Doing It For Me

Larry June is one of rap’s most sought-after collaborators, but on 2024’s *Doing It for Me*, he eschews features entirely to reestablish his POV as one of hip-hop’s smoothest voices. In 2023, Larry dropped *The Great Escape*, which was produced entirely by The Alchemist and featured Action Bronson, Big Sean, Slum Village, and more. That same year, he linked up with another heavy-hitting producer in Cardo for *The Night Shift*, which featured guest bars from 2 Chainz, ScHoolboy Q, Too $hort, and plenty of others. The glitz and glamour from guest stars are nowhere to be found on *Doing It for Me*, which finds the Bay Area spitter delivering lovesick bars over classic West Coast funk beats. Take “Stinson Beach,” which sounds like Parliament remixing a Dr. Dre production and features June showcasing his best singing voice. “But when I’m not with you, baby girl, I don’t feel the same,” he croons, the desire in his voice practically palpable. Larry keeps the missed connections front of mind on “Meet Me in Napa,” a raunchy ode to the weekend getaway that finds the spitter going wine tasting with a lady who remains just out of reach: “Would have been my main girl,” he sings, before adding, “In another lifetime.”

On an album filled with A-list producers and magnificent beats, the San Francisco rapper skates by with simplistic, autopilot rhymes.

On an album filled with A-list producers and magnificent beats, the San Francisco rapper skates by with simplistic, autopilot rhymes.