Amine's latest release stands in strength
- blessing aghimien
- Sep 26, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 11, 2019
Rapper Aminé’s latest album seems to be on the brink of entering the dreaded sophomore slump, a reality many artists face after a strong first debut into the mainstream. However, if given a comprehensive listen, ONEPOINTFIVE is an underrated release that lives up to and beyond his “Caroline” roots.
Released on Aug. 15, ONEPOINTFIVE is Aminé’s second studio album and follows up his 2017 debut album, Good For You. A complete 180 from its brighter-sounding predecessor, Aminé exchanged his familiar bubbly and playful sound for compelling mood music — even trading in his debut album’s canary yellow cover in exchange for a photo of himself with a dead-eyed gaze on ONEPOINTFIVE.
In addition to straying from the mainstream in terms of lyrical content and song material, Aminé’s surprise project has been mockingly marketed as an “EPLPMixtapeAlbum,” a strategy which could have added to the diluted hype around his latest release.
“Mixtapes are albums and albums are mixtapes,” Aminé said in a minute-long promotional video for the album. “(Rappers) call (their) albums mixtapes because if it flops, it’s an EP. Nah, that’s like a B-side, bro.”
ONEPOINTFIVE opens with “DR. WHOEVER,” a track framed as a confessional therapy session with Aminé acting as the patient and the listener taking on the role of his therapist. With lyrics such as, “Man, I’ve thought about suicide a hundred times, but, I'd hate to disappoint and see my momma cry / birthdays these days be the worst days, 'cause I know I’m gettin' older and not happier.”
A notable track on the album which is gaining traction on social media is “REEL IT IN.” The song incorporates a looping acoustic guitar line and whiffs of a flute-rap beat. The music video features Vine star and YouTuber, Rickey Thompson, whose ad-libs appear throughout ONEPOINTFIVE on tracks such as “DR. WHOEVER” and “STFU2”.
“I was stalking his (Rickey Thompson’s) Instagram page one night while I was in the studio, after I finished recording 'REEL IT IN,' and I DM’d him. We met up for lunch, and the rest is Internet history,” Aminé said in an interview with FADER Magazine about the "REEL IT IN" music video, which currently has more than 7.1 million views on YouTube.
Songs such as “BLACKJACK” and “CHINGY” are also lyrical standouts. “SHINE” is a song which lyrically relates to “DR. WHOEVER,” with its mellow tones and all-too-real bars from Aminé, who raps about his flaws and nerves when it comes to attracting women.
Only three songs from ONEPOINTFIVE’s 13-song tracklist are collaborations, which gives Aminé a chance to showcase his skills as both a rapper and executive producer throughout the album’s entirety.
One of his most significant collaborations happens to be with a New York female rapper on the rise, Rico Nasty. Titled “SUGARPARENTS,” the album’s tenth track reflects both artists’ candid honesty about the importance of acquiring wealth and also serve as a warning to listeners about the dangers of ‘gold diggers.’
While the sunny-vibed tracks on Good For You were a suffice debut for the mainstream, true fans of alternative hip-hop and trap will be in for a treat with ONEPOINTFIVE. Aminé still sticks to his roots of funny rap, as Thompson’s obnoxious rants and comical narration style in various song intros add a lighthearted nature to the album’s subdued sound.
The 34 minutes of ONEPOINTFIVE will be a listening session well spent, complete with new songs on your playlist and a new perspective on the vibe and versatility of the Portland artist.
RATING -- 5 out of 5 stars
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