Generally I think he's pretty dope I just don't like his process of keeping most of his songs under 2 minutes lol they always have fire production and he usually goes in but just makes them all kinda sound the same to me where not too many songs in particular stand out for me...will definitely give the new one a listen though

Hmm yeah weird, not listed under the bandcamp emcees description for Mutant Academy.

Fair criticism of albums filled with short songs in general, not just Crack.

An exception for me is probably Madvillainy which has plenty of short songs but they stand out from each other...but like take Some Rap Songs...I really f*** with that album but right now...off the top of my head without looking anything up I couldn't tell you the name of one song lmao (also been awhile since I've given it a listen)...same with Chris Crack as well as his song titles are just outlandish...I really enjoyed Thanks Uncle Trill from him since it did have quite a few lengthier cuts and features to distinguish it from the others

Tierra Whack killed it with Whack World tho: every song’s one minute. Some artists can fit a lot into a short track.

WSG on Blientele has several short songs and honestly, when it’s just him rapping, sometimes we don’t need 2+ minutes

I like Whack World and Blientele and Some Rap Songs but when it’s a project you’re not super familiar with yet or an artist you’re not a super big fan of already, a project of mostly short songs can definitely end up all bleeding together.

Whack World is one of the best demos in recent memory

Its a crime mutant academy doesnt have an elite emcee in their group cuz they have the best producer lineup in the game by far

I can listen to that s*** on loop all day. She’s amazing. Can’t wait for her next project whenever that is

I think its a pretty interesting debate on short vs longer songs in rap. Personally I think it comes down to the strength of the writing. Some Rap Songs for instance is so tightly written its always a breeze to listen to, their really isnt a wasted bar and its got insane replayability for it.

But there's so many others who deliberately seem to stretch every song to 3 minutes minimum and its unnecessary a lot of the time. Be it in their writing being weak or padding it out with lacklustre features.

These kinda projects dont always translate to being ones I listen to in full always, front to back, as opposed to just picking out the songs I like and listening to them individually.

I feel like having projects or damn near entire oeuvres of songs that are under three minutes is also a bit of a newer phenomenon in rap? The Soundcloud era was like hip-hop’s hardcore punk phase, where it’s a bunch of teenagers with wacky hair making and independently releasing short songs that older generations don’t even consider music.

I feel that. Earl is a good example of a writer who can get away with keeping songs short.

Even though he's not necessarily an "elite" lyricist, WSG knows how to make short tracks work. Like in the middle of Blientele he has a three-track run of Mean Gene, Stefflon Don, and Sabu. These are the most obscure beats on the record, and so he keeps them all under two minutes, and they just add some different vibes to the album. They also work as interesting interludes that lead to the second half.

I kinda see his albums as paintings, and these short tracks are just like random colorful paint splatters

Probably in some ways yeah. But again I think it just comes down to the strength of the writing. If you can write 2 fire verses instead of 3 decent ones then i would much prefer shorter songs.

But, no doubt a lot of the old heads did this too. Ghostface has some great short songs, few on Supreme Clientale come to mind. DOOM of course. Mos Def on the Ecstatic knows how to keep it brief.

Its what annoys me about the whole Mach and Fahim/Droog connection. So many times they weigh down whats a great verse with slapdash efforts and make the song somewhat of a chore to run back, excluding Mach's part.

Yeah thats fair. I dont listen to enough Wsg to have a formative opinion but yeah if you're adapting in that way it sounds the smart move.

I just dont wanna ever sit there listening to 3 mediocre verses and a feature which doesnt add much over an otherwise great beat. Just feels wasteful and would much rather have it tightened up and approached as less is more.

Speaking of not wasting bars..

Facts. Ka's the master at it. All his albums are cohesive and endlessly replayable from back to front. They dont overstay their welcome and every line requires close attention, be it in a 2 minute song or a 4 minute track, he plots every moment perfectly.

That close attention is what seperates him from the rest of the pack. His albums will always leave a mark in that way. Each one carefully crafted.

Literally never wrote a bad verse. Unbelievable writer

"In our fields was no meals, just forks in the road"

"My heart was ice for that cream tryna scoop money,
Now I breathe for seeds, whether you throw dirt or root for me"

"Breathe heated moments frozen in poem
No need for team, I goes it alone
If you came to frame me, I pose with the chrome"

I need money, not for trivial material
Just to fix our floors, the whole cause is ethereal
What you minin' for? If unaware share with blind and poor
You tellin' stories that's celebratory in times of war
With bars of greed, I plead, how many cars you need?
When fathers bleed to fill ribs of kids that hardly read

Hood pyrotechnics with no alarms
I blew up the block when I sold them bombs
Little nxggas who didn't turn pros is cons
Guns 24 karat, got golden arms
Good metal, don't settle for silver, bronze
Fruits of my labor, I'm building farms

The day I finally caught those bars, I said to myself, “Nah, there’s no way he does this on every song”..

Fr.. every single track is laced with crazy bars

Future ain't bright
None in school, wanna move elusive great white
He brung his tool, wanna duel, get wound with snake bite
He g'd a chick to run his mule, have a safe flight
It all pays from broad days to late night

Can go all day fr. The man is too good

Personal fave, and maybe my fave track 30 Keys

I'm stuck to the path, reluctant
But just one touch of the cash corrupted
Got good at pulling strings like I master puppets
No feat too sweet, trying to amass this custard
Came into wealth, 'shamed of myself, past disgusted
But getting paid made for a fast adjustment
In this trade, ain't afraid to get splashed or busted
Even for small numbers, none are vastly trusted
I hushed it, heard my conscience in a clear voice
"Don't forsake us to make this a career choice"