Skate Cobain – “The Art of Procrastination 2” (Album Review)
Skate Cobain is an underground titian from hip hops current hot zone, Buffalo, New York. Being apart of the group Ooze Gang, he has been a prominent force in the underground since 2017. Recently, he has just released his brand new album “The Art of Procrastination 2”. With his solo career’s first major release, can Skate Cobain create a fantastic body of work?
Starting off with the gloomy intro, “H.H. Holmes”, Skate Cobain sets the tone for what to expect going forward. His intricate lyricism and unconscious flow associate him with the Earl Sweatshirt’s and Mach Hommy’s of the world, but it’s only one of the lanes he can jump into. Whether he’s crawling inside of your head on the introspective “Introvert” or turning up on the energetic banger, “Sauce on Me”, Cobain comes off as a jack of all trades. Continuing to display his versatility, “Slime Rosstine” and “Jesus Malvedrè” are the most significant moments which expand on Cobain’s character and artistry. While cuts like “Boom” and “Sui” thrive due their mindless fun, the middle of the record drags on due to Skate Cobain’s desire to create a trap banger. After hearing his multifaceted well-developed rhymes in the begging and end, “Green Ranger”, “Tracphone”, and “Tony Hawk Pro Skater” are way too dense in comparison to the rest of the LP. Fortunately, the records closing leg is easily the best portion as tracks like “Little Loco”, “Bufalino”, and “Survivor’s Remorse” are super personal and well written. With multifacetedness that hardly fails, Skate Cobain lays out the blueprint for his success.
Behind the boards, the instrumentals do their best to accompany Skate Cobain’s journey. Most of the record embodies raw, gritty boom-bap beats similar to the likes of what Griselda or Che Noir would rap over but in contrast to these city superpowers. Nearly half the record is dedicated to trap. Between the chilling “H.H. Holmes” and the angelic “Grace”, instrumentals on “Flyers”, “Amorè Faterno”, and “Keep Going” maintain “The Art of Procrastination 2″s commercial appeal. While these cuts are some of the standouts, the rest of the songs on the commercial spectrum plagues the record with their basic drum patterns and lifeless samples. Even with this gripe, theirs too much being done right to let this negate from the overall experience Skate Cobain is giving us.
In conclusion, “The Art of Procrastination 2” is a solid release from a great rapper. With versatility and intricate lyricism, the only real complaint can be seen with its lengthy running time as with 19 tracks, some portions can feel tedious to get through. Going forward, I hope Skate Cobain can expand upon this release as it seems he will only get better from here!
Rating: 7/10
Highlights: Lyricism, Versatility, Production
