Slime & B: Review

5.5.20

Chris Brown & Young Thug Slime&B Released: 5.5.20

Chris Brown and Young Thug just released a new joint project titled ‘Slime & B’. Of course, Slime is representative of Young Thug, and B of Chris Breezy. I always find joint projects interesting, especially one where Thugger has a whole group of ‘Slimes’ in which he usually collaborates with, and here has chosen to collaborate outside of his circle. The two have been on multi-artist features together in the past, so I’m thinking it is going to be some party hits and some seductive hits for sure.

Young Thug tweeted that he recorded all of these verses in one night. I also love hearing about the making of a project like this. Some people, like Thug, say they record everything in a night. For others, it takes months in order to perfect. I do not think Thug came lazy to any track on the project. I’m sure he just had the rhythm flowing and busted out hours on end in the studio to get this done for us while we’re all bored at home.

Overall I really enjoyed this project. Chris has always managed to make a love song feel like a club song, and that is recognized here a few times. The two together bring some intense energy, which is what I find exciting in music. So, I probably already listened to the album ten times through on day one.

Say You Love Me

The first song off the project is a Murda Beatz beat, so it is undoubtedly pretty dope. Lots of bass with percussion and keys over it. Though, the beat is not too heavy or too fast. The momentum is head-bobbing-esque. Chris belts out the vocals, and Thug has an interesting take on his verse which starts out like a whisper, and transitions into his more high-pitched vocals. If this is any intro to the rest of the project, it is precisely all about the money, girls, and the party.

Go Crazy

The beat of this song samples Drag Rap, a classic from the late 80s which has been sampled many times, including Lil Wayne’s ‘Clap For Em,’ and Chris Brown’s own ‘Emerald/Burgundy.’ Though this beat is quick and quirky, they actually managed to tone it down a bit with some hand drums and a very R&B feel overlay. This song is even more of each artist singing than the first. So, go crazy isn’t these two in the club, it is actually them and their partner going crazy in their own company. Add this one to the bedroom playlist.

Trap Back (FT Major 9)

If you don’t know who Major 9 is, well, he is a professional football player. His real name is Chad Thomas, a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, drafted in the third round of 2018. Major 9 is also a music producer who managed to get his way onto the chorus of the track, as well as helping produce it alongside Mj Nichols and Rippa On The Beat.

This song is definitely the first really fun song that will make you want to start to really dance like Breezy. Earlier when I mentioned Chris can make a love song for the club, this is it.

I Got Time (FT Shad Da God)

Shad Da God is a member of Bankroll Mafia, the rap collective from Atlanta. Shad and Young Thug have worked together closely in the past, so the trio feels organic, though Shad isn’t as known as the others. He sounds like a mixture of Young Thug himself, and any other new, young rapper from Atlanta, like Lil Gotit.

The track has a bit of a comical tone to it, where the chorus repeats “I got time today,” the opposite of a viral meme “ain’t nobody got time for that.” It seems that each time someone goes out of their way to directly pursue something, the internet picks it up to say “he had time today.” So, the guys are sharing that throughout their days of hustling and grinding, they still are making time for their ladies. Because of course, you can’t be completely soft in the situation - need to make sure your AK is strapped.

“Hop in the trap with a P, we gon' stay with an AK and seven G's” - Shad da God 

She Bumped Her Head (FT Gunna)

Another member of Slime enters the scene. Gunna and Young Thug are always a great duo, so I’m excited to see Young Thug take over for a bit for the first time so far on the project. This feels more his natural comfort zone.

The beat sounds like we’re in a rainforest. Spiritual rhythms and wind chimes and symbols throughout. Thug really lets loose on the track, rapping bar for bar what he does best. Multiple fashion designer name drops and a few over-the-top obscene bars that you’re shocked anyone would even think of.

Chris Brown makes the song radio playable with the chorus. Though it is clearly describing a certain scenario, it is sang beautifully and encased by mentions of cars and clothes, so no one will notice the obscurities.

I feel like Gunna tried really hard to match both Young Thug and Chris Brown on his verse. The first half of his verse, it was like he was going for bar for bar, but was actually singing really quickly. Surprisingly, I understood it all and thought it was pretty good. Though, I feel like he definitely needed some water after laying that verse.

The ‘Bumped Her Head,’ thing is a bit weird to me. But other than that, this is one of my favorites on the project.

Big Slimes (FT Gunna & Lil Duke)

Gunna is back for one more, with another member of YSL, Lil Duke. Fittingly, the song is titled ‘Big Slimes,’ as each artist encompasses what it means to be slime to them. Whether that be flexing real diamonds, fancy cars and clothes, or pulling any girl you want.

Lil Duke brings a much deeper, raspier voice than we’ve heard on the project, or that I recall Breezy ever working with before. I say that Chris Brown seems like he can definitely hang with the Slime guys after this one, hopping in on the chorus with Thug, and sharing his own verse, that although is singing, is still very on topic. I like that Chris is being so open to playing with the new kids. There is also something super special about a number of guys that have completely different styles, and are still able to make a hit bang.

I Ain’t Tryin’

Another great producer, T-Minus, is introduced on the track. I think we get the most versatility out of T-Minus on this one, where he usually is producing bangers, but this song is like a lullaby. The beat sounds like hand drums and pianos, something you’d want to lightly tap to, or sway to side-to-side in place.

We are definitely back in Chris Brown’s realm, but I love what Young Thug is able to do here when he is being a bit more serious with his music. A lot more versatile than I’m sure he gets credit. While each artist is able to bring the vocals and sing to us is a loving way, most of the song is still completely not safe for work, so be careful if you think you’re playing a nice song aloud.

Animal

Though this should be the party anthem of the project, it is not my favorite. The beat begins like a rock-and-roll anthem. Chris steadily sings more like a rock-star with an electric guitar in his hand, than the greatest R&B artist of today. I can tell that Thug was uncomfortable with whatever this beat is, but he has somehow been able to make himself into a mainstream artist, so he did what he could with it.

This is not my favorite song, however, it will be played at your favorite local college bars to close out the night, every night.

City Girls

After the City Girls rap duo debut, city girls and city boys have become a bit of a stereotype. Chris Brown even pays homage to the City Girls using their infamous lyrics from ‘Act Up’ hit single, the anthem of a so-called city girl’s mandatory attitude. I like that they’re giving the females a bit of a positive light here. Acknowledging that these type of women do what they want, on their own time. The chorus is a bit corny, I was into it the first time, but I do not think it was necessary throughout. However, I think this one gets a lot of traction. It is easier for the ladies to sing to, compared to the original ‘Act Up’ verse, which is cited here.

Stolen

This song has a lot of emotion in it. Not one of those club love songs, it’s more of a heart break song. You can really hear the pain in Breezy’s voice when he asks for his heart back multiple times on the chorus. They each claim pettiness and stolen hearts from their partners. We all know Chris Brown’s life is an attempted love story, so this could be about anyone or no one at all. Young Thug, on the other hand, had quite the public fight with his fiancé Jerrika, pleading to her on multiple Twitter and Instagram posts to take him back. Songs like this you hope they don’t backfire and have the ladies sharing their sides of the story.

Undrunk (FT Too $hort & E-40)

A1 produced this song with Too $hort and E-40 on the track, so basically it’s the best song on the project. I love Too $hort and E-40’s bubbly rap sounds and quirky bars. I like that Chris brought them all on the track with him. Chris was around during their prime, but he was only sixteen, if that. He is one of those artists that was too young to be in their click during their time, and he is a bit older now than the new kids, like Shad the God.

This song has some old-school club vibes. This is what you listened to in the club before all those crazy dances came out, where you just stood there at your table moving your shoulders around and sipping your drink. Anything else, you’d loose your cool.

Young Thug is not included in the collaboration. I don’t really think he fits this style, but I would have loved to see what he did with this, since he has shocked me so many times before.

No Such Thing (FT Hoodybaby)

Hoodybaby is a Dallas rapper who signed to Young Money in 2015. This is the shortest song on the project, being under two minutes long. I really wish it was longer, and that Young Thug got on this track, because I was super into it. It does sound like another older club record, but one that you could dance to a bit more. Chris Brown went in on this song like he hadn’t on any other track thus far. I think together him and Thug would have made something to shock everybody. I’m not sure that Hoodybaby has put out new music since 2017, but I enjoyed his verse. No Such Thing could have been my favorite, but it is still up there. If you’re in need of a quick jam to get you ready for the night, this is your winner.