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For almost a decade, rap trio Migos held the genre in the palm of their hands. Quavo, Offset and the late Takeoff pioneered Atlanta’s boost in trap music, but following their album “Culture III” in 2021, and some Offset and Quavo beef, Migos split.

Offset moved back to a solo path and focused on the success of his 2019 project “FATHER OF 4.” This disaffiliation with the group led Quavo and Takeoff to continue working together and journeying through solo careers, yet for the most part other than a few singles and features, Offset stayed quiet.

Fast forward to 2023, the star has returned with a star-studded cast for his newest album, “SET IT OFF.” A lot has happened in Offset’s life since his last release, most notably Takeoff’s death in 2022, but his long-awaited sophomore tape serves as a huge boost in the rapper’s rocky past couple of months in the personal matters outside of music.

“FATHER OF 4’s” stacked lineup of songs including “Clout,” “How Did I Get Here” and “Red Room” will now have some competition, in what might be a top-five rap album of the year.

Album Rollout

Offset announced he was in “album mode” back in March. He teased snippets in concert and on Instagram over the next five months, extending the rollout as long as possible. He officially announced the project’s name and cover on Sept. 14, a month prior to “SET IT OFF’s” release.

Leading the rollout was “JEALOUSY,” a head-bopping, high-energy track with his wife Cardi B. Sampling Three 6 Mafia’s “Jealous Ass Bitch,” Offset’s creativity with this track goes way beyond the song, and crafted clever accompaniments to the single’s release. One of these creative pieces alongside “JEALOUSY” shows Offset’s link-up with actress Jamie Lee Curtis in a fake news network interview, recreating a 1988 CNN one-on-one with James Brown about his wife.

With Offset wearing a James Brown fit and Curtis portraying the news reporter Sonya Freedman, it made for an entertaining lead single.

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Coming second in the rollout on Sept. 15 was “FAN,” another bouncy track that resembles much of the Memphis style flow and instrumental fans heard in “JEALOUSY.”

Beginning on the quiet, slower side, he discusses moving on from past relationships. But an eventual build-up sees Offset glide over the instrumental. People who have crossed the rapper in the past may want to pass on the second half of the track, as he cruises over the instrumental dissecting his frustrations.

“SET IT OFF” dropped in its entirety on Oct. 13, a 21-song tracklist that assembles “The Avengers” in the industry: Travis Scott, Future, Don Toliver, Cardi B and more catch the eye on Offset’s newest and boldest pieces of work.

A mashup of various hip-hop subgenres and their instrumentals, “SET IT OFF” combines the lyricism we’re all used to from Offset with developments in vocal range and production diversity beyond Atlanta trap.

Standout Tracks

Southside’s unreal sample flip of “KIRBY” by Black Leaves in track one, “ON THE RIVER,” sets fans up with a fast-paced, lyrical icebreaker to Offset’s development since “FATHER OF 4.” One bar stands out on the track, hinting about him blowing up following his departure from Migos by “telling the truth, I became the one when I got out the group.” He implies that once he left Migos, he became the biggest star out of the former trio.

“SAY MY GRACE” falls after the introduction, a collaboration with Travis Scott that drew excitement even before the album dropped. This highly-anticipated track lived up to its expectations, seeing Travis and Offset pile their high-energy performances over a menacing instrumental produced by hip-hop veteran Vinylz.

Bar-for-bar “SAY MY GRACE” may be one of the strongest from Atlanta’s superstar. Not only does he flex his time thumbing through money from the music industry, but he also dives back into Takeoff’s death and the mourning period.

Over the next four tracks, we’re introduced to more of rap’s hottest artists, Don Toliver on “Worth It,” Future on “Broad Day” and another Cardi B appearance on “Freaky.” The aforementioned diversity in instrumentals and styles of music from Offset grows apparent.

“WORTH IT” brings out the vulnerable side of both Offset and Don Toliver with the hook, “I hope it’s worth it, you told me you’re with him on purpose, you’re doin’ whatever to hurt me.” Not only can it be heard across Don Toliver’s chorus, but also in the main verses weaved in between.

Don Toliver’s presence brings out an R&B, melodic turn, while “BROAD DAY,” is an Atlanta trap classic that reflects a Detroit style with bass bounces in the background.

Sticking to the Atlanta roots, Young Nudy joins forces with Offset on “DOPE BOY,” describing how the duo gets the job done when it comes to the opposition and their rise to fame.

As we hear in Offset’s chorus surrounding his time in the drug business, “cash, we don’t do no credit, bags of the gas like veggies, shooters on the roof, be ready, dope boy walkin’ with the lettuce.” Directly exposed to Atlanta’s underground scene, the duo’s sinister tones pair well over OZ’s beat.

“PRINCESS CUT” with R&B singer Chlöe is a lot faster than “WORTH IT” but sees Offset utilize his vocal range, including more high pitch verses. Chlöe’s performance is an automatic standout on the album, as her angelic voice really steps up over many regular hip-hop features.

Final Thoughts

Offset has developed immensely since his debut “FATHER OF 4,” and the assistance from many other artists in the music community pushed “Set It Off” up the board of one of the best rap albums of the year.

Despite many of the standout tracks including features, it should be made clear Offset’s solo work on the project also gets its flowers, with “HOPE OUT THE VAN,” “BIG DAWG” and “BLAME IT ON SET” being must-listen-to installments.

This may not be the end of Offset in 2023 either, as he has emphasized in recent interviews that he will continue to work at it in the studio; all gas no brakes. Until then, fans now have a large dose of Offset and a phenomenal supporting cast.

Published on October 16, 2023 at 10:38 pm