Die 4 Respect

Michigan rapper DDG transitioned from social media personality to rapper after establishing himself as an entertainer with comedic videos, and within a few years of pursuing music he was already signed to a major label and collaborating with some of rap's bigger names. The 11-track mixtape Die 4 Respect finds DDG teaming with Quality Control Music producer OG Parker for a set that glides seamlessly between high-energy trap and commercially glossy melodic songs with R&B undertones. Throughout Die 4 Respect, Parker's production is as much of a force as rapping from DDG and a lengthy list of featured artists. "Rule #1" finds DDG and Lil Yachty trading relentless rhymes over a hypnotic instrumental made up of bumping bass, paranoid trap hi-hats, and a slithering xylophone loop. A reworking of DDG's previously released hit "Moonwalking in Calabasas" includes a new verse from Blueface, pairing nicely with DDG's sung hook and stuttered flow juxtaposed over the mellow guitar sample of the beat. The harder songs are offset by moments like the smooth post-Drake R&B/rap hybrid of "Impatient" and the melodic sing-rapping of "Way You Talk." ~ Fred Thomas