5 Reasons Logic (Almost) Reigns Supreme

I’ve never been a fan of logic… the idea, that is.  I am a huge fan of Logic, the artist.  Logic, as an artist is smooth, emotional, expansive.  Logic, as an idea, is none of these things.  It is cold, calculated, cuts to the point.  But whatever the reason Robert Hall picked this name, here are some reasons (just in time for his upcoming sophomore album) why he is one of the best up-and-comers in the rap game.   

1. Secretly socially conscious

Listening to Logic is as fun as listening to Lil’ Wayne, but the topics he raps about are closer to Mos Def, or Talib Kweli, etc…  He can rap over a banger beat and you think you’re just having a good time, meanwhile he’s rapping about how he had to grow up fast and stay away from drugs and gang bangin.  This is the type of hip-hop I would want my kids to listen to… well maybe when they’re older.  But the point is that he provides good messages for youth (and adults) over some of the smoothest beats.  You don’t have to be a socially conscious nut-case to listen to intricately constructed, socially conscious, poetic rap anymore.

2. He’s an honest storyteller

Logic grew up in a home where his parents were both addicted to crack.  His older brother sold crack and was involved in gangs.  He speaks about this in his raps a lot, and one of the best songs that speaks on this is “Gang Related.”  He is so brutally honest throughout this song.  It takes a lot of courage to rap about your upbringing when you had to go through stuff like that.  But rapping honestly about struggles of gang violence and drug abuse helps younger generations to stay away from that stuff.

3. He’s also a producer (produced 4 songs on his debut album, Under Pressure)

Other than just being a smooth rapper, he is beginning to find his place as a producer.  He produced four songs on his debut album “Under Pressure.”  A couple of those songs are actually my favorite on the album.  The song “Buried Alive” is, in my opinion, the catchiest song on the album.  

When asked by BET.com about production, he talks about honing crafts, one at a time.  He says, “I believe you should master one craft before you move onto the next. I spent almost 10 years just rapping and honing my craft and then the year before my album came out I spent that entire year producing like a motherf**r to the point where I wound up producing four of the records on my debut album, which is crazy because I felt comfortable enough.”

4. He’s versatile

In that article, he also talks about how he tries to show his versatility.  He says, “I’d jump on something that sounded kind of like a Drake beat or jump on something that would sound like some Nas s**t.”  The first time I listened to Logic, I thought to myself, ‘who is this? Drake?  Oh no, it’s Childish Gambino, oh wait, no that’s Kendrick Lamar…’  The beginning of the second verse sounds so much like Kendrick’s flow.  The meter and timing, and the way he throws so much into one stanza-it’s so Kendrick. I couldn’t believe it because it was all in one verse that he sounded like all three of my favorite rappers.  I was impressed.  He obviously is a student of the game because the way he switched up his flow, and put emphasis on specific words was so precise.  Maybe that’s why he’s called Logic, because he’s so precise.

5. Confident/Not cocky

One thing that I think comes across very strongly in Logic’s music is his confidence.  Not his cockiness.  It’s something that I really respect in a rapper.  He wants to battle Kendrick and Drake and J. Cole.  But he comes from a respectful place saying he wants to push other rappers and artists so they can all get the very best out of each other.  He is a true artist and I am excited to see his career play out.  

ALSO, His trailer for his new album/sci-fi movie is sick.  Give it a watch!