Portland – Rae Sremmurd, a hip-hop duo from Tulepo, Mississippi, could prove to be a divisive group in the years to come. For those who can appreciate the deliberate weirdness of Swae Lee and his older sibling Slim Jimmy, their debut album SremmLife, out this week, is an enjoyable, if occasionally uneven record. The album shows great promise for the pair, but falls short of their ambitions due to a few filler tracks and being overshadowed by the guest artists and producers.
The most noticeable and unique aspect of Rae Sremmurd’s music may be their voices. Swae Lee and Slim Jimmy are not afraid to change cadence and style with little to no warning, alternating between auto-tuned crooning, laid-back rapping, and shouting every syllable, often within the same song. The effect can seem jarring at first, but it does help set the duo apart from their peers, and adds an extra level of excitement and off-kilter energy to their songs.
Ultimately, the flow and vocals of Rae Sremmurd pairs well with the message they convey. Swae Lee and Slim Jimmy are defiantly left-field rappers who still love to have a good time despite all the adversity in their lives, and want to encourage others to feel the same.
This is clearest on one of the album’s standout tracks “Yno,” an honest reflection on their days of being homeless, the times when they “Used to have to eat cold meals,” and being barred from the clubs that they now headline. Rae Sremmurd are unashamedly about having a good time and want to bring everyone along for the ride.
The duo are paired perfectly with production primarily from Mike-WiLL Made It, who signed Swae and Slim to his label, Ear Drummers (Rae Sremmurd is the label name spelled backwards). The hit producer’s easily accessible cross-over beats compliment Rae Sremmurd’s style well, particularly on the singles “No Type” and “No Flex Zone,” bringing mainstream appeal to the strange pop sensibilities of the two rappers. While catchy, some listeners may find that the instrumentals become repetitive by the last track.
The production, as well as the guest artists that appear on SremmLife, are both a blessing and a curse to Rae Sremmurd. Working closely with a hot producer and high-profile artists (Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, and Young Thug, to name a few) certainly helped the pair gain national attention very quickly (and deservedly so), but they are occasionally upstaged and overshadowed by those trying to help them. Big Sean and Jace of Two-9 both have better verses on their respective tracks, and otherwise duller songs such as “Unlock the Swag” receive a huge boost from Mike-WiLL and the other producers.
This is not to say Rae Sremmurd cannot hold their own against heavyweight performers, as there are certainly signs that they are improving their game. Swae Lee’s flow at the end of “Throw Some Mo” is a welcome curve ball, and Slim Jimmy sounds just as comfortable rapping quickly as he does with a start-stop style. Despite its faults, SremmLife is a fun, solid debut and a glimpse of where they will take willing listeners next on their weird sonic journey. As Slim Jimmy says, “Rockstar life/f**k who don’t like it.”
Follow Rae Sremmurd on Facebook and Twitter, and purchase SremmLife today. You can also catch them at a few upcoming shows in New York and Connecticut this month.
Jack Butcher
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