Album: Travis Porter From Day 1 (Porter House/RCA)
Price: $7.99
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Score: 7/10
When it’s time for some music to “twerk” to, look no further than the ATL rap trio Travis Porter. Just ask any teenage fan who's uploaded YouTube clips of herself dancing to “Make It Rain,” “Bring It Back,” or “Pop A Rubberband.” Travis Porter know how to keep the females moving, and they've been crafting some serious bangers for their major label debut From Day 1.
Not much has changed in the lyrical department—which isn’t necessarily a problem for most TP fans. Following in the tradition of the crunk and snap sound, the Porter boys specialize in delivering playful vocals over minimalist beats.
At just 20 years old, Ali, Quez, and Strap have racked up a slew of strip-club anthems since their debut mixtape We Are Travis Porter in 2009. Not much has changed in the lyrical department—which isn’t necessarily a problem for most TP fans. Following in the tradition of the crunk and snap sound, the Porter boys specialize in delivering playful vocals over minimalist beats. On the opener “Aww Yeah,” a bouncy cut about stacking paper, the chorus says it all: “If you getting money put your hands in the air/Pocket full of hundreds I be stunting all year.”
The Diplo-produced “Wobble” is a dance-friendly track with a driving bass, boastful rhymes, and an infectious “Wobble!” ad-lib. Another gem that will most likely attract new TP fans is the pillow-talk tune “Ride Like That” featuring Jeremih. Drenching their raps in Auto-Tune, Travis Porter made one of their catchiest records yet.
From Day 1 is filled with songs about throwing money, snatching bad girls, and wilding out at strip clubs. If that’s your speed, then “Flood This Shit” might be your summertime soundtrack—a bass-driven cut custom-built for Gentlemen’s Clubs like Magic City and King of Diamonds. There are also a few breezy, pop-driven records like the Mike Posner–assisted “That Feelin’” and “Party Time.” And “Bouncing Like Whoa” featuring Pittsburgh's own Mac Miller sounds like a radio smash. Mac sings the hook over an airy track by Big Germ and No I.D. Labs while Travis Porter spits some of their sharpest rhymes. Tracks like these should help bridge the gap between the group's underground mixtape fans and a new mainstream audience. Other buzzworthy features include 2Chainz on "Pussy Real Good," a bedroom banger for all the DTF girls.
Unfortunately, From Day 1 falls short by including mixtape favorites “Make It Rain,” “Bring It Back” and “Ayy Ladies” featuring Tyga. While all are solid singles, these songs have been released for free online and are already well-known to fans of TP's mixtape catalog. The old songs are perfect for their No Sleep Till Atlanta Tour—an homage to the Beastie Boys’ 1986 classic “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”—but slept-on cuts like “Slow Motion” with Kelly Rowland or any of their songs with Wale, Meek Mill, or Big Sean would have given their debut more diversity.
Written By Eric Diep (@E_Diep)
