BEST THANG SMOKIN’ - YOUNG DRO
Atlanta rapper Young Dro made a good first impression with his effervescent summer hit “Shoulder Lean,” featuring longtime pal T.I., but his debut album, “Best Thang Smokin’,” does little to distinguish him from other Southern MCs who use showboating methods to get ahead. Dro’s originality lies more in his odd food-obsessed rhymes (”Diamonds look like passion fruit”) than in his lyrical content or flow, which he rarely alters. Fortunately, he flexes his creativity on cuts like “Rubberband Banks” and “They Don’t Really Know Bout Dro.” But his vivid rhymes are enervated by the predictably uniform beats of Southern-based producers like Nitti (”Man in the Trunk”) and Jazze Pha (”U Don’t See Me”). Dro has not crafted a standout album but seems to have the tools to do so down the road. Billboard
