Album Review: Movie by Your Old Droog
Your Old Droog returns with another quality album with the help of Yasiin Bey and Method Man, featuring production from Just Blaze, Madlib, Harry Fraud, Conductor Williams, and more.
Your Old Droog is an independent rapper from Brooklyn, New York, who spent years perfecting his craft before he released some of his early tracks online in 2014. This MC brings together loose, raspy vocals with easier-than-thou flow and some naturally intrinsic East Coast sense; from these characteristics at the core, coupled with practically nothing known in these early times about his background, he wraps up rumors that Your Old Droog was Nas writing well under a pseudonym or alter ego (what a dumb conspiracy).
The rapper eventually gave a spate of interviews, setting the record straight, and Your Old Droog moved on from such early conspiracy theories to work with peers, including Danny Brown and Heems, on the 2017 mixtape Packs. Moving forward, he kept a hyper-prolific output that in 2019 and 2021 alone had brought no fewer than eight full-lengths, among them two albums with Tha God Fahim and the autobiographical Time. The following year, he dropped five more EPs and another collaborative effort with Tha God Fahim.
He’s back with his anticipated release, Movie, and it’s arguably his well-put-together album thus far. What better way to start this album than with a beat by Just Blaze? “Success & Power” is a profound introspection and commentary on Droog’s journey and the nature of achievement within the hyper-competitive sphere of the music industry. The lyrical structure is notably complex, cascading through multifaceted imagery and metaphoric eloquence. He juxtaposes opulence with his humble beginnings, invoking a transformational narrative from “mud, wage deep” to high society gatherings.
One of the deepest cuts on the record comes from “Grandmother’s Lessons,” where he narrates the sacrifices and wisdom imparted by his grandmother, who survived the Holocaust and endured numerous hardships yet remained a resilient and guiding figure. Her daily routines, like waking up early to meditate and pray, are lyrically immortalized to emphasize her influence and the moral framework she instilled. However, it’s not all heavy when Droog flexes his lyrical acrobatics with “What Else,” “3 Milli,” “Movie,” “Crescent Moon,” and the Conductor Williams-assisted “Mercury Thermometers.”
The laidback K-Nite 13 beat fits nicely with Droog’s incredible storytelling on “The Sandbox.” He chronicles the lives of three young boys, each facing unique challenges in their urban environment—Lil Billy, living with cerebral palsy, dreams of becoming an architect while grappling with societal prejudices. Lil Desmond, raised in Harlem by a single mother, wrestles with substance abuse as a coping mechanism for his deep-seated despair. Lil Michael, amidst the rough backdrop of East New York, finds solace and inspiration in hip-hop despite the tumultuous surroundings and his behavioral issues.
Harry Fraud provided this album with his streak of bangers, starting with a soul-sampled head nodder on “How Do You Do It” and the atmospheric “Roll Out,” accentuated by vivid storytelling and evocative imagery highlighting a night gone awry, marked by escalating tension and a fatal ambush, through the lens of a protagonist who narrowly escapes. “Mantra” paints a vivid picture of his challenging upbringing as an immigrant navigating a new country and culture; it’s a heartfelt assertion of overcoming adversity, emphasizing that no matter how bleak circumstances might seem, one can always find strength in remembering and rising above past sufferings.
Droog keeps it light with the features, but he sure knows how to pick them. The first single, “DBZ,” Your Old Droog, Method Man, and Denzel Curry collectively deliver an intricate display of lyrical dexterity, blending layered metaphors, cultural references, and evocative wordplay. With a beat provided by Madlib, Your Old Droog sets the stage with his introspective lines laced with sharp critiques and clever comparisons (“You ain’t no villain, you Dillon Brooks/Let me guess, you on your grizzly, tryna diss me?”), skating effortlessly over a reflective beat while addressing themes of ambition, identity, and artistic integrity. Method Man, with his seasoned flow, adds gravity and poise, employing razor-sharp metaphors (“Put that steel on the stand and tell him to stand still”) and a commanding presence that evokes a sense of authenticity and street wisdom. Meanwhile, Denzel Curry injects a burst of energy and modernity, juxtaposing sophisticated allusions to historical and pop culture figures (“You a lost case, my life is all-state/It’s in good hands, and I’m never off-pace”) with his signature bravado and confident declarations.
Although it’s a bonus, “Care Plan” ends the album on a high note where Your Old Droog and Yasiin Bey create an interesting intersection between vivid storytelling and multileveled wordplay, which paints the portrait of an artistic persona. For his part, Yasiin Bey’s verses are dense with cultural and historical references, mystic realism conjuring imagery of noted figures and moments but still grounding his narrative in everyday life, and Droog tops that off with a grimy, confident reflection on his rise through the ranks of rap, touching on his money and lyrical pertinacity. The production level is very high for the album, which boosts levels for jazz rap and boom-bap with no drum beats. It requires only a few excellent guest turns and basically provides a framing device of the artist’s life in cinematic terms.
Great (★★★★☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Mantra,” “Grandmother’s Lessons,” “The Sandbox”