Certified

Artists don’t often release best-of collections anymore, letting playlists and fan streams more or less curate or determine their biggest tracks. Still, there’s something deeply validating for an artist like NLE Choppa to take the time to formally celebrate his catalog, which the Memphis spitter does here on *Certified*. As the title suggests, this project compiles 17 songs that earned gold, platinum, or multi-platinum awards from the RIAA, reflecting milestones of sales and equivalent streams. In effect, it’s a greatest-hits set from the “Shotta Flow” rapper that covers favorites and standout cuts from 2019 breakthrough *Cottonwood* onwards, including massive hits “Camelot,” “SLUT ME OUT,” and the Roddy Ricch team-up “Walk Em Down.” Beyond the convenience of having all of these tracks in one place, fans and newcomers alike have the clearest snapshot yet of his catalog to date, from the sample-drill madness of “DO IT AGAIN” to the melodic boom of early single “Free Youngboy.”