Steve 'Flash' JuonI think Larry June is misunderstood. One of our own writers said he “lack(ed) lyrical substance” and I respectfully disagree. There are different kinds of substance in rap. Some rappers are insightful about world events and the political landscape. Some rappers hit you with humorous, topical punchlines and twist the meaning of words into double or triple entendre. Some show their substance with incredibly introspective bars where they reflect on their strengths and flaws. A song about dancing, drinking and having a good time has “substance” too. We all need to let our hair down sometimes right? To truly lack substance you’d have to have nothing to say about anything ever — nothing clever, thoughtful, profound, absurd, joyful or somber. As long as you have a point to what you’re saying or a topic you can articulate, you have substance to your rap.
Right from the beginning of Larry June’s “Doing It For Me” his Uncle Herm lets you know what the point is. He articulates the vision. “If you constantly struggling on social media, and your attitude starts to change from positive to negative, stop scrolling for a while. Successful individuals say no to what don’t work for them.” Right on Unk. I can’t imagine a better way to set the tone or the vibe for this LP. I know it’s just an intro but don’t skip it. Vibe to what Herm is saying and let it marinate for a minute. Once you do you’ll be properly prepared for the laid back vibes produced by K.FISHA, Todd Cooper & Teeko on “Magnum P.I.” He’s putting down stone cold game. “You ain’t gotta like me, it’s some bitches that will/you can talk on YouTube, but I’m making these mills.”
Larry June’s substance is the same stuff that Freddie Gibbs is made of. He doesn’t have the ferocity of Gibbs in his delivery, but he has the same street smarts and keen eye on his surroundings. “What’chu gon’ do when them times get hard? What’chu gon’ do when them checks stop coming?” Larry knows what he’s gonna do on the Jose Rios & T.Nava laced “Imported Couches” — he’s gonna do pilates and not let it phase him. “I don’t need you to pray for me.” That’s HELLA confidence, which is bolstered by his laid back delivery. June “watched the whole game switch” and stayed down anyway.
June’s out here to enjoy his life and on the Teeko produced “Stinson Beach” he’s not even afraid to sing about it. Larry doesn’t need AutoTune neither. You’re hearing his real voice and it has a very natural Nate Dogg (RIP) charm. “Knowing I’m in love with you, but I get afraid/You never know, you never know, she might not stay.” That’s not substance? He’s giving you his feelings right from the heart and he’s not gonna let anybody clown him for being real with his emotions. I can’t not respect it.
I think I understand where June’s critics are coming from when I listened to “Like a Mack” though. He’s not excessively flashy with his verbals, even though if you’re paying attention you can see how he artfully changes up his style and delivery from one verse to the next. June isn’t the kind of rapper who needs to use big words to impress you or drop references that might make you laugh but quickly become dated in a few years. The same quality that makes him seem unimpressive to some folks makes him feel timeless to me. There’s an almost undeniable air of the Pacific Ocean to songs like “Dreams.” If there was a remix of this song for the radio Kendrick Lamar would be all over it.
If you hadn’t figured it out yet “Doing It For Me” is a bona fide, certified summertime album that’s almost accidentally good. Larry has the best quality a star can have and that’s not giving a fuck about your opinion or mine. He made the kind of music he likes and was entirely selfish about it in the best possible way. Social media ain’t gonna change him. He don’t give a damn about followers on the Gram. If he wants to pimp, he pimps. If he wants to croon, he croons. If he wants to chill, he’s chilling. Are you gonna tell Larry June he’s wrong for that? I think he’s got his mind right and his game tight. He’s more Suga Free than Pharoahe Monch and since it takes all kinds to rap that’s fine by me.