Under Pressure proves Logic is among rap’s best

Logic is an impressive lyricist and former independent artist who has been in the hip-hop spotlight for years, but he is just now releasing his first album, Under Pressure. This is Logic’s first major release following his signing with Def Jam Records, and the tracklist is stacked with lyrical and musical prowess representative of his years as an independent artist.

With four mixtapes (five including work released under his previous name, Psychological) under his belt, the Maryland native has had plenty of time to find his style, which falls somewhere between Drake and Kendrick Lamar with the lyrical creativity of Kanye West. He lists these artists as influential to his style, but his biggest influence, according to an interview with music blog Fresh New Tracks, is the swinger Frank Sinatra. The jazzy piano riffs that accompany many tracks on Under Pressure are direct lines to Sinatra himself, but with a hip-hop spin that gives Logic a style all his own.

The album starts with Logic playing the piano chords for Kanye West’s “Bound 2” and then drives into a verse about being remembered as Kanye’s iconic riff transitions into beautifully orchestrated pianos and synths that sound more like a swinger’s anthem than a rap track.

“I just want to make these music lovers remember again / while these haters fall back like September again.”

The opening lines of the album give a sneak peak of the rest of the album, which is truly just Logic trying to entertain. Every song is well-crafted and honest, and though they are not all going to be hits, there are enough solid tracks on this album to elevate Logic into mainstream recognition. Within his album, Logic raps about everything from his sister’s crack business to his family to his recent record deal, all with a humble but confident flow that elevates Logic as an emerging master of hip-hop.

Notable tracks include the brooding, hometown hero track “Gang Related” and the powerful outro “Till The End,” which provide insights into the life of Logic, both before and after gaining recognition. “Gang Related” is punctuated with lines about rapping for his home, which is represented in his music via lyrics about gang violence and addiction.

“I knew it, already been through it / I do it for the street, for the fam, for the life / Anybody that’s gang related.”

It is only fitting that Logic, like many recent rappers, has sworn off drugs and alcohol in pursuit of a better life. Growing up, Logic told MTV, both of his parents were addicted to crack cocaine, which often subjected him to neglect and abuse he has since expressed in his songs. In “Under Pressure,” the album’s title song, Logic notes that his sister used to cook crack in her kitchen and that his dad was upset about the mention of his drug use in his son’s music. He notes that he feels like he has neglected his family because of his career and that he wants to connect with them, even though he’s missed birthdays and other important family events.

“Yeah, dear family, I’m so sorry that I’ve been distant / Everything changed in an instant, my time has been inconsistent.”

He also raps often about his struggle to stay away from “Nikki,” a female personification of nicotine, which Logic is addicted to. Many verses throughout Under Pressure contain a phrase or two about missing “Nikki,” until the third to last track titled “Nikki” which provides insight into who she really is.

“I can feel you in my lungs, feel you in my veins / Bloodstream only way to make it to my brain / I tried some others but man they just not as good as you / Going crazy cause I only feel this good with you.”

Logic teased the idea of Nikki on social media for a while before the album’s release, hashtagging #WhoIsNikki and posting frequently to generate buzz for the final reveal. With a strong Internet fan base and a grassroots following fueled mainly by word of mouth, Logic is an artist of the age. His independence from major labels has been inspiring, and even now that he is signed with Def Jam, he has complete creative control over his album and is operating under Visionary Music Group, a small independent label that helped him put out half of his mixtapes.

Even without his independent status, Def Jam provided Logic an amazing opportunity in the form of executive producer No I.D. The infamous producer, credited with mentoring Kanye West and producing Jay-Z’s “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” among countless other hits, oversaw the entire process of creating Logic’s new album. The beats still maintain their integrity as clearly Logic’s songs, but now with No I.D. overseeing his work, the artist has a clean, well-produced sound.

Under Pressure is incredible overall, and is streaming completely free on SoundCloud for your listening pleasure. If you have never heard of Logic, now is the time to start listening, because he is already one of the best rappers in hip-hop, and he’s only getting better.

 

Matt Burke is a sophomore majoring in film production. His column, “Notes on Notes,” runs Thursdays.