RXK Nephew Connects With Harry Fraud for One of His Best LPs to Date “Life After Neph” (Album Review)
I believe this is the 10th full-length studio album from Rochester emcee RXK Nephew. Noted for his use of atypical beats & his comedic gangsta raps, he’s already built quite the catalog for himself since 2019 with his last 9 LPs as well as over a dozen mixtapes & EPs. Most notably Slitherman Activated, the Shawty RXK Too trilogy, the Crack Therapy series or singles like “Slitherman Conspiracy”. I was highly impressed with his feature on former G.O.O.D. Music artist Valee’s debut album Virtuoso earlier this summer so when it was announced a couple months ago by Andrew Barber of Fake Shore Drive that Harry Fraud was producing Life After Neph, I was ecstatic going into it.
“Pebble Beach” is a soulful trap opener telling the listener to come get some drugs calling himself “Uncle Jemima” whereas “Authority Figure” featuring Valee works in some synthesizer leads & hi-hats so both of them can team up to talk about refusing to let anyone take their spots in the game. “RX Instructions” featuring RX Papi takes a more drumless route as the 2 frequent collaborators join forces getting on their g shit just before “How I’m Coming” talks about spending time with himself over a jubilant beat.
Meanwhile, “Dub 4 U” shifts into groovier territory appreciating the beauties of life leading into “All Gone” featuring former 1017 Worldwide artist Z Money brings the pair together over a more somberly instrumental asking where it all went. “Gotta Eat” gives off a cloudier flare explaining that we all gotta survive, but then TedsBudz has the album’s weakest feature on “The Roundtable” despite the atmospheric production & the lyrics about him grinding for a minute.
The song “Fine Wine” with Valee on the hook details his lifestyle & has a little bit of a cavernous trap vibe to the beat poppin’ shit every day talkin’ his shit while “Hunnid on the Dresser” clarifying that this ain’t a love track & that he’s puttin’ it on over a tropical loop hooked up to some hi-hats. And to end Life After Neph, the closer “Top Chef Neph” mixes these finger-snaps with synths to go on the grill real quick because “fuck the microwave”.
As someone who’s been relatively new to RXK for the past few months since Virtuoso, I highly recommend checking out some of that earlier material I mentioned in the beginning because this is an excellent way to introduce Neph to someone who isn’t familiar with him by now. His signature Lil B-inspired style combined by Harry Fraud’s signature sound truly happens to be a highly entertaining match & the guest contributions are mostly consistent.
Score: 9/10
