Almost four years ago to the day of the release of Pusha T’s critically acclaimed 21 minute coke rip Daytona, he has returned with another possible classic, It’s Almost Dry. A lot has been said about the Push’s production, beat picking, and especially the length of his last project during that time but his latest answers any questions you may have had about G.O.O.D. music’s hottest ticket behind its main headliner Kanye West who appears on the Album. It’s Almost Dry is another serving of coke rap caviar with amazing samples, excellent instrumental performances from the keys and bass especially, all tied together with another masterclass from King Push himself, the same lyrical legend that sent Drake into the shadows. Pusha T is accompanied by performances from Hip Hop heavy hitters like Kanye, Jay-Z, Pharrel, Kid Cudi while also catching new wave artists like Labrinth, Lil Uzi, & Don Toliver.
Cover to cover this album hits whether it’s in your car, your headphones, or your home speakers. You can take the drug dealing themes at face value or look at those lyrics as the monetization of illegal activity which in itself can be the American Dream.
The high points of the album are the excellent samples in “Dreamin Of the Past” & “Diet Coke”, both beats from the Kanye school of thought (samples and 808 drums). Instrumentally the bassline on “Just So You Remember” leaves me wanting more stripped down beats that give Pusha T a lot of room to play with his no holds barred lyrics and grimey cadence.
The cherry on top is the album’s climax on “I Pray For You” Labrinth and Pusha T’s brother and ex bandmate Malice teased what could be a Clipse reunion but why worry about the future when you can appreciate the now! I Pray For You’s production has excellent use of the church synths that is haunting but also forces you to bob your head. Malice ends the song by addressing his faith and how he still isn’t fully out of the game, leaving little for the imagination. Both brothers are not bashful when it comes to calling out what they find to be fake.
“Watch my brother ‘round you bitches, I know he pretends
I greet you with the love of God, that don’t make us friends
I might whisper in his ear “bury all of them!”
On “Call My Bluff” Push leans into the villain role by not holding back on lyrics that are multilayer commenting on the violence of the drug trade, relentless ambition, and how the rap game favors novelty over substance. This is him keeping to his roots while still being initiative.
“Some niggas play different, involve your mom
Sister, Aunt, Niece, duct tape them all
We only in the sport to be Lebrons
When you used to platinum, that gold be bronze
Your favorite rapper dress like Comic-Con”
For this writer the most important point to be made about It’s almost dry is that despite all of the heavy hitting features and historic producers is that Pusha T is the main course on his album, not to be outshone by anyone. This is a testament to his style and talent which delivered another great Hip Hop album for the next few years to come. If you are a Pusha T fan you will love this album because he cements himself as one of the top artists in the world. The quality of the production, lyrics, flow cadence, and editing is superb. An album for oldheads and new age fans to hopefully both enjoy. 8/10, its entirely produced by Kanye and Pharrell, headlined by one of the best lyricists in the game, what else could hip hop fans ask for?
