talking about EFCC spying through your iPhone front screen on this tape. It is a trap album, with bars (trap bars....but bars nonetheless).'

The production aspect had downloaded beats (we can hear the tags, Blaq!), although I spotted a Braniac produced track on it, producers were not credited on the tape.... dunno why. But all in all, the production was befitting with the mood. The major shortcoming in the tape was the engineering. To be frank, you could say this tape was barely mastered..... I get that he really didn't want to waste resources and he put this out for free but the beauty of trap is the neatness in the sound. The vibe.

Really, I don't fancy long albums so 19 tracks bored me out but songs like "Brother" brought me back in the mood when it got boring. Still, I maintain it could be shorter though. Brevity, they say is the soul of wit.

With an appropriate balance between rap, trap and auto-tuned mumble rap, Blaq is well on his way to becoming a well oiled machine in the craft. I anticipate the real Last Time Under album, hopefully better engineered/executed and after this spin, I would not hesitate to check him out next time.

Dope tape.

 7.5/10 

This was written in 2017, after which it was abandoned. Published later in 2022 for documentation.