GQ Bank$$ delivers lyrics in a vast, serene, often-beautiful vista of sounds—and then stands right in front of them. His debut mixtape, Project Hallwayz, sees him navigate away from the boundaries that have been set for rap artists in this current era of mumble rap. He boldly goes where few rappers have been before, rocketing through an eclectic array of soul-infused sounds.
If there’s one thing GQ Bank$$ has proven throughout his new mixtape, it’s that he’s not afraid to take a road less traveled, regardless if the risk is worth the reward. Along the way, the Bronx native becomes somewhat of a rap hero, as he explores themes and musical styles that aren’t typically championed in this generation of monosyllabic chant raps.
His opening track “INTRODUCTION” is an ethereal moment, initially starting out with an intense vibe, before transforming into an enchanting tune that sets up what is without a doubt GQ Bank$$ best performance yet on the mixtape. “FADE 2 SMOKE” conjures some genuine fear and awe for the street life and these traits are hard to ignore when he mentions his ups and downs, his struggles and ambitions throughout Project Hallwayz and he’s done absolutely nothing to minimize them in the interim.
Much like a Nas record, navigating successfully around GQ Bank$$ music is to get really good at squinting at the periphery. Once you’ve got a few successful releases under your belt and you’ve established yourself as an artist, you’ll be given the green light to create whatever you want without questioning. His lyrics are evolving, and if he continues to improve it will make carrying out his own visions possibly even better.
Unlike any other record on Project Hallwayz, “GANG” featuring GRIZ GARCIA is remarkably beautiful, smooth, addicting, and ethereal with lyrical jewels layered throughout the song, and the beat does it justice. It’s an early front-runner for Song of the Year and it goes to show what a GQ Bank$$ creation can result in when all the pieces fall into place. His efforts on “MAGIC,” is certainly emotional and cinematic, while he also spends the better part of the mixtape rapping about his life experiences.
The artist’s fans will be able to squeeze much enjoyment out of the remaining tracks here as his songs logically weave in and out of each other while maintaining a consistent overarching theme, and the journey is always an adventure.
