When BADVILLAIN made their debut last month, that self-titled track captured me with its symphonic bombast. However, it quickly did a nose dive on my playlist, proving that exciting production can only take you so far when the song itself is mostly just shouty posturing. I’m (im)patiently waiting for the day a new group can successfully forge both elements together to craft a modern classic.
Alas, that won’t be happening with follow-up track Hurricane. Here, the girls have jettisoned the ambitious production in favor of a skittering electro riff (cool!) and a familiar trap beat (less inspiring). The song does a nice job showcasing the group’s rappers. It doesn’t sound too far from what fellow rookies Young Posse are releasing. The energy remains relentless all the way through, driven by the girls’ performance. I love the interaction between their voices and the electronic production.
Sadly, the song lacks stakes. It plays as a flat line all the way through, constantly moving forward but never toward a destination worth waiting for. The journey is fun on its own and works as a cypher-like structure, but when we get to the sung chorus, the hook lacks punch, waffling when it should definitively stomp its foot.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
7
Bias
7
RATING
7.25