TYRON

by slowthai

Released February 12, 2021 via Method Records / Interscope Records

Reviewed February 21, 2021

Top tracks (based on community voting)

MAZZA (55%), feel a way (47%), i tried (45%)

TYRON embraces two competing personalities within British rapper slowthai. The first half explodes with manic verses that rival the involuntary expressionism of say a Playboi Carti or Lil Uzi Vert at the height of their powers. Meanwhile, the second half is far more cerebral, self-aware, and narratively penned. Thankfully, slowthai seems equally invested into both sides of this idea. Equal resources are dedicated to each identity via high key features and inspired performances. This does wonders to abridge the clear division of the album and help piece together just who Tyron Frampton is as a man, past and present. It's a talent-validating sophomore effort displaying both growth and passion. – Enth (8/10)

slowthai’s sophomore effort, TYRON, seeks to showcase the UK rapper as a more complex individual than the bad boy persona he has cultivated up to this point. Split into two parts, TYRON juxtaposes the energetic and rebellious elements of his personality with a more mature and introspective side, examining the darker recesses of his psyche and the struggles of battling his own thoughts. While he sacrifices some of the intensity that contributed to his rapid ascent, slowthai shows much more emotional depth on his second record. – Dominick (7.7/10)

Nothing Great About Britain showed us there's something great about Slowthai, and TYRON confirms it. Slowthai showcases a healthy balance of style and substance, a meeting of ethics and ethos, which is much harder than it seems. Many get it wrong, many don't even realize that this balance is what makes up the basis of all entertainment and art. There isn't a standout track on TYRON in comparison to the first outing. Nonetheless, TYRON is a much more smooth experience - this comes with a refined tracklist. Shaving 15 minutes off the runtime helps with multiple listens and creates a more well-rounded experience. It pulls away from the heavy Mike Skinner/Streets vibes which opens up Slowthai to really come into his own, especially in beat selection. A lot of the first album was Original Pirate Material oriented. TYRON, however, is geared more towards the latest uprising of grime, even venturing into Memphis Rap territory on “Vex”. The downpitched, demonic vocal samples hark back to the likes of Three 6 Mafia and Lil Ugly Mane. Eerie inklings of the darker side of life linger in the atmosphere. Slowthai can deliver both sides of the game. – Peter (7.5/10)

slowthai is slowly stripping his sonic identity away with his somewhat ironically self-titled sophomore, TYRON. Here, he exchanges eclectic rhyme schemes and cadences for what already saturates the hip-hop and trap market. Even with this, a comparably streamlined theme, and sometimes half-baked hooks, TYRON delivers competent and compelling art. The enraged and hyper first half has an instant appeal that fades pretty quickly, but the tentative second feels fleshed out with a greater range of emotions and timbres, as well as productive features that don't necessarily carry the song, a la “CANCELLED”. With this album, slowthai proves you can head in a more profitable direction without entirely sacrificing substance and heart. – Cam (7/10)

Daniel: 8/10 | Enth: 8/10 | Dominick: 7.7/10 | DeVán: 7.5/10 | Peter: 7.5/10