As fans anticipated his fourth studio album A Boogie vs Artist, hit-making Bronx rapper
A Boogie Wit da Hoodie bridged the gap with the release of a seven-song EP,
B4 AVA. The brief project plays to all of the rapper's strengths, delivering rhymes about opulence, wealth, toxic relationships, and the pain that comes with fame. Opening track "Man in the Mirror" is heavy on depictions of mansions, cars, designer clothes, and turbulent romance, and the song's bouncy groove and
Boogie's slippery flows are undeniably fun. The instrumentals on
B4 AVA are every bit as engaging as the vocal performances, with tracks like "Glasses" shifting from ghostly bell samples to banging trap drums, creating a sound that's tense but beautiful in a captivating way. Tormented relationships and the way fame changes things make up the bulk of the material here, ranging from upbeat, sunny tracks like "Notifications" to more somber and lovelorn moments like the post-
Drake atmospheres of "24 Hours," featuring contributions from
Lil Durk.
B4 AVA offers a consistent energy and finely crafted pop production, hinting at what might be in store with
Boogie's long-awaited fourth album. ~ Fred Thomas