Vinnie-Dangerous – Dream ‘Til It’s Over (Album Review)

‘Dream ‘Til It’s Over’ serves as a touching tribute to the US rapper’s upbringing, home life, and the trials and tribulations Vinnie-Dangerous has faced during his career.

Rapper and producer Vinnie-Dangerous, from Fayetteville in North Carolina, has always prided himself on presenting a genuine version of himself to listeners through emotionally complex lyrics revealing deep-rooted issues in society and the music industry or unveiling events and memories that affected the artist in his own life. ‘Dream ‘Til It’s Over’, the last album in the rapper’s ‘Dream Trilogy’ including 2016’s ‘Yes, I Am A Dreamer’ and 2018’s ‘Dream To Escape Hell’, is a self-confessed ode to his son and Vinnie’s former self. True to his word, the album is a poignant collection of high-energy bass-heavy rap tracks and expertly crafted slow-burn jams filled with a life lesson or two.

At the beginning of the album opener ‘Left Alone’, a chill hip-hop track featuring an unearthly piano sample underneath Vinnie-Dangerous’ smoothly delivered bars, the artist voices the sentiments “Don’t be afraid to take chances” and “Nobody’s legendary playing it safe” when looking back on his younger self. ‘Dream ‘Til It’s Over’ definitely expresses his desire sublimely, serving as an album both experimental and reflective.

Both the 2nd and 3rd tracks ‘Hell’s On Earth Pt. II’ and ‘Got Me F***ed Up (ft. Saint Pat)’ are bass-boosted hardcore tracks bursting with the rapper’s savagely unapologetic lyricism, with the former track expressing disdain and disgust at the current state of the world (“Buildings burning people screaming”). Vinnie sounds visceral and rage-filled on the latter track exclaiming “I’m really trying to be a better person” over an old-school hip-hop instrumental; the artist’s scathing social commentary sounding loud and clear in his struggle to do good in a world overwhelmed with evil.

‘Found My Way’ takes a different turn with its laidback even tempo and Vinnie’s undisturbed flow paving a steady path for colourful anecdotes and reminiscences surrounding his early life in the music industry. Revealing lyrics in the chorus (“Right from the start, I came from the heart, I came from the dark and I found my way”) document how years of perseverance translated into a successful music career. As a bonus, a slowed and reverb version of the track is also included in the album, allowing listeners to sink further into this song’s breezy ambience.

All these years of experience as a musician afford Vinnie-Dangerous the ability to call out fakers and wannabes in his usual outspoken way on ‘Out The Field (FT. Tracy Lamont)’; calling attention to the sacrifice it took to earn acclaim (“I remember when I was down and I couldn’t get a meal with you”). It’s unfiltered lyricism such as this that really boosts the artist’s appeal as someone down-to-earth and self-aware in the current climate of boasting and flaunting wealth. This messaging bleeds into ‘Kavòn’s Interlude (FT. Poetic Enlightener)’, which displays Vinnie’s inner conflict while pursuing his dreams (“How do you forgive yourself after self-desertion?”), the rapper’s candid delivery highlighting this in a sobering fashion.

‘Westside Dead’ and ‘Do right’ uncover more about the artist’s motivations – ‘Westside Dead’ discussing Vinnie’s humble beginnings and the realities of growing up in a corrupt and unforgiving world. ‘Do Right’ explores Vinnie’s moral dilemma trying to figure out “What’s really wrong or right anymore?” in a world full of contradictions. On both of these tracks Vinnie experiments with different beats and rhythms, showcasing his expert ability to change up his flow and diction to suit new vibes and ambiences.

‘I Love You So Much (ft. Jones Michael & Peanut)’ a sweet R&B jam, is written for and about the rapper’s young son, and contains touching lyrics such as “Never have I loved someone like this” that really overflow with the emotion and affection he has for his family. Sung in a smooth and gentle croon, the rapper professes his desire to protect and teach his child the meaning of life, while undoubtably inspiring him to reach for his dreams. ‘Stargazing (FT. Viridian and Eddie Lo)’ also tackles the theme of love, this time towards a partner. As well as championing Viridian’s dreamy vocals and Vinnie’s suave delivery, the track taps into an enjoyable retro-tinged R&B vibe.

Vinnie-Dangerous sounds as confident and self-assured as ever on ‘Momma’s Cutlass’ and ‘N****s Gonna Be Ok (ft. Kamus Leonardo)’, two groovy hip-hop bangers that suitably illustrate what Vinnie is all about: addictively gritty hooks, killer bars, introspective lyrics and a cool attitude. With the rounding off of the album with the slowed and reverb version of ‘Found My Way’, Vinnie-Dangerous succeeds in bringing his audience full circle through his inspirations and aspirations, while still promising there’s more to come.

Score/Excellent: Listeners should only expect the finest quality of songwriting and production when going into any Vinnie-Dangerous record, and ‘Dream ‘Til It’s Over’ is no exception. A deeply personal album that is worthy of being recognised for the hip-hop masterclass that it is.

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