Street rappers have been claiming how real they keep it for
a minute now. With all the bars artists kick to prove how authentic their life
is, there’s a huge difference between knowing how to make your drug raps seem
like reality and actually speaking about the reality of what you know. This is
where Crill Gates sets himself apart. On Gates
Way to Hell it’s very clear that Crill is really about that life as he
delivers a tape so gutter that you feel like you’re in a dirty hallway working
a 24 hour shift.
Right from the jump Crill calls out those who are not on his
level with “Gangsta”. A lot of people talk it, but he makes you truly feel how
much he lives it with his slick gun talk and shouts to all the legends that
have moved work in various capacities throughout the years. “Stray Souls”
continues the hypeness and allows Crill Gates to put his brutally smooth flow
on display. For someone speaking about such dark topics, Crill glides over the
track with a hunger not heard in years. “Pop Off” boasts a menacing piano line as
Crill goes into beast mode and “Ready For War” will bring you back to the old
G-Unit days with straight up bars and an infectious hook. One of the highlights
of the tape is “Facts of Life” with its beat straight out of a horror movie and
the Wire references are absolutely brilliant.
PUSH! rolls through on “Street Confessions” which is another
highlight of the tape for a multitude of reasons. For starters, lines like “if
they using 12/12 skinnys, we using glad bags” let you know that Crill is most
definitely about this life, and that he’s also very smart when it comes to
business and is damn good at what he does. PUSH! also bodies the track while
Crill holds his own as they trade bars, plus the hook is way too real and the
beat is perfect for riding through the sunset with blunt smoke pouring out the
sunroof. Also from MIB, Wink Loc shows up on “Hustle Hard” on an epic track
that sounds like a war is about to break out. This is the type of track that
will bring anyone who’s been inside right back to the yard. And following that
up, the smoothed out “Papers Pt. 1” is as close to a track for the females as
you’re gonna get on this tape, but it still maintains that street mentality
which is so dope as it further proves that Crill is diverse while still maintaining
the consistency of a project made for the streets. The “3mix” tracks, “Financial
Freedom” and “Lean Wit It” both confirm that Crill Gates is very much at home
over recognizable production and has no problem making other peoples’ tracks
his own. And the closeout, “I Grind”, finds all three artists on the track (E
Mac, Don Gang and Crill) lacing into a beat that will have you so hype that it’s
only necessary to play the whole tape right back after.
The two qualities that a lot of street rappers lack are abilities
that Crill Gates excels in, honesty and passion. With bars so lethal and
detailed, it’s clear that Crill is not giving us fantasy lines, and his
intensity in every verse showcases an incredibly degree of passion. Gates Way to Hell is not for fans of
happy friendly hip hop. This record is for those who have looked forward to bubble
coat season for the pure fact that it’s easier to carry work. If you’re looking
for music to get money to, or you remember the days of checking the rearview
with multiple felony charges in the whip then you’ll definitely have Gates Way to Hell on repeat.
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