Announced all the way back in 2012,
Living Legend is the long-delayed solo debut from
Gunplay, a member of
Triple C's and a
Rick Ross-associated rapper. Being signed to
Ross' Maybach Music means the rapper had none of the usual "label problems" to blame for the hold-up, but if Maybach or executive producer
Ross spent extra time and work on this debut, it certainly paid off.
Gunplay comes off as the 2.0 version of the
Ross-styled Gangsta rapper, barking out memorable punchlines based on money and murder while some ridiculously infectious,
DJ Mustard-type of club music plays underneath. In the case of highlight "Wuzhanindoe" with
YG, it is
Mustard himself delivering the simple, eerie, and retro synth melody, but Mike Mulah takes that glittery gangster style to another level by introducing EDM to the Maybach clan with the atmospheric baller "Just Won't Do." "Chain Smokin'," with
Curren$y and
Stalley, suitably floats on a cloud of beats, "Dark Dayz" is a stark, dramatic step into
Kanye West territory, and there's the minimal "Tell 'Em," which pounds like Chicago drill while
Gunplay declares "I'm the liquor in your liver," displaying his key,
T.I.-like trait of being not too different, but different enough. Balancing these ambitious bangers is some core Maybach music with the Boss himself ("Be Like Me") plus the autobiographical "From da Jump" ("I've been a straight G"), which reunites the
Triple C's. Being able to bellow like
Busta Rhymes or
Ludacris just makes everything bang harder, and with a lean 11 cuts on the album's normal release,
Living Legend is a nonstop gangsta party connected to the street, offering a more approachable alternative to
Ross' grandiose LPs. ~ David Jeffries