Voice of the Heroes

Both drill pioneer Lil Durk and Atlanta-based Young Thug protege Lil Baby came off of chart-topping 2020 albums of their own before joining forces on collaborative effort The Voice of the Heroes. The 18-track project finds both rappers operating at the top of their games as they play off of each other's energy. There's a crackling excitement throughout the album, coming through in both the slippery, fast-changing flows of "2040" and the pained storytelling of "Make It Out." Production varies from track to track, with dark and overwhelming drill tracks sitting next to gentler, more emotionally reaching tracks like "Rich Off Pain," which features a moving sung hook from Rod Wave. The nearly hour-long running time drags somewhat, and some songs could have been left off the final cut. Still, The Voice of the Heroes is carried primarily by Durk and Baby's chemistry as they adapt to each other without either of them watering down their individualistic styles. A minimal number of features include Meek Mill, Young Thug, and Travis Scott on the unconventionally constructed yet uniquely catchy album standout "Hats Off." ~ Fred Thomas