Topping the charts two times in a row in the late 2010s, rapper
NF extended his mainstream crossover success with his very first mixtape, 2021's
Clouds. Produced alongside Profitt and Saint X, the tight set once again served as a showcase for
NF's lightning-speed rhyme delivery, which veers between the unhinged aggression of
Eminem ("That's a Joke") and the introspective emoting of
Twenty One Pilots ("Just Like You"). Joining
NF for the ride are underground favorites
Hopsin ("Lost") and
Tech N9ne ("Trust"), whose own lyrical prowess transforms these moments into dizzying highlights. Upon release,
Clouds topped the U.K. Christian and R&B charts, as well as the U.S. Independent Albums list. ~ Neil Z. Yeung