A sequel 5 years in the making, there's no getting around how much anticipation has been swirling for Freddie Gibbs and Madlib's return. Add to that, Freddie Kane putting out some incredible records on his own, ratcheting up the excitement to a fever pitch. But I'd be lying if I told you my initial reaction to their Pinata reunion was anything but disappointment. Okay, it certainly wasn't as devastating as other recent reunions (looking at you At the Drive-In) but when the final track ended I may or may not have audibly uttered "that's it?" It's not bad by any means I just wanted so much more from it. Pinata built such a rich and immersive sound that it felt like you were stumbling upon some hidden mix tape someone had curated meticulously. The beats on Bandana don't seem to have that kind of texture or character at all. And I understand Madlib wanting to grow into a more contemporary sound but the style on Bandana is so flat that you can't help but miss what he brought the last time around. And Freddie's got some decent bars sprinkled in throughout but for the most part, it sounds like he's pushing way too hard. I'm not sure if it's the coke or he's really just trying that hard to outdo himself but he sounds like he's chasing the flow for the majority of the album. Like the new bad Eminem, trying to cram in as much as possible without really saying anything either. There are periodic glimpses of the genius they achieved on Pinata but for the most part, it feels like they failed to recapture what made that record great. The summer of sub-par sequels seems to have leaked into hip hop as well. It's no Rush Hour 3, but more of a Rush Hour 2. Kinda fun but ultimately forgettable.
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