Curren$y & The Alchemist – Covert Coup
Released: 20 April 2011
BBS: 4.5/5
The Type: 5/5
Blood Sweat And Gears: 4.25/5
Life Instructions (feat Smoke DZA): 4.75/5
Smoke Break: 3.5/5
Scottie Pippen (feat Freddie Gibbs): 4.25/5
Ventilation: 3.75/5
Double 07: 4/5
Success Is My Cologne: 4/5
Full Metal: 4.5/5
4.25/5
Alchemist laced Curren$y with some solid beats throughout this project. Covert Coup avoids hooks and choruses for the most part and is mostly 1 verse, 32 bar songs. It works for Curren$y, as he continues to improve lyrically and be recognized as a solid rapper (and not just a weed rapper). At a little under 30 minutes, Covert Coup is enough raw raps and ill beats to keep you coming back for more.
2nd Opinion
On second opinion and after a few months to sit with this project, this is one of the better mixtapes Curren$y has released. Coming into this project I was interested in seeing if Curren$y could rap over Alan’s grimy production, seeing as Spitta’s previous two albums (Pilot Talk 1 and 2) consisted of jazzy Ski Beatz beats. Needless to say, Spitta didn’t lose a step. During the transition from Smokee Robinson to Pilot Talk to Pilot Talk 2 to Return To The Winner’s Circle to Covert Coup, we’ve seen Curren$y evolve greatly as a lyricist and solo artist.
Lyrics + Production
Lyrically, Covert Coup is Curren$y’s best showing so far – his delivery is more menacing, his flows are varying, and his rapping as a whole has improved a great deal. Although he gets outdone by a much more seasoned lyricist in Freddie Gibbs on “Scottie Pippens“, Curren$y still holds his own on solo tracks, as seen on “Ventilation” and “Smoke Break“.
It must be said that the opus of Covert Coup isn’t necessarily Curren$y himself, Alan The Alchemist provides some solid production throughout and is another noteable name on the list of outstanding producers to produce for Curren$y. Covert Coup is a little over 30 minutes – and every minute is worthwhile. The only complaint one can make is that it’s too short, which in essence isn’t a bad thing. When the music is this good, it’s natural to yearn for more. Jets foo.
Song by Song rating + VERDICT
BBS: 5/5
The Type (feat Prodigy): 5/5
Blood Sweat And Gears: 3.75/5
Life Instructions (feat Smoke DZA): 4.25/5
Smoke Break: 4.5/5
Scottie Pippen (feat Freddie Gibbs): 4.75/5
Ventilation: 4/5
Double 07: 4/5
Success Is My Cologne: 4.5/5
Full Metal: 4.75/5
4.5/5 – ★★★★1/2: Stellar example of genre; peak potential.