Ya Gotta Start Somewhere has something for most hip-hop fans; it has it’s own stamp of swag with lines like “swagger so big I can take Amb away from Wiz,” a slew of BBQ songs characterized by funky beats and smooth lines, and tracks which enter the brain and heart of the young artist, both intellectually and emotionally.
The mixtape is characterized by clever and complete punch lines; Driicky understands where he is in his career and is clearly humbled by it, yet isn’t afraid to make predictions on where he believes he’ll end up. Although the selection of beats is at times disappointing, Driicky is at his best when floating over full chorded, silky tracks like “Suckerproof” and “You’ve Got to Start Somewhere;” his flow, grasp of style, and rhythmic consistency is extremely impressive: “It’s the new dude, twist your screws loose/this guru spits like sadistic koo-koo’s/chicks on my d*** since them hits on YouTube/B**** I’m the s*** like you’re sipping prune juice.”
Driicky even proves himself commercially, showing his versitality by remixing Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night,” and doing it impressively well. But he is able to balance the mainstream with the street, transitioning right into hard tracks like “Tarzan” and “Don’t Make Me Do It.” He threatens his haters, exclaiming “you say you’re on my level but dam it’s hard to tell/you’re just a crack pebble when grams is on the scale/I’m cancer on the trail, depleting through all your cells.”
Mr. Graham rounds out the summer tape with “A Letter to My Son,” though, which is actually a letter to his father, spilling the emotions he deals with because of his absence as a child. He feels for his mother the most, though, almost screaming over the haunting beat, “why you say you love her if you don’t even like her?”
Ya Gotta Start Somewhere is extremely complete, and although the beats could have been more consistent, the lyrical content, flow and style cannot be looked down upon and surely earn a spot on your playlist for the summer. Whether you are looking for emotion, swag or smooth, you will find all of it here.
-Kevin Shea (@kevinnshea)
