Fredo Bang - Murder Made Me
A creative if inconsistent return...
If nothing else, *Fredo Bang* can’t be faulted for his work-rate. The Louisiana rapper has now released *six major projects* in two and a half years, a run that has established him as one of hip-hop’s most consistent talents.
Announced only 24 hours ago, ‘Murder Made Me’ continues Fredo Bang’s creative run without excelling. A solid workout with some fantastic features, the record also doesn’t quite punch through the glass ceiling; it’s enjoyable, for sure, but frequently feels like a work in process, another stop-off point as Fredo Bang races to his next destination.
Punchy opener ‘Throw da Set (Long Live Von)’ is a stellar opening gambit, while ‘Pray 4 Dem (Father Pt. 2)’ offsets the swagger in favour of introspection. The album then flags a little, before *Polo G’s* turn on ‘Bless His Soul’ helps to electrify proceedings once more.
Mid-album highlight ‘Click Up’ hinges on the warm of a Hammond organ sound, a stylistic nod to his Southern forebears. Indeed, the swampy beats and stabbing guitars on ‘My Speed’ could be mistaken for New Orleans funk greats The Meters.
The record’s third quarter finds Fredo running out of steam, a little. ‘Love Sick’ fades into the background, and while ‘Shake-N-Bake’ may be fun, it doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Closing with ‘War Time’ and the Mozzy-indebted ‘Amen’ – a return to the spirituality of ‘Pray 4 Dem’ – the album is a spirited offering, a project that never stays in one place too long.
Taken as a whole, ‘Murder Made Me’ feels like another helter-skelter outing for Fredo Bang. Entertaining as hell, it succumbs to its own pace at times – rap’s workaholic impresses with his creativity, but has yet to uncover that vital consistency.
*7/10 *
Words:* Robin Murray *
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