I can not believe that it has been almost a year since we lost Takeoff of Migos(RIP). So many of us grew up listening to Migos’ music, and it is so tragic and unfortunate that we will never be able to hear music from them as a full group again. Since Takeoff passed away, fellow Migos members Quavo and Offset have been left to pick up the pieces. Both of them have been forced to put all their focus into their already successful solo careers, which is a major switch-up for them and fans of the group. Quavo was the first of the duo to release a solo project in 2023, with his album Rocket Power having been released a couple of months ago(I wrote about that project when it came out, so go check out that write-up after reading this one if you have not seen it yet). Now, Offset has come to the table with his own project in 2023. This is Offset’s third full-length album. His first record, a collaboration with the legendary producer Metro Boomin, is called Without Warning and came out in 2017. In 2019, he dropped Father of 4, which is his official debut solo project. Like Quavo’s Rocket Power, Offset’s new record, SET IT OFF, is full of a lot of quality but has too much filler. If this album was cut down by about 8-10 tracks, it would be awesome as a whole, but unfortunately, there are just too many skippable songs for me to consider it a very good record. Offset’s talent is definitely on display with SET IT OFF and there are so many moments where he shines, but it is dragged down by all of the throwaways. With that being said, there is still a ton to like about SET IT OFF, and I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite moments from the record here. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from SET IT OFF, and also comment on how you feel about the record as a whole.

SAY MY GRACE FEAT. TRAVIS SCOTT

I always appreciate when Travis Scott decides to think outside the box and try experimental new sounds like he did on his new album UTOPIA, but it is also nice to hear him get back to his roots. There is a reason that he and the Migos got so popular making epic Melodic Trap music, and songs like this prove that. Nothing about ‘SAY MY GRACE’ sounds overly original or individual. That is okay, though, because ‘SAY MY GRACE’ is just very good for what it is. This song has a looming and menacing instrumental that is so huge and powerful. It is put over a distorted Trap beat that goes very well with the harsh feeling of the instrumental. Offset’s delivery on ‘SAY MY GRACE’ is just as tough and vivacious as the instrumental. He raps his verses with a booming tone that goes so well with the energy of the song. Travis Scott’s delivery is actually a bit subdued, contrasting Offset nicely and providing a nice buffer from the severity coming from Offset. ‘SAY MY GRACE’ does not have any qualities that stand out much, but it is good for what it is and proves that Offset and Travis Scott can still excel at the style of music they became known for.

WORTH IT FEAT. DON TOLIVER

‘WORTH IT’ is the kind of song that I would have never expected to hear from Offset. I honestly did not know that this kind of track was in his arsenal, and it has me very impressed. ‘WORTH IT’ is a soft and groovy R&B with a bit of a Latin feeling to it. The melody, which is provided by a melancholy and simple guitar riff, sort of reminds me of Bossa Nova music. This melody is put on a quick yet calm beat that has the feeling of 2000s R&B music by artists like Mario or Neyo. Both of the vocal performances on this song are excellent. Don Toliver absolutely glides on this instrumental, showing off his range and providing so much texture to the track. Offset’s flow is super even-keeled and his tone is so soothing, fitting the feeling of the instrumental perfectly. ‘WORTH IT’ is a really cool track that proves how diverse Offset can be with his artistry when he wants to, and I hope that we get more music like this from him very soon.

BROAD DAY FEAT FUTURE

Future is the kind of artist who can always bring out the best in anyone he makes music with. There is something about his style of rapping that complements others so well and makes them shine. ‘BROAD DAY’ is a great example of this. Like the song ‘Turn Yo Clic Up’ by Quavo from Rocket Power, the Future feature on SET IT OFF is definitely one of the record’s most exciting songs. ‘BROAD DAY’ is a fast-paced Pop-Trap track with a fun energy that will get any function jumping when it comes on. The melody for this song is gloomy and a bit threatening, and it is put on top of a heavily distorted and buzzing quick Trap beat. Future and Offset’s tones and rapping styles go so nicely together on this track. Offset’s gruff and more forceful tone contrasts Future’s lighter and more steady delivery, giving the song so much life and making it so fun to listen to. ‘BROAD DAY’ is a great track that I am positive I will hear at bars and clubs very often in the coming months, as it is so entertaining and provides so much energy when it comes on.

FAN

Similar to ‘WORTH IT,’ ‘FAN’ shows a softer side to Offset that we usually do not get to see. I always appreciate when an artist is willing to go completely out of their comfort zone and try something very different for them, especially when it ends up being very high quality like this track is. ‘FAN’ is a light and downtrodden Pop-Trap song that shows a more mellow side to Offset. He is usually known for more high-octane and in-your-face music, and everything about this track, from the instrumental to Offset’s delivery, is pretty subdued. There is nothing overly riveting or complicated about ‘FAN,’ but that is okay because it is solid for what it is. I like how Offset constantly switches the tempo of his flow on this track, as this gives the song life and makes it interesting to listen to. ‘FAN’ also has a chorus that is a total earworm. It is the kind of hook I would expect to hear people sing along to at a bar or club when it comes on. ‘FAN’ is not the most electrifying song on the record, but it is a fun listen and will get stuck in anyone’s head when they hear it, and there is value to that.

SKYAMI FEAT. MANGO FOO

As you may or may not have noticed, a lot of my favorite moments on this record are moments where Offset went in a lighter, more Pop direction that we do not always get to see from him. Offset(and Migos in general) have always excelled at a certain style of Melodic Trap, with most of their music taking on that general theme. When he tries something totally different and nails it like he does on ‘SKYAMI’ with Mango Foo, I have to appreciate it and shout it out. ‘SKYAMI’ has an ultra-modern Pop-Trap sound that seems like it came straight out of 2050 or something. This is the kind of strange and entertaining instrumental I would only expect to hear artists like Lil Uzi Vert or Playboi Carti rap on. The melody for this song is shimmery and sparkling, creating a cool contrast with the tough, heavily distorted beat. Offset’s performance on this song is solid and he slides nicely on the beat, but the real star of the song is Mango Foo. His tone and flow fit this instrumental perfectly, and he makes the track extremely lively and engrossing. On ‘SKYAMI,’ Offset tries something off the wall for him and nails it, and I have to show love to that fact.

DISSOLVE

‘DISSOLVE’ is another track where OFFSET goes in a direction that I would never expect him to go and completely excel at. This is a sultry, joyful R&B Trap track with a sound that reminds me a lot of one of the features from earlier in the record, Don Toliver. What is impressive about this track, though, is that it has no features. Typically, if Offset were to rap or sing on this kind of instrumental, I would expect to hear an artist on the track with him who usually makes this kind of music. On ‘DISSOLVE,’ though, Offset demonstrates that he can make this kind on his own, and do a damn good job at it. Offset sings with a tone and flow on this track that I have never heard from him, and which fits the song so well. As nice as the instrumental is, Offset’s vocal performance on this track takes it over the top and makes it one of the major highlights of the record. Like ‘WORTH IT,’ ‘DISSOLVE’ is a great R&B Trap track that proves Offset can excel at this kind of softer R&B Trap music, and as I mentioned earlier, I truly hope he dives into this sound wholeheartedly on an upcoming project.

DOPE BOY FEAT. YOUNG NUDY

I have always thought that Young Nudy is one of the most underrated artists in Trap music since he burst onto the scene several years ago, and songs like ‘DOPE BOY’ are a great example of this. Young Nudy has such a distinctive sound and style that he brings to every song he is in, and he can always bring out something new and weird in the artists he is making music with because of how distinctive he is. ‘DOPE BOY’ is nothing like anything else on this record; to be honest, it sounds more like a Young Nudy song than an Offset song. That is completely okay, though, because it provides something unique that stands out awesomely. This is a quirky, hard-hitting Trap track with a massive and daunting sound driven by a simple yet creepy synth-driven melody but over a heavily distorted, jarring Trap beat. Offset brings the harshness he needs to bring on this track, rapping with an emphasis that fits this instrumental so well. Young Nudy comes in with his off-kilter flow and tone, providing so much texture to the track and making it stand out. ‘DOPE BOY’ with Young Nudy is one of the coolest tracks on this record, and it shows Offset rap with a level of ferocity that we do not always see these days.