Jun 14, 2021
Full Album Review: Culture III
Georgia-based rap group Migos, composing of the rappers Quavo, Offset and Takeoff dropped their hotly anticipated fourth studio album “Culture III” which also is supposed to serve as the conclusion to the Culture saga that their last two studio albums embarked on. Culture III is a seventy five minutes and features other rappers such as Drake, Cardi B, Future, Polo G (who also had an album drop this past Friday) and Juice WRLD (RIP). Culture III was alluded to as far back as 2018, when Culture II dropped. The album was supposed to drop earlier, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the album was postponed, but that postponement did not stop Migos from posting and hyping up the album as evidenced from social media posts in the week leading up to the albums release especially the night before and of.
Avalanche * Having Our Way * Straightenin
The first song on the album Avalanche, features a sample from the song “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations and features Migos rapping over a smooth R&B beat instantly transporting you to that vibe and feel of Southern hip-hop. Having Our Way (or maybe it should be called Drake Having His Way) is the second track and the the first to have a feature in that of Drake (whose album I am still patiently waiting for). Having Our Way signifies the third time Migos has collaborated with Drake. The song starts off with Drake rapping about how everything is lining up for him just like how it is for Migos and others have no choice but to align in ways that suit Drake and Migos. The third track Straightenin, was the second single to be released off the album along with an official music video. Straightenin plays as your classic Migos party booster song, with booming bass drums and trumpet fanfare making up a majority of the beat.
Type Shit * Malibu * Birthday
The fourth track Type Shit, features Offset’s wife and fellow rapper Cardi B, it is one of the more fast paced tracks on the album also with the trademark booming bass in the beat that Migos is know for. Takeoff and Cardi B both execute their verses flawlessly on this track. Malibu is also another fast paced track and has the third feature of the album in rapper Polo G who also released his own third studio album the same day the Culture III dropped. Malibu is your basic “I-came-from-this-and-now-I-have-and-can-do-this”, track most noticeably from the song, “taking 25 hoes on a yacht.” On the sixth track Birthday, Migos brags about how their wealth makes it easy for them to pick up attractive women.
Modern Day * Vaccine * Picasso
Modern Day was a song that was teased since October 2020, but never received a single, however on the same day that Culture III dropped an official music video dropped for it. Modern Day was produced with the help of Canadian producer Murda Beatz who Migos is know for frequently collaborating with. Vaccine sees the pace of the rapping slow down to normal speed as Migos engages in a bar heavy track conversing and rapping about making money moves during the quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Picasso the ninth track, features Future and is one of the chiller laid back songs on the album with a flute playing in the background. Amazingly, Picasso marks the first collaboration between Future and all three members of Migos together.
Roadrunner * What You See * Jane
Roadrunner is another classic party trap banger that I would not be surprised to here in the club this Summer, this deep into the album it features the best hand-offs between verses of the members in Migos. What You See is the 11th track and features Canadian singer/songwriter Justin Bieber. It’s another slow track with faint pop references courtesy of the influence of Bieber on the track. Jane the 12th track was teased back in early 2020 when Offset and his wife, Cardi B posted a small portion of the track on Instagram. The song was also played at the iHeartRadio Music Festival last year as well.
Antisocial * Why Not * Mahomes
The 13th track Antisocial, takes somber mellow tune and features Juice WRLD in a quite remarkable song that interestingly enough has Offset absent it. Juice WRLD sings the lyrics while Quavo does his signature background lyrics with a violin, drums and tambourine courtesy Murda Beatz play in the background. Why Not is another party booster written with the help of Rel Money and DJ Durel with the latter also mixing, mastering and recording the song as well. Mahomes the 15th track is filled with references about the superstar quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes.
Handle My Business * Time For Me * Light It Up * Need It
On Handle My Business each member of Migos reflects back on a heartfelt track about their past and the perseverance and initiative they took to get to where they are now. Time For Me follows the plot of Handle My Business as Migos continues to rap about their upcoming and the sticky situations they have had to deal with, albeit to a more catchy beat that makes for a smooth transition to the next track on the album. Light It Up features another post-humous feature in that of Pop Smoke in a track that has a great build-up to Pop Smoke’s verses. The Pop Smoke (RIP) influence can be heard from the beginning on this track. The final track on the album features YoungBoy Never Broke Again and a sample of rapper 50 Cent’s song “Get in My Car in the songs instrumental beat. The track has YoungBoy and Migos rapping about protecting theirs by any means necessary with Migos and YoungBoy hooping in and off vocals within the same verses as a good track to end the album on.
The Bottom Line
After a three year hiatus from the music waves that saw the members of Migos working individually with other music artists but not with each other, Migos comes together to deliver a powerful album that continues to trademark what they are known for as some of the modern kings of Southern hip-hop. Their flawless execution of of passing the baton during songs and incorporating other music artists even in different genres only shows that Migos is willing to bend and break with the times and still return to the potent form that their fans know them for. Nowhere is this shown to be more of the case than on songs like What You See featuring Justin Bieber and Antisocial featuring Juice WRLD (RIP). Culture III is a trap heavy album, but secretly also doubles as a beautiful amalgamation of talents brought together on a long overdue return that definitely lives up to the hype.
Christian’s Album Review: 4.3/5.0
Christian’s Top 3:
- Roadrunner
- Straightenin
- Antisocial (feat. Juice WRLD)
