RECORD REVIEW: ‘Pretty Girls Like Trap Music’

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There was a point in time when 2 Chainz was often maligned for his lyricism, or rather, his lack thereof. It’s a story as old as hip-hop itself. In the ’90s, Southern rappers within the No Limit and Cash Money camps were told they weren’t hip-hop. The early days of Atlanta’s trap creation faced the same scrutiny, and 2 Chainz was no exception. Yet again, however, the hangers-on to hip-hop’s past were wrong. In the 2017 “eskedddddddittt!” rap bubble, 2 Chainz compares more favorably to Pimp C than Lil Pump. On his latest album, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music (Def Jam), 2 Chainz makes sure to claim his place as Atlanta hip-hop O.G., even if listeners won’t give it to him. 2 Chainz possesses a tenacious ability for toeing the lines of “ignorant” trap rap that remain omnipresent in popular music, while rapping well enough to maintain the respect of elder heads. Up until this point, the importance of keeping at least a moderate level of lyricism - even for “trap rappers” - wasn’t just important, it was necessary.

He comes through directly with an assist from Nicki Minaj in “Realize,” when his words become unintelligible before shouting “fuck all that mumble shit.?۝

Though 2 Chainz may have once served as a forefather to the Soundcloud rap generation, the new album draws a line in the sand between him and the new kids. As he proclaims on the album’s opening cut, “Saturday Night?۝: “This a real nigga conversation/real nigga demonstration, real niggas/no Cristal or Hilfiger/A bunch of ignorant lil niggas.?۝

The generational and stylistic gap in today’s hip-hop climate is apparent now more than ever, and 2 Chainz picks his side with Pretty Girls Like Trap Music. ??

2 Chainz plays the Tabernacle on Tues., Aug. 1. $41-$164. 8 p.m. 152 Luckie St. 404-659-9022. www.tabernacleatl.com.