MADE BY DOPE

In a city where idiosyncrasy comes from even the hardest of rappers, there’s still no one in Detroit doing it quite like Bruiser Wolf. Closely affiliated with Danny Brown and part of the insular Bruiser Brigade, he steps to the microphone with the survivalist savvy of a street poet and the poignant wit of a stand-up comic. He spits game because he’s *been* in the game, translating his knowledge into one-liners and double entendres on this collaboration with veteran hip-hop producer Harry Fraud. The cinematic quality of his life story thus far screens in 70mm clarity through the cheeky opener “Tubi,” though he cautions on “Against the Odds” that there’s enough fodder to fuel a full-blown saga. His provocative couplets on “Connect Four” and “Heart Broke” carry on a legacy that encompasses Rudy Ray Moore’s *Dolemite*, Suga Free, and Too $hort. Given Fraud’s own reputation for scoring rap songs like movie scenes, the ’70s throwback accents on “Eye Owe You” and “The Money Say” serve Wolf’s routines well. And if that weren’t enough, cameos by Benny the Butcher and fellow Bruiser brigadier Zelooperz, among others, add even further filmic thrills.

Backed by opulent production, the Detroit rapper turns in a comfortable, light-hearted performance.