The next posthumous album from late rapper Pop Smoke, Faith, is out now.
Contributors to the album include Kanye West, Pusha T, Dua Lipa, Kid Cudi, Pharrell, Lil Tjay, Future, 21 Savage, Quavo and Takeoff of Migos, Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd, 42 Dugg, and Bizzy Banks.
Despite those shining moments, it also has its critics.
We’ll start out by saying Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, may be impossible to duplicate. The award-winning, double-platinum album boasted executive producers 50 Cent & Jamie Foxx - it was destined for greatness.
While Faith, varies in circumstances, it does have its highlights.
Dua Lipa adds a plummy verse to the sleazy disco pop of “Demeanor.” “What’s Crackin’,” with Takeoff, suggests that a Pop Smoke and Migos tape could be a classic superstar team up that never was. Then there’s “Spoiled,” where Pop floats over Pharrell Williams’ inimitable keyboard melodies; it’s a nice moment, even if the lyrics calling women “spoiled” sound a bit mean-spirited. On “Tell the Vision,” Pusha T rhymes, “Tyler got the album of the year … for now/But Pop about to drop, I see the platinum in the clouds.”
— Rolling Stone album review
The 15-track record is oversaturated with unnecessary features, hindering the raw talent still left in these small leftover snippets from the Carnarsie star. One of the most highly-anticipated songs on ‘Faith’, ‘Demeanour’, featuring the UK pop phenomenon Dua Lipa, is underdeveloped and slight, the singer’s delivery disjointed; with a few more tweaks, it might have been worth releasing.
— NME album review
Take a listen for yourself & comment on our post what you think of the album.