Stanisland Magazine

New smash album is a colossal achievement for Westcoast hip-hop despite its tropal content

As Lefty Gunplay officially drops his new album, Can’t Get Right–and the first rapper to have featured on Kendrick Lamar‘s GNX album to do so–we dive in to what has the potential to be a classic.

What Can’t Get Right Sounds Like

The album is entirely produced by JasonMartin (formerly known as Problem), a rapper known for his ability to create 1990s-sounding hip-hop beats with a familiar West Coast vibe. Dare we say nostalgic? I think that will be a disservice to the notion of what music production has the power to achieve.

READ MORE: Billy Woods Unveils Stunning, Poignant New Album ‘Golliwog’

Featuring beefy bass and flattened snares, the cowbell returns for the most part. But it’s not necessarily its compositional structure that secures its teneble finish; its brilliance lies in its cadence, vocal delivery, and ability to employ varying textural ideas and principles that listeners will find balance in. This is especially noticeable on Gangsters Get Scared featuring Wallie the Sensei, where a rippling bassline permeates its atmospheric execution, supporting vocals in a tightrope of emotional narratives.

On Hotel Party, its rhythm changes, releasing the project’s tension, diving into anecdotal examples of escapades involving the usual drink, designer labels, and women. Once again, it’s another strike on the scoreboard as it resurrects chargrilled topical lyrics.

Menace simmers with grace and is a perfect match for the ferocity of Martin’s and Gunplay’s delivery. The two harmonise on this track featuring The Game, crafting a grounding experience, reinforcing the West’s rhizome. Cracks in the Ceiling once again flourishes under this iconic sound, (once again, credit to the producer) one with a clear appreciation for LA’s history.

Ty Dollar Sign is an artist with (mostly) little to offer beyond his feature spots, yet on One Day at a Time, he surprisingly delivers–serving up some choral meat before a smooth and sure-fire composition lands in Grey Goose, a tempered and fulfilling lyrical freestyle podium.

The Verdict

With the occasional gun cocking and a well-curated spread of features, the duo have–for the most part–immersed their audience into a world they can feel satiated by. It’s a compelling drop; just when you think it has exhausted its efforts, we’re given more, like on Me, My Gun and You.

From a visual artistic perspective, its cover art is equally sublime. The only downside might be that it, at times, veers into cliché. As far as rap goes, at times they reach their limits, others, they exceed them. Nevertheless, we’re looking forward to more from both.

How to Stream and Where to Buy Vinyl Copies

You can listen to Can’t Get Right on a wide spread of streaming platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. Vinyl and CD copies of the album aren’t currently available to buy, but keep an eye on the rapper’s social media and website for more news.

The Full Tracklist

• Lord Forgive Me
• Can’t Get Right
• Scary Movie
• Gangsters Get Scared (featuring Wallie the Sensei & YS)
• Heavens Above (My Angel)
• Hotel Party
• Menace (featuring The Game)
• Cracks in the Ceiling
• Tales from the Shu
• One23456 (featuring RJmrLA)
• One Day at a Time (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
• Grey Goose Freestyle (featuring Osbe Chill & Kiing Khash)
• Me, My Gun and You (featuring Storm DeBarge)
• It’s Time (featuring Negra)
• Through the Fire