Asaad – Flowers II
Self-released: 2014
The main narrative of Philadelphia rap says you have to rhyme about overcoming poverty, the drug game, the pen…something. That goes for whether you’re Black Thought, Meek Mill, Cassidy, or even Asher Roth. As self-aggrandizing as some of their moments of triumph are, the best Philly artists are the ones who allow you to feel like you have some kind of stake in that come-up. Meek Mill is easily the most hedonistic of the bunch, but as alienating as lines like “If you ain’t about that murder game, then pussy nigga shut up” are, you’re at least enthralled by the venom in his charisma.
Asaad’s mountaintop moment on Flowers II comes amidst the celebratory violins of the album-closing two-parter “In Tha Black Sand” — “A lot of niggas from a year ago ain’t here now/I thought niggas cared they don’t care now/Saudi Money, I’m the man now,” he raps. But the closer’s celebratory sentiment doesn’t feel earned because of the constant lackadaisical nature throughout the mixtape. Ultimately, there’s nothing captivating when Asaad reaches the peak as his deeper intentions are drowned out by haphazardly delivered boasts and a usually disinterested presence.
There is a shallow guise of versatility that fails to completely cover Flowers II. There’s an attempt at boastful reaffirmation in the “Intro”, a bit of faux horrorcore on the ominous “Blood” and some hi-hat trap stunting on lowlight “Block Boy 2.0”. Asaad is the jack-of-all-trades, but the worst part isn’t that he’s not the master of any— it’s that he doesn’t sound the least bit interested in becoming so. That comes across whether he’s performing his distant croon on “Good Could Be Better” or pushing the twinkling “Came In Dis Shit” to dissonance. Not only are the groan-worthy lines uncreative (“Huge ass, let me think about it/We can use her throat”), but the sonic quality leaves much to be desired. Speaking of lines, the duds run a plenty. Big examples include “Champagne showers like drown bitch drown bitch,” “I put it in the second verse/ Kill you by the first verse, you won’t hear a third verse,” and the uninspired clichéd hook on “Angels”.
Flowers II’s trappings are more disheartening since “Alejandro Jodorowsky” offered a glimpse at what could’ve been. The track is a bit of hip-hop gospel (fitting for a track referencing the man who directed The Holy Mountain) as a church choir praises in the background. The subdued bassline inspires Asaad’s cathartic performance: “Brother’s retaliation fueled by a mother’s cry/Fuck with me, have your body covered in lye.” It’s a moment when Asaad actually sounds invested in feeling something, which is a strength featured artist Ab-Soul has always possessed.
There are other highlights, like Asaad’s paper-chasing ambitions over the exalting horns on “SNE” and the starry, yet dystopian sounds of “Cooking Dinners”. But ultimately, Flowers II remind us that Asaad doesn’t know quite what to do with his spotlight. He incites controversy, throws shots, or just sounds too unbothered to care. Flowers II middlingly reminds us that it’s lonely at the top.
2.5 out of 5