5.2/10
Favorite Track: "Stupid Again" Least Favorite Track: "P.A.I.N"
Despite the impressive streaming numbers he boasts, Canadian rapper/singer, Tory Lanez, seems to rarely be a topic of conversation. It’s probably not a new feeling for him, he spent portions of his life working his way out of a poverty-ridden situation that left him homeless. However, from a musical stance I can understand why Lanez is rarely a talking point in the world of hip hop, most of his discography can become indistinguishable from many of his trap contemporaries. His newest project, The New Toronto 3, is really no exception. This project came with a lot of expectations, specifically from all the new fans that Lanez has managed to garner through his quarantine radio series. However, I walk away from this project with virtually nothing to hold onto, it’s a mixed bag to the highest degree. When Lanez hits, he hits, but it only comes once every couple of songs. “Stupid Again”, is exhilirating, as Tory enters the track with an agressive delivery that could rival that of a Meek Mill or any number of Bay Area trap rappers. It’s bangers like this that give this project any life at all. “Broke In A Minute”, is another example, I love the stuttering saxophone staccato notes that serve as the backbone of this beat. The problem is that moments like these are sandwiched and bogged down by trap overindulgence and boring cliches. “The Coldest Playboy”, “P.A.I.N” and “D.N.D” are all prime examples. Cuts like these seem to serve little purpose within the scheme of the album other than to remind us of what year it is and what type of music dominates the mainstream. Both of the features on here do break up the monotony slightly, Lil Tjay specifically served as a great addition to “Accidents Happen”. Yet for the most part, this pattern of a hit then a few misses continues for the bulk of the album’s runtime. The New Toronto 3 seems toserve as the end of an era for Tory in a few ways. It’s his last album with Interscope, and the last of the New Toronto Series, yet it doesn’t feel like a sprint to the finish. Hopefully Tory’s next effort will provide a new direction with less trap cliches, more originality, and maybe a finish worthy of winning the race.