“The Voice” Lil Durk is back with a vengeance. After plenty of hype, his new album “7220″ has also arrived. So how does it stack up?
Coming Into A “7220” Era
Lil Durk has finally released his seventh studio album “7220” (Mar 11). The highly anticipated record, named after his grandmother’s Chicago address, comes after the rapper’s massive boost in popularity. Since his last solo project, “The Voice,” Durk has grabbed both a Drake and Kanye feature and his first No. 1 album. In addition to those accomplishments, he’s made great strides in his personal life. He proposed to his longtime girlfriend India Royale during the Chicago Big Jam Concert back in December. It’s clear to see the Chi native is going through a massive transitional period.
So does the music reflect this? Or does Durk stick to his old guns on “7220?”
Durk’s Family & Foes
We start off with an emotional intro track, “Started From.” Here Durkio sets the stage for the rest of the album. The song packs deeply personal details like his grandmother’s health and father’s prison bid.
“Granny got Alzheimer’s, but I can’t forget how she kept it real.”
“And I barely talked to my uncle, I’m talkin’ ’bout my mama brothers/And my daddy brother wasn’t here for us, but I still love him.”
A vivid picture is painted of Durk’s family and upbringing. It’s a story of struggle, adversity, but also forgiveness. “Started From” is a definitive mood setter for a more mature album yet to come.
“Headtaps” then continues the theme of family and the journey of growing up. We learn about Durk’s relationship with his late uncle and how he copes with that loss. The Englewood artist is all too familiar with the feeling of grief, and that resonates in the final few bars.
“Lost my cousin, that’s not okay
Lost my brother, that’s not okay
Miss my dog, and that’s not okay.”
This refers to the tragic passing of his cousin Lil Mister in 2019 and brother DThang last year. Behind the hard exterior of the Chicago, the drill is a sense of sadness that’s perfectly captured in “Headtaps.”
Durk’s Conflict
“7220” takes a hard left with the diss track “AHHH HA.” The song serves as a lead single for the album and response to NBA Youngboy. The two rappers have had tension since the 2020 November passing of King Von. They’ve been exchanging shots for months, and there’s seemingly no end in sight. Check out FMHipHop’s previous analysis of the single!
The violent content of “7220” is more impactful when the consequences are seen in real-time. “Shootout @ my crib” is a haunting track that references a home invasion that occurred at Durk’s Georgia residence in July last year. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation statement, the famous couple and unknown intruders exchanged gunfire early Sunday morning. Along with real-life weaving stories, we get a glimpse into how Lil Durk copes with his dangerous lifestyle. It’s a mix of bravado and seriousness that he’s perfected at this stage of his career.
Never Too Serious
“Golden Child,” “No Interviews,” and “Petty Too” play on that classic rapper braggadocios nature. We see Durk utterly aware of his increased status and openly flexing it. The young artist is clearly proud of himself, and it’s an infectious feeling.
“Like Kodak said, take a Percocet, nigga, everybody turn gremlin/And you know I’m winnin’ when I drop shit, nigga, everybody in my mentions.”
“Barbarian” isn’t a particularly standout song aside from one bar that’s going viral. Listen to the composition and see if you can guess which line has caught everyone off-guard.
The Emotional Side Of Durk
“7220” starts to wind down with “What Happened to Virgil.” The song effortlessly incorporates the slow melodic style that cemented Durk into the rap scene. Gunna makes an appearance and heightens the already stellar track. “Grow up/Keep it on Speaker” shows off Smurk’s incredible natural talent for melody. The same can be said for “Smoking & Thinking,” which has a pretty piano backdrop that compliments the sentimental feeling of the track.
“I’m just smokin’, why y’all let him die? I can’t believe y’all/I’m just smokin’, I’m just ridin’, smokin.”
One trend Durk doesn’t let go of is his outspoken love for India Royale. “Difference is” utilizes RnB juggernaut Summer Walker to bring an intimate feel to the album. “Blocklist” similarly introduces feelings of loyalty and learning from one’s mistakes. It’s a highly refreshing take on the topic of love in the world of rap. Unlike many rappers of his caliber, he explicitly mentions his girl by name several times throughout the album. It aids in making the love songs feel natural and not simply tacked on to appeal to a female audience.
The Last “7220” Stretch
The last few songs on “7220” are a mostly positive mixed bag.
“Love Dior Banks” contains perhaps the best moment on the album. The daughter of Durk’s late brother Dthang makes a cameo, and despite its brevity, the emotional impact is present.
“I love my daddy, I miss my daddy
He was so special to me
He took me shopping, bought me everything
I follow his footsteps and bigger dreams
That’s my daddy, that’s my king.”
The short rhyme leads into the song, which bluntly addresses how life gives no promises. “Federal Nightmares” touches on those same subjects in addition to suicidal thoughts and childhood trauma. It can be difficult as a listener to digest this type of content, but Durk raps with so much honesty you have no choice but to respect it.
“Pissed Me Off” has that signature rough Chicago drill feel that first launched the 29-year-old to fame. It’s no wonder it was chosen as a single. It’s easy to imagine this song blasting out a Hellcat or playing at everyone’s kick back this summer.
The “Broadway Girls” Doesn’t Match With “7220”
The project comes to a close with “Broadway Girls.” It’s a controversial collaboration with country star Morgan Wallen. In February last year, the Tennessee celeb came under fire for using the n-word in a leaked video. He was allegedly intoxicated during the incident. Nevertheless, that wouldn’t make the situation any better. His reputation took a hit, obviously amongst black listeners in particular. This is what makes “Broadway Girls” such an odd pair up, and fans took notice.
Frankly, The song itself isn’t anything awful. It has a beat Durk can easily ride and a catchy hook. However, the rigid pop structure of the music doesn’t allow the rapper to flex his skills. It almost feels like a track that belongs on Wallen’s album, not Durk’s.
Social Media Reacts
Lil Durk also has a famously loyal fan base. “7220” received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from fans and fellow Chicago artist Polo G.
https://twitter.com/smurkiojay/status/1502172816531095552?s=21
https://twitter.com/averageguy205/status/1502147834639884299?s=21
“7220” is projected to sell 120-130k units according to a Hits Daily Double report. Lil Durk is also currently occupying all 17 top spots on US Apple Music. This drop is undeniably a big success and a win for the soon-to-be Chicago legend. Not only is he taking leaps in his life behind the scenes, but he’s also taking all the suitable musical risks to match.
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Dreema Carrington|IG @dr3amgirl79|Twitter @notdreema
