Simi

BlocBoy JB walks in the footsteps of Memphis rap giants like Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG, and Yo Gotti. And much to his credit, he doesn’t sound like any of them. The drawl is familiar, but his flow is choppy and excitable, exemplified on songs like the turbulent “Shoot” (replete with a BlocBoy dance that took over pep rallies across the United States) and “Mamacita,” on which he gleefully tramples a minimalist 808 gong. “Look Alive,” the Drake collaboration that helped catapult his star, is here too, as is another edition of his infamous “No Chorus” showcases (“Pt. 11”).

On the heels of a viral dance and a Drake feature, the Memphis rapper’s latest mixtape is a breakthrough that’s honest, clear, and incredibly fun.