Despite their cringeworthy group name and equally cringey debut single, I respect how Young Posse are trying to do something a little different from their peers. When it comes to building credibility in the hip-hop world, last month’s Young Posse Up was a good start. But ultimately, the song was too hookless to appeal to me.
New single XXL continues the food theme of Macaroni Cheese, paired with a funny, surreal fast food video with plenty of (intentionally) bad green screen effects. Musically, it borrows heavily from 90’s rap. Its undulating bass feels pulled from an old Seo Taiji or H.O.T song, which were originally inspired by west coast gangsta rap. It makes for an odd fit in Young Posse’s hands. They’re a colorful group with plenty of skill, but at times their spitfire performance contrasts with the cartoonish nature of their concept. I admire the weirdness of it all, but I’m not sure everything has come together in a way that fully works. Not yet, at least.
The same could be said for XXL itself. It feels more like a song sketch than a fully-developed comeback. I enjoy its energy and nostalgic touchstones and it’s less cloying than Macaroni Cheese, but the track still misses an indelible hip-hop hook and colorful production to put it over the edge. Its accompanying visuals are far more memorable than the music.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5