Twista has paid more than his share of dues to the rap game. It took over a decade for him to finally achieve widespread appeal with last year’s double-platinum Kamikaze, which yielded hits like “So Sexy,” “Slow Jams” and “Overnight Celebrity.” But in a love you today hate you tomorrow industry, Twista sets out to prove that his celebrity will not fade overnight with his latest effort, The Day After.
Not sticking to his normal format, the Windy City lyricist shows his versatility on tracks like “Get It How You Live,” where he slows down his flow. On this Scott Storch produced banger he spits with an arrogant flare when he says, “My neck on bling, wrist on chill/ standin’ on the corner, steady trying to make a meal/ when it come to hustlin’ get it how you live/ I’m on the come up so f*@! how you feel.”
Speaking of feelings, Mr. Kamikaze gives us a feel of that same sound that took him to platinum status on songs like “Girl Tonight.”
With the current success of Houston artists such as Mike Jones, Slim Thug and Paul Wall, it is no surprise that we get a taste of the screwed and chopped sound that has put H-Town on the map. “Holdin’ Down The Game” will definitely have a few Dirty South brethren sittin’ sideways.
Overall, Twista serenades us with a slew of the old and the new on this album. He shows versatility while remaining consistent. He exudes confidence while remaining humble. With a few other surprises that I didn’t mention and the ones I gave away, the album is well put together.
A lot of the music today could be considered the hip-hop equivalent of fast food, but Twista serves up a pretty good meal. I’m sure the success of Kamikaze will be hard to match.
An artist who’s been around for as long as Twista has knows that you have to reinvent every time out. He does just that on “Heart Beat,” on which Twista sounds possessed as a result of digital voice alterations. With Pitbull’s help, Twista hits the clubs hard as he experiments with reggaeton on the bouncy “Get Down Hit The Floor.”
But just as important as trying new things, Twista makes sure not to abandon the techniques that have brought him success. After sampling Luther Vandross on his breakthrough smash “Slow Jams,” it was only right that he pay tribute to the late great legend once again. “One Night” contains several interpolations of Luther’s classic, “If Only For One Night,” as Twista’s tender raps seem to target a woman but actually are addressing a microphone. Twista begins to sound repetitive on “I’m A Winner,” which borders too heavily on Kamikaze’s “Overnight Celebrity.”
All in all, on The Day After, Twista picks up right where Kamikaze left off. With his infectious flows over booming bass, one thing is for certain he is definitely here to stay.