Steve 'Flash' JuonIf I worry about anything when it comes to Polo G it’s the headlines he makes outside of the music. Even though I said it was premature to call himself “The Goat” and I stand by that, but I also said he made good music that even when it uses AutoTune it doesn’t abuse it. Instead of disguising his vocals it adds a subtle nuance to it, like he has a clone of himself in the studio singing along with him. He’s a head nodding enjoyable young rapper who seems to have escaped the negative aspects of coming out of the ChiRaq rap scene. At least… what’s what I thought in 2020. Since then he’s been arrested a handful of times in Miami, Los Angeles, and Manhattan on an assortment of charges involving guns and assault. I know Biggie famously said “mo’ money mo’ problems” but I want Polo G to find a way to have less so that he can live longer than Christopher Wallace did.
Even Polo seems to be acknowledging this on “Hood Poet” with the Southside, Dr. Luke and Noah Goldstein produced “Barely Holdin’ On.” Over the melodic piano laced track he reminisces about the old days when he could just goof around with his friends, then morbidly croons that “all my secrets get buried when I’m gone.” Please Mr. Bartlett, don’t rush to bury them. “I ain’t never seen a nigga from his coffin speaking.” That may be true, but don’t end up in one too. “Don’t wanna party, I’ll stay in this lonely room instead.” Could be a good choice instead of getting into more drama? “I’m from the trenches where they murder just to kill time.” That’s a clever double entendre but depressing too.
At least it’s clear to me listening that Polo G is self-aware and not living his life on cruise control. “I’ve been taking in too much fake love” sums up his situation well on “Detox.” Once you get famous and successful everybody gets in your business either to take a piece of what you made or take you down and take your place. He’s trying to only collaborate with the real ones here, which is why throughout the 50 minutes here you can see the love from his guests — GloRilla on “Bad Kids,” Future on “Survival of the Fittest,” Lil Durk on “We Uh Shoot” and Offset on “G63” to list just a few. Game recognizes game throughout this album.
Nothing may sum up Polo G better than the Southside and Cubeatz produced “Distraction” though. The track gives him a slightly eerie vocal backdrop to spit lines like “I couldn’t even enjoy my birthday” because of the drama swirling around him. “Hope when I’m talking you listen.” Polo — we are. The video keeps showcasing how he gets hassled by the police, which is art imitating life personified. Listening to the song makes me think the young goat needs a good long vacation away from the fame of being a rap star. Just breathe and enjoy your success for a minute.
If there’s an irony to calling himself “The Goat” so early in his career, it’s that Polo G set a standard he now has to live up to on successive albums. “Hood Poet” mostly succeeds at doing so, but at times it really does feel like he’s distracted by all of his legal problems. Even though the featured artists are choice and the production is solid, it almost feels too much like an industry record, a little too designed with taking advantage of his woes just to make a buck off his name. I know he’s smart enough to not let this music business do him a 4,080 though and the less I see of him on TMZ the happier I’ll be.