Metro Detroit, Michigan YouTuber, recording artist, Minecraft innovator, interviewer & marketer Eric Barber making his full-length studio debut. Someone who I have met personally on several instances at concerts & Majik Ninja Entertainment’s annual Astronomicon pop culture convention. Barbershop here though taking inspiration from KIDS SEE GHOSTS, Eminem, Big Sean, Pusha T & Denzel Curry looks to make a broader interpretation of his personality bringing a number of notable guests to contribute.
“Hibachi Boys” featuring EastsideEggroll & Linny finds the trio linking up for a for a decent trap intro turning up the heat although I prefer the next track “East 2 West” featuring Dizzy Wright, where they feel like their clear vision was being misunderstood. “Potsticka” featuring GMac Cash decently taps in with the Detroit sound for roughly a minute & half looking to make history leading into “Delusions of Grandeur” featuring Guilty Simpson switches it up heading for a jazzier boom bap vibe instrumentally.
The Smash Bros appear during “Falcon Punch” to go full nerdcore making tons of video game references leading into “What’s Love?” featuring Seezyn reaching the halfway point with a decent trap soul/pop rap cut produced by Maestro Williams. “Detroit Nightmare” featuring Bizarre kicks off the 2nd half returning to the boom bap so they can get murderous together just before the horn-infused “BFFL” featuring Linny talks about them always been catching Ws.
“Superman” featuring Big Trip, Mvck Nyce & Mickey Diamond takes the chipmunk soul route until a switch-up near the last minute dropping straight verses while “Dragon Barb Z” featuring Fat Ray & J.U.S. works in some hi-hats & more horns talking about being rotten dragons. “Cannabiz” featuring A-F-R-O winds down the last few moments maintaining the trap sound flexing they’re too hot for this collab & the title track holds it down by himself for a sample-driven boom bap outro.
Looking at the tracklist had me assuming Eric Barber would be taking on a curator role for Barbershop, but was nonetheless surprised by his own rapping abilities. The production explores a number of different sounds varying between the Detroit sound & trap to boom bap, jazz rap & chipmunk soul exploring themes of identity & self-discovery shift from confidence into vulnerability & a clear sense of who he it building it with longtime friends & artists he’s looked up to.
Score: 7/10