Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry
“The book of blow, just know I’m the Genesis”
Pusha T’s place atop the snow mound as the king of coke rap has long been secure. Building on the concise excellence of Daytona, and flashes of solo brilliance showcased on mixtape Fear of God II: Let Us Pray (“Trouble On My Mind”) and debut record My Name Is My Name (“Nosetalgia”), the former Clipse MC has honed his style to perfection on his fourth solo album. It’s Almost Dry finds Push effortlessly in his element, comfortably crafting concise and creative bars over the course of a water-tight 12 tracks. It’s easier, of course, to sound this good when flanked by familiar production partners in Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, perhaps the two most talented producers of their generation. Williams in particular shows out, contributing some of his most memorable beats in recent memory, as part of the Neptunes or otherwise. From the eerie boom bap of “Brambleton” and “Neck & Wrist” to the hard-hitting “Call My Bluff” and “Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes,” the latter of which is a career best for Pharrell, they immaculately compliment the precise cadence of Pusha T’s autobiographical and often humorous rhymes. Whether proclaiming himself Cocaine’s Dr. Seuss or the Moses of these Ten Crack Commandments, King Push’s bulletproof bravado never rings hallow. Ye meaningfully contributes to the proceedings too, with the gloriously soulful “"Dreamin Of The Past” (Donny Hathaway samples are evergreen winners) and unexpected flip of Beyonce’s “1+1” on “Rock N Roll.” The unfortunate controlling tone of his verses referencing his family tumult, however, is grading, even if at best it provides a mini narrative to his vocal features. If It’s Almost Dry has a weak point, it is in the features that do not always mesh well with Pusha’s core artistic strengths. Kid Cudi’s placating moan sounds strained on “Rock N Roll,” and while more successful than expected, the Lil Uzi Vert and Don Tolliver feature on the spacey “Scrape It Off” comes across somewhat catatonic. The Clipse reunion on “I Pray For You” is more satisfying, certainly more so than the group’s appearance on Ye’s 2019 Jesus Is King, elevated by organ and the spectral vocals of musical polymath Labrinth.
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