Album Review: BurrLin

The title of BurrLin’s debut EP “Growth Zone” sounds more like a seminar than it does a mixtape. But don’t get it twisted, this album is packed with a full range of hip hop/rap songs that should massage the ear of hardcore hip hop enthusiast to the occasional listener.

After our first listen, we commend BurrLin on his track arrangement. You can truly feel the album open up with the theme of entering one’s “Growth Zone” and stepping out of their comfort zone into the well organized tracks and finally ending with an amazing spoken word poem by Phox The Poet to close the theme out and tie it all together. Very impressive for a new artist indeed.

Growth Zone has songs with home cooked rib-sticking substance in comparison to most of the microwave bubble gum rap which is now popular. We didn’t know much about the artist, BurrLin, before the ep but you can tell that this was not his first rodeo. Standout tracks on the ep include, “Jet Life”, “We All In! Gang”, “Getting Low”, “BurrBank”, “Ride With Me”, and “Chale!”.

“Jet Life” is a playful record where BurrLin chronicles his travels across the world and encounters in said countries over guitar strings produced by Eliot Bohr. “We All In! Gang” is the one for the streets. BurrLin teams up with his long-time fellow collaborators Don 116 & Serv 116 to provide verbal imagery on a day in the life in Southside Jamaica Queens, NYC while shouting out his crew and associated brand We All In! Clothing, based in Jamaica, NY. With lines like “I rap and sell clothes, B*tch I think I’m Nipsey, B*tch I think I’m Hova, B*tch I think I’m 50!” it’s easy to see that BurrLin pulls his inspiration for music from rap greats.

“Getting Low” is another favorite of ours. You ever just needed a background song while you cruise down the highway or maybe smoked with a lady friend? That is what “Getting Low” accomplished. A smooth beat married with a smooth flow and story-telling that gives you a glimpse of the life BurrLin lives in Los Angeles, CA. Piggybacking on that (and transitioning nicely into the next track), “BurrBank” is a standout radio single that BurrLin utilizes great song writing skills to toot his own horn and his escapades while utilizing the letter B repeatedly in the hook but not annoyingly. It balances the fine line of catchiness but not redundancy. We haven’t heard something similar since the likes of Saigon or Papoose, which I am not surprised because BurrLin is from NYC and you can tell in his lyrics, flow, and delivery for sure.

“Ride With Me” is the joint for the ladies. Smooth vocals by fellow collaborator Adrian Javon tells the ladies to join along for the ride especially when we are giving her the little time we have left in the day. BurrLin compliments the chorus with a deep voice delivered flow reminiscent of a young Lloyd Banks in his prime. BurrLin also collaborated with Steel Da God on “Faded Too Long’ & 7xveTheGenius to show his introspective side. “Chale!” is the song that we want to hear on repeat at the next Afrobeats/Dancehall DJ set the next party that we go to. The beat has a familiar bounce to it perfect for the listener to hit their Shakku Shakku or Gbese, highlighting BurrLin Jamaican & Ghanaian roots.

All in all, “Growth Zone” by rapper BurrLin was a solid rookie effort and we are excited to hear what his next project sounds like. We’d give it a solid 8/10 stars and welcome to give it a listen to catch BurrLin live during performances in Los Angeles. If you weren’t tapped in yet, you need to pay attention now because the sky is the limit for this artist.