Stunt Taylor - "StuntN on Turbo"

[StevePulaski]

StuntN on Turbo (2015)
By: Stunt Taylor

Rating: ★★★

Stunt Taylor's breakout street single "FeFe on the Block" - meaning "a party on the block" before you even ask - was not only something to kick off yet another talented Chicago rapper's career but a musical movement in itself. The genre is "bop," and is characterized, in a rap sense, by fast tempos, the presence of auto-tune, catchy choruses, heavy presences of sloganeering, and an upbeat melody, in contrast to its darker, more disturbed musical cousin "drill." Featured on DJ Moondawg's mixtape We Invented the Bop alongside likeminded musicians such as Sicko Mobb, Lil Chris, and King Deazel, Stunt Taylor was one of the first people to capitalize off of rap's take on the popular jazz style and did so with complete swagger and charisma with "FeFe on the Block."

The biggest question of all, with "FeFe" probably being the most approachable bop song in terms of not causing divisive opinions (I've seen numerous other bop songs like Sicko Mobb's "Fiesta" prompt indifference, joy, and even anger), was could Stunt Taylor sustain a complete release with this approach. The answer is a solid yes, with his debut mixtape StuntN on Turbo being a winning combination of bop and synth-rap, complete with horns, infectious choruses, and a variety of flows that showcase his talent as a rapper.

Taylor's introductory isn't your typical introductory track, featuring spoken-word nonsense or forgettable drivel. It's actually a catchy and snap-influenced reminder that Taylor could never be a fake n**** (no way), and works to open the mixtape quite effectively. With limited DJ-influence and heavy reliance on rapping abilities instead of heavy production. Such impressive qualities continue on followup tracks such as "Remember," a tune that has Taylor reflecting on his past life, which was far less exciting than his current one, to say the least, "Meet Me," a bop tune true to its roots, boasting the common features of your average "FeFe" and uptempo production that hooks you in from the very beginning, "Flee Amigo," which comes with a King Louie features on this feature instead of Taylor's solo version on DJ Moondawg's We Invented the Bop II, and "Walking Testimony," a brutally honesty testimony of Taylor and his career.

Two things stand out in Stunt Taylor's debut and one of them is the pacing in his songs. It's curiously different, and it's evident on "FeFe on the Block." Notice how the first verse is fast-paced and totally catchy; something you could easily dance and cut loose to. After that, take note of the second verse, which is much more melodic and conservative; it even vibes quite differently than the song's chorus. Though its sound is much different, it doesn't throw off or corrupt the song's personality in any way. The same sort of structure is also present in "Remember" and "Left Right," another one of Taylor's seriously fun dance numbers, and makes for a strong trademark in a genre where one can easily fall under the radar.

StuntN on Turbo's only shortcoming is when Taylor becomes too infatuated with sloganeering, with songs such as "Hammana" and "Hold Up Wait," both of which try way too hard to induct new slang terms into the already cluttered binders and web pages of Urban Dictionary (similar to Migos' attempt to have "Pipe it Up" take off). Despite that, this is a seriously fun mixtape, bonned by strong production by the likes of RiccoOnDaBeat, C Sick, and Track Slammerz and Taylor's charismatic demeanor.

Recommended tracks (in order): "FeFe on the Block," "Remember," "Flee Amigo," "Meet Me," "Intro," "Walking Testimony," and "Friend of Me."