No Pressure - Album Review

Logic announced last week that his album, No Pressure, would be his last, and that he’d retire from rapping and switch lanes for a life as a caring father/ Twitch streamer. My initial reaction, of course, was “yeah, sure you’re gonna retire.” I’ve followed Logic since 2015, and he’s thrown the retirement card a few times, but never followed through with it. But after listening to No Pressure, I can tell from Logic’s voice, lyrics, and tone that he has serious intentions about retiring, at least for the moment. Which brings me to reflect on my years as a Logic fan.

I first heard Logic (“Lord Willin’” on The Incredible True Story, to be exact) during the first semester of my freshman year of college. Since that moment, I dove into everything he had released before then. His debut album, Under Pressure, is a strong, passionate debut project, and Logic’s four independent Young Sinatra mixtapes are, surprisingly, just as dynamic. It was easy to follow his persona of positivity, encouragement, and dream-following, so when his later albums diverged from his initial humble lyrics that made his name known, to a flaunting rapper that rhymed about what every other rapper is gloating about, it was disappointing (even though he speaks about this specifically in “Celebration”). Despite this, I still listened to and supported not only his music, but his entire career. I read his novel, Supermarket (which, to be honest, kind of sucked), and I plan on downloading Twitch and following him on that platform. And through the highs and lows of all of Logic’s releases, No Pressure is a remarkable conclusion that elicits a true feeling that he plans on stepping away for a long time.

Diving into the tracks, “man i is” is a recollection of what’s shaped Logic into what his life is today, yet “Dark Place” is a painful and emotional shift that gives us a glimpse inside the ghastly halls and corners of Logic’s mind. However, “DadBod” and “A2Z” showcase what’s most important to Logic right now – his son. Throughout Logic’s discography, he’s never shied away from mentioning his father’s negligence, but over the years, their relationship has gradually evolved (to the point where his dad appeared as a feature on Logic’s 2019 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind [side note: that feature also sucked]). Despite their current relationship, Logic hasn’t forgotten about the importance of having a father figure in a child’s life (see 2018’s “The Glorious Five”). That’s the main reason for Logic’s retirement, and hearing him happily rap about a day in the life of a father – from feeding his son applesauce to changing diapers – just confirms what Logic mentions this entire album: that being a rapper doesn't define him anymore.

Honestly, I can’t help but feel proud for Logic when I hear him singing about how eager he is to walk away from his rap life and jump into fatherhood. Logic advertised No Pressure as a direct sequel to Under Pressure, which is evident in the elaborately connected album covers. Though the boombap beats and flow directly coincide with one another, the two are so far apart because of what lies between them. In Logic’s first album, we hear a scarred rapper who’s experienced everything and nothing at the same time. In his last, we hear a rapper who is exhausted of all that rap has brought him and is dedicated to leaving it behind to enter another chapter of his life. What lies between those two – mixed with solid album concepts, political statements, and novel soundtracks – are simply contributing factors that developed Logic into the final character that finds his happy ending. When looking at the grand scope of Logic’s career, we won’t turn to the thick flows on his Bobby Tarantino mixtapes, or the hit song “1-800-273-8255” that introduced many listeners to him. Instead, we’ll look at his beginning and his final studio albums and admire the evolution that Logic endured in between those six short years.

Do I think Logic is truly, ultimately retiring from music? No. He has too many unclosed doors that, as a creative storyteller, he won’t be able to leave open (Hello, Ultra 85? And what about the ending of Thomas and Kai’s incredible true story mentioned in, well, The Incredible True Story?) I’ll give it a few years, when Logic’s bored while his son’s at daycare, until he throws us a few audible bones. But it doesn’t matter what theories I toss at the dartboard. Logic is stepping away on his own terms, and if he wants to sit out for four years or forever, that’s up to him. That’s always been Logic’s message: do what you want. That’s the takeaway he’s always preached to his fans, and he’s living it as a perfect example.

Top 3: Open Mic\\ Aquarius III, DadBod, GP4

Rating: 8 selfies of Logic with his son/ 10