But maybe he doesn’t have to. After all, Thirteendegrees also owes part of his swag to Sicko Mobb, the storied Chicago duo who once told this very site that they would categorize themselves as “party music.” BLACK FRIDAYZ thrives where Thirteen leans into what he described as the record’s “luxurious, above and beyond” sound, on soaring, world-beating songs like “Fake Killa,” “Champain,” and “Chiraq Child” with the young firebrand lil2posh. The synth portamentos and victory lap chords will immediately transport some millennial listeners to scrolling Datpiff for Roscoe Dash and Rich Kidz tapes, but the pastiche isn’t as overt as it was on previous projects. Like Carti’s retro-Futuristic turns all over MUSIC, Thirteen’s homage is generative, not conservative.
Another point of reference might’ve been last year’s Saaheem, where Sahbabii, fellow Young Thug acolyte, sharpened his rough mixes and refined his eccentricities into a glossy, airtight package ripe for Solange and Tyler, the Creator cosigns. BLACK FRIDAYZ similarly functions as a smooth, easy on the ears and richly produced sampler. BNYX, the star producer with an ear to the pavement, meets Thirteen where he’s at on “Palace,” melding Tron-esque synth constellations with a vintage Lex Luger riser and chintzy drum fill. I kinda miss his grainy vocal takes on Clique City, Vol. 2, which fleshed out his PhD-level study of the mixtape era, but this record’s studio-quality polish pushes him in interesting directions. On “Blacc Friday,” the most moshpit-ready song here, Thirteen flips between smooth, Travis Scott-type Auto-crooning and blistering chants. It’s not as convincing as Yeat’s best work in the same mode, but it’s a fun song for the Rolling Loud set and a necessary detour from the record’s cruising altitude.
Instead of the thrilling shopping spree of styles that its title suggests, BLACK FRIDAYZ settles into a groove and grooves hard, aiming for wide appeal but threatening to drift out of attention. It’s refreshing that Thirteen’s approach does not hinge on the contemporary playbook of sticky snippets and viral moments. He’s much more holistic and album-oriented—and definitely not a gimmick—which may prove to benefit his longevity. If he comes with some stronger writing and bigger swings on the follow-up, BLACK FRIDAYZ will be remembered as a solid transition record that pushed him out of his comfort zone.
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