PTSD: Review

2.28.20

Album Release: 2.28.20 PTSD by G Herbo

G Herbo put out a new album today, and I feel like I am watching him grow as an artist. I even liked ‘Swevo’ and have it on my repeat playlist, but we see range in G Herbo on ‘PTSD.’ In addition to dropping this album today, G Herbo also visited Funk Flex to share a new freestyle, gaining more attraction the day of album drop. The free style was great, and got pretty emotional at parts. The dedication, passion and work ethic Herbo is putting into his career and his home life is showing progression, I hope it stays that way. Now let’s get into the album. Overall, I think sounds good. G Herbo is finding his sound. He still sounds like himself, but less overly aggressive and gutter-ish. It sounds like he overall has better production on this one.

Track 1: Intro

The intro is actually a whole three minute song. Of course with an album title like ‘PTSD’, we’re expecting to hear G Herbo tell his story, probably traumatic scenarios where he feels like today he has PTSD thinking about the past. The intro for sure is an overview of horrible things he’s seen in his life and how he got to today.

Track 2: Glass In The Face FT. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie

I always take one listen through an album to get a gut reaction before I study the titles, features, and really break everything down. In the first verse, Herbo shares a line about Highbridge and singing like A Boogie, and then A Boogie pops up for the chorus. I loved that. A Boogie talks about not wanting to ever be broke again, not feeling safe when he isn’t strapped, and Herbo compliments the story. I’m already into this, because I can tell all of these songs are going to align to the title of the album, which I don’t think is always the case.

Track 3: Gangstas Cry FT. BJ the Chicago Kid

I don’t think I’ve heard of BJ the Chicago Kid before, but he looks like the love child of Shiggy and Lil Mosey, only older. Anyways, this is today’s version of Rick Ross’ ‘Thug Cry.’ It is obviously not a banger, but it has a very soothing beat and displays major vulnerability which is something I don’t think anyone ever expect for this kid. I have to respect it, overall.

Track 4: In This Bitch

Solo track that goes hard. This song will get played in the clubs that play good rap music. We don’t have any of them near me, but I see them in celeb/influencers Instagram stories all the time, so I’m sure they exist. The beat is crazy, and I see people being able to dance, definitely hit the Woah type of dances, at least. There are a couple parts where the beat stops and Herbo keeps rapping, then the beat starts heavy again. Definitely a great set up for the party theme, to be chilling and then go in. I think this one is a hit, with no feature!

Track 5: Death Row

This is another solo track, I think sounds great, but is a lot more serious. The chorus shares “I was on death row, I ain’t never met Snoop I ain’t never met Suge.” First of all, this is a bar. He was on death row, but not Death Row Records, he’s never even met these big names in the rap industry. He’s just been through a lot of crazy things that has put his life and career in immense danger. I like the content in this one overall.

Track 6: Party in Heaven FT Lil Durk

I like this collaboration a lot. Two boys from Chicago with a lot to say. It’s a gangsta party, a gangsta story, a party in heaven, is what they’re calling it. It’s a deep story to say the list. The content is filled with stories of lost loved ones, and how you have to act in every day life to prepare or protect. But of course with Lil Durk on the hook, you can’t just not vibe to the beat.

Track 7: PTSD FT Chance the Rapper, Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert

Here is the title track. I feel like I could write you an entire article, just about this song. We have four different hip-hop artists, but they’re all complete opposites. G Herbo is the gangster rap artist, Chance is the today’s gospel hip-hop artist, Juice is the emo hip-hop artist, and Uzi is the mainstream hip-hop artist. Three out of the four are from Chicago, too. Which is interesting, because I fee like you can tell when an artist is from Chicago by their sound, but these guys are all so different. However, for a song with such a touchy subject, they absolutely killed it.

Again, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen my first listen. I didn’t even know Juice WRLD was on the album at first because his name is cut off in the initial view since there are multiple artists. So the song begins with the Juice hook. I only listen to his collabs because his stuff is too sad for me. But his voice is absolutely insane. I like the vibes a lot. It does remind me of some sixth grade emo music I used to listen to. But overall I’m intrigued and I’m into it.

Herbo has the next verse. I like how they’re playing off the same theme “there’s a war zone in my head.” It’s a combo of sharp bars and gritty vocals. Overall, it’s the title track, and though we’re getting to the root of the PTSD issue that clearly so many artists and celebs in the limelight, it’s an upbeat tone and vibe to the song, that I can no doubt see being a killer hit. This song has got to go Gold at the least.

Chance the Rapper up next. Chance always seems to find a way to make something new that we’ve never heard before, in terms of his sound and vocals. I was a little surprised to see him here, because of how much he talks about not loving dark music. But again, dark content, fun, energetic beat. I’m excited he got this opportunity to be on this track and share with us what he’s been through and seen in life. Kid from the same town as the rest, life wasn’t always so happy and spiritual. Lastly I’ll say I’m not Chance’s biggest fan, I think his naisly voice is weird and annoying. But I’m into the long hold rhyme scheme he did. I guess I just like the way it fits here. No, I’m not contradicting myself.

Lil Uzi Vert with the finale. This was most interesting out of all of this. It almost doesn’t even sound like Uzi. I was like, this is him right? You can hear him, but his voice is very high-pitched and auto-tuned. I wonder what brought this here. If it was the extreme vocals of the other three that are on this track with him? Three guys from Chicago, all have crazy distinct voices. I think Uzi does too, but maybe he wanted something even more crazy for this. I do think it works great here, though. Uzi always knows how to make a bad topic a radio hit - i.e ‘All My Friends Are Dead’.

Track 8: By Any Means FT 21 Savage

This is the feature I think fits the best. 21 Savage and G Herbo are both very graphic artists, deep content, harsh vocals. This song is like a message, pleading their story. It makes sense on the album to tie back to the PTSD theme, but I am really hoping this opens up more collabs in the future, so we can get a fun hit out of the duo.

Track 9: Gangbanging

This song sounds the most like G Herbo on his last album. Not a bad thing, but probably not everyone’s cup of tea. Content wise, at least we know he is over the idea of gang banging, and will not tolerate any senseless crimes from his peers or surroundings.

Track 10: Lawyer Fees FT Polo G

I’m actually really proud of Polo G on this one. The same guy from ‘Pop Out’ is on this chorus, that opens up the song. He sounds great, and the lyrics touch the heart. I’m really into this song overall. The chorus versus Herbo’s verses are one extreme to the next, and that is kind of my thing. There are two sides to feelings, the story, everything. We hear that literally in the tone and in the content of the song. Polo G also has the last verse of the song, where he gets to share his stories of the past, and why he was brought on this album about suffering from PTSD.

Track 11: Feelings

This was the song that I have been waiting for. I’ve obviously followed G Herbo and his story for a bit of time now. His son is the cutest thing on this planet, but his relationship with his baby mother not so much. They were definitely in love at one point, but things got dark. Most recently, last year, G Herbo got arrested for domestic violence. This stems from baby mother stealing from G Herbo, and them getting into a verbal altercation that got physical. Herbo lost a lot from this incident, including his girlfriend Taina, but not for long. I was a bit surprised but happy they got back together so quickly, and they’ve been solid as a rock ever since. Something about this lady (and probably her family that has been through it all in similar situations) is really holding Herbo down and keeping his head on right.

So, each verse in this song shared Herbo’s feelings on a different situation. But the first verse is dedicated to the baby mother. He shares that even talking to her is hard. They fell out of love, but that is not the fault of their child, and he wants to make co-parenting work. Herbo says he feels that she is holding grudges, trying to sabotage his image, and also called her out on the robbery. I’m sure there are plenty of deep unresolved issues and feelings here. I don’t think that she would take lightly to this verse, but maybe in way, she understands that they’re not meant to be together, but they are meant to co-parent together, and he is doing his best to make that work. Good luck to them, for the sake of the cutest baby ever.

Track 12: High Speed

This is the one song I think we have a brief skit. Police sirens and a report call. G Herbo in the past has told us they called him Swevro because that is what he used to do with his cars. He used to crash cars swerving while they’re driving around, speeding on the highway. It is a bit wild, Herbo says multiple times a week he would get pulled over for speeding. This was extra dangerous since they would always have stuff in the car they shouldn’t have had. High Speed tickets and accidents could have caused serious damage to his life and career, like all the other violent actions discussed. Looks like Herbo’s moving on more ways than one. Overall, this is one of the more quiet songs on the album. Probably a skip if you’re cruising.

Track 13: Shooter FT Jacquees

Am I sucker for ghetto love songs? Do I love this song? I guess os. A love song, a scandalous song a whole vibe from the only rapper today I still believe lived the life he says he did. I think it is extra cute just thinking that he’s talking about Taina. This baddie has got Herbo all the way hooked! Oh and are Jacquees and Dreezy back together again or what?! Because that is my girl as well and she did post him a week ago. This song and PTSD are my clear favorites.

Track 14: Intuition FT Sonta, 2PRETTY

Even though it isn’t titled this way, I think it is a great outro to the album. Sonta and 2PRETTY are the background vocals that are in the background of the whole song. It is just kind of a come to realization song. We’re putting the past behind us, and we’re moving forward with a positive mindset.

I’m so proud of G Herbo for this album. And it’s actually very listenable. Go give it a shot.