The Warm Up

This project is one of those that makes a lot of effort to show something but ultimately comes off as phony and forced. I get that he is driven and ambitious, but it all seems like early-career overcompensation, where he is attempting to persuade himself—just like everyone else—that he is destined for greatness. The beats are mediocre at best, and although his songwriting occasionally demonstrates promise, it is primarily burdened by cliched themes and a tiresome sense of self-importance. It's raw and ambitious, so I can understand why ardent fans find this CD appealing, but I find it tedious to listen to. Although it's a significant milestone in his career, the album is just mediocre at best and nearly unlistenable at worst as a stand-alone work.