As I stated in the write-up I did on the new single from these three artists a few weeks back, the idea that Hip Hop is becoming stale and dull is so tired and untrue. If you look beyond the mainstream, there are so many artists pushing boundaries and making Hip Hop music that pushes boundaries and draws from all sorts of places. Milwaukee’s AyooLii and New York’s Polo Perks & FearDorian and artists who certainly prove this point. AyooLii is an awesome representative of the Milwaukee Slap Street music sound that is sweeping the country right now. Songs like ‘Same,’ ‘Shmackin Town,’ and ‘Perc 10’ went viral online in the last couple of years, not only helping AyooLii cement himself as a rising star but also helping put eyes on the growing and vibrant Milwaukee music scene. Both Polo Perks and FearDorian hail from New York, but their music is not indicative at all of what one would expect from modern New York rappers. They have cultivated a super unique sound that is inspired by elements of Punk Rock and fast-paced Drill music; the music that Polo Perks and FearDorian make really stands out and meshes so well with the quirky sound that Milwaukee has become known for. Recently, these three riveting artists came together for an awesome single called ‘Ricky Eats Acid,’ which contains a cool sample from the Emo-Pop band teen suicide. The dynamic trio then announced that they made a whole album together, which was awesome to hear because their chemistry was so palpable on that single. A Dog’s Chance is the new record from FearDorian, Polo Perks, and AyooLii. This is a super cool project that contains a variety of interesting samples(most of which I recognize but some of which I can not name off the top of my head, so please let me know in the comments what the samples are that I missed), and really highlights the individual talents of these three artists as well as how well they sound together. Below, I am going to talk about some of my favorite songs from A Dog’s Chance, and then talk about how I feel about the whole album at the end. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from A Dog’s Chance, and also comment on how you feel about this record as a whole!

RAINBOW (WITH POLO PERKS, FEARDORIAN, AND AYOOLII)

‘RAINBOW’ is an awesome opener to this record, and it contains a sample that I do recognize and absolutely love. This is certainly an aptly named song, as the sample that drives this track comes from the iconic ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ by IZ. The melody sounds so cool when paired with the Slap music beat that drives this beat. The pacing of the drums and pounding of the bass contrasts the melody in a super cool way, making this song feel super energetic and calming at the same time. The way that Polo Perks’ vocal style and AyooLii’s vocal style differ from each other makes this song so captivating as well. Polo Perks has a sort of laid-back delivery and very gruff tone that creates a juxtaposition with the instrumental, and AyooLii raps with a high and eccentric pitch that stands out and really pops on this calm instrumental. ‘RAINBOW’ starts this album out with a bang and introduces listeners to this unique and entertaining sound that these three artists have cultivated.

RICKY EATS ACID (WITH POLO PERKS, FEARDORIAN, AYOOLII, AND TEEN SUICIDE)

Considering I did a full detailed write-up on this track a few weeks ago, I will not dive into ‘Ricky Eats Acid’ quite as much here as I will some of the other tracks. I will say that this was a great way to be introduced to this trio of artists together, as it not only shows their chemistry but also shows their individuality. The Teen Suicide sample on ‘Ricky Eats Acid’ is very cool, as it takes a pretty melancholy song and pitches it up, brightening it in a way to make this version sound so positive and fresh. The pacing of the beat and the vocal performances on ‘Ricky Eats Acid’ do make the track feel a bit anxious, but that also makes it intriguing and appealing. ‘Ricky Eats Acid’ was a very good introduction for this trio to the world, as it shows how well they work together as well as how well they all are in their own right.

TONY SNELL (WITH FEARDORIAN AND AYOOLII)

‘Tony Snell’ is one of the most eccentric and high-key songs on the record. This is a song where I really wish I could remember what the sample is because the melody for this one is so cool and fun. ‘Tony Snell’ has a fast-paced Punk Rock sound that makes me want to jump around in a mosh pit when I hear it. The melody has a pretty bright tone but is also pretty distorted and abrasive. The abrasive and harsh tone of the track is amplified by the beat, which has a grating sound that makes the song pop. The vocal performance on ‘Tony Snell’ is just as bold as the instrumental; AyooLii takes the energy of the instrumental and amplifies it in a manner that makes this song hit extra hard. I would love to hear this one live, as I can only imagine how intense the energy would be at the concert when this one comes on. Tony Snell’ is one of the toughest songs on this record, and it is a great song to add to any workout or pregame playlist because it will infuse the listener with energy.

ROCKBAND TEES 08 DENIMS(WITH POLO PERKS, FEARDORIAN, AND CURRENT JOYS)

If it weren’t for ‘PaperPlanesSoulja’(which I dove into later in the list, so scroll down a bit to read about that one), I would say that ‘ROCKBAND TEES 08 DENIMS’ is my favorite song from this record. I really enjoy the Current Joys sample that drives this melody. This awesome sample(which comes from the iconic track ‘New Flesh’) is slightly pitched up and sped up. This melody is put on a bass-heavy and fast-paced Slap beat that one would not think would normally fit it, but actually works so well. The beat enhances the sound of the melody. The vocals on ‘ROCKBAND TEES 08 DENIMS’ are very cool as well. Polo Perks’ low and gruff tone contrasts the melody nicely and gives the song so much texture and life; there are also backing vocals from Current Joys which provides an extra element of life to the song that I appreciate as well. ‘ROCKBAND TEES 08 DENIMS’ is the kind of distinctive track that is unlike anything else being made today; as especial as it is, it works out so well.

PINKY (WITH FEARDORIAN AND AYOOLII)

‘Pinky’ has one of the most low-key instrumentals of the album. That is not saying much, because this song is still pretty high-key and bold. The melody for ‘Pinky’ is significantly more laid back than most of the other ones on the record, though. The tone of the melody for this track has a bit of an Afro-Pop/Amapiano feeling to it. This Amapiano feeling is somewhat continued with the beat. This track is like a Slap music version of that kind of African Dance music. It still has the clapping tempo that drives the beat, but the other drums and overall pacing of the track do somewhat represent Amapiano. AyooLii’s high-pitched and rapid delivery on this track creates a crazy juxtaposition with the instrumental. His delivery is very catchy and makes this song such an earworm. ‘Pinky’ is a fascinating track that has the potential to get stuck in my head for days, as so much about it is memorable.  

PAPERPLANESSOULJA(WITH POLO PERKS, FEARDORIAN, AND AYOOLII)

‘PaperPlanesSoulja’ uses what may be the most iconic and recognizable sample on the record(apart from maybe the opener depending on who you are). The melody for this one has the same sound as the epic song ‘Paper Planes’ by MIA. The original track is one that so many know and love, and these three definitely do it justice in this version. I really enjoy how the quirky tempo of the Slap music beat meshes with this melody. It is awesome how natural this beat sounds with this melody; the beat on this one actually does not differ from the original as much as one may think, and it makes this song sound so natural. Both rappers certainly do their thing on this one, but I especially enjoy how the lower tone of Polo Perks works on this instrumental. His delivery gives ‘PaperPlanesSoulja’ a level of grit that puts it over the top and makes it my favorite song on this record. ‘PaperPlanesSoulja’ is an awesome take on a classic that meshes the ultramodern Slap sound with this 2000s Melodic Hip Hop sound so nicely.

BREESHWRLD (WITH POLO PERKS AND FEARDORIAN) 

‘BREESHWRLD’ is another track where Polo Perks and FearDorian come together to do what they seemingly do best. The instrumental for this one has a melancholy Emo Rock tone to it. This is the kind of melody that reminds me of the Emo Bands like Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, and The Used made back in the day(I do not recognize the sample, but I would imagine that it comes from a band that is similar to or inspired by those groups). The beat for this one absolutely pounds and has a frantic, off-kilter energy that makes this song hit so hard. I really enjoy the way that Polo Perks’ gruff and low tone contrasts the gleaming tone of the melody, as it makes his vocal performance stand out and feel extra snappy. ‘BREESHWRLD’ is a very cool Emo Slap track(that is a new genre that I am coining to describe this sound) where the best qualities in FearDorian production and Polo Perk’s rapping style truly shine.

ALICIA KEYS (WITH FEARDORIAN AND AYOOLII)

Like ‘Pinky,’ ‘Alicia Keys’ is slightly more laid back and subdued than most of the rest of the music on the album. This is easily the sweetest and brightest track. It has a shimmery and charming R&B feeling that really separates itself from pretty much any other song here. The beat for this one is also a bit more calm and low-key than the other music on A Dog’s Chance. The bass on this one still pounds and the tempo of the track is still pretty off-center, but the drum pattern has more of a traditional Trap feeling instead of a Slap music feel. AyooLii shines on ‘Alicia Keys’ His deliberate flow and aberrant tone make this song fit this song so well and once again make it such an earworm. The only thing holding ‘Alicia Keys’ back is length. At 1:07, I just wish this song was longer because I want to hear more of this. ‘Alicia Keys’ is a track where FearDorian and AyooLii go a bit outside of their comfort zone and totally nail it. 

When I first heard ‘Ricky Eats Acid,’ I was so excited about the potential of this trio and knew that I needed so much more from them. That is why I have definitely been looking forward to A Dog’s Chance. There is no one doing it like Polo Perks, AyooLii, and FearDorian. Individually, they are obviously all very striking; when they come together, they are able to create a sound and style of music that is so exhilarating and fresh. I have always been a big fan of using unique samples that one would not normally expect to hear in Hip Hop music, and FearDorian kills it with his sample selections on this track. All of the beats on A Dog’s Chance are so cool. I honestly could have picked multiple other tracks for this list because of how much FearDorian kills it throughout the project. Both Polo Perks and AyooLii shine individually throughout this record, showing why they are two of the most stimulating rising rappers right now. The best moments on the record are when they come together, though. The way their vocal styles contrast and mesh on the songs where they are together makes this project so enthralling and cool. A Dog’s Chance is a dope album where FearDorian, Polo Perks, and AyooLii shine and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. I hope this is not the only album we get from this trio, as it is easy to see they are onto something special.

8.4/10