#bettertemperatures

2021 was an extremely busy year for independent artist BigBabyGucci In February the budding artist released the heavily streamed "Assume The Worst" The six track effort was all hits and no misses . You don't have to take my word for it BBG's socials were on fire at the release that was followed quickly by the blockbuster " 1 Night I took acid" This blog reviewed both albums. In late 2021 BBG gave the fans what to this blog was likely his most cohesive album thus far. "Human" as now been streamed over 4 million times.

The North Carolina native and current Golden State resident plowed through beats with effortless swag as fans praised his in ability to miss by consistently Tweeting and retweeting.

BBG refuses to take his foot off the neck of the game. On January 7 he gave us, his loyal fans "Iridesense". https://music.apple.com/us/album/iridesense/1601485056

At 8 songs and just over 17 min in length BBG has again done what we expected of him. You see BBG songs average about 2 min in length. The songs are like catching lightning in a bottle. IMPOSSIBLE. BBG songs simply MUST BE REPLAYED.

The album has no features and retains the production of up and comer Joe Dirt in house engineer of Better Temperatures, BBGs record label. " Fell Out the Sky" opens the album with a heavy, lazy synth that moves into one of the signature hooks that have made BBG a real contender in modern hip hop.

Robocop, the second track uses subtle punches of bass to guide the listener through another EPIC BBG hook. The signature sauce of Joe Dirt is all over this one. The upbeat " Lake Minnetonka" finds BBG providing punches of auto-tuned sauce over a poppy beat that could very well go on a BTS song. That last statement , to this blog at least, tells the whole story. BBG can't be pigeonholed. The ease with which this man finesses a beat is clear on such tracks as "R U Down 2021" the music to which comes directly from the year 1984. The bouncy 808 mystique of 'Attachment" is immediately apparent as Gooch slides like crisco in a sort of mumbling warble that only BBG can do.

Standout track "Jump" once again sees Joe Dirt laying down sonic pulses of greatness. The reworking of church organs intros the track and BBG does one of the things this blog has come to appreciate in its short existence. Using his voice as a musical BBG divides the chorus into 2 very distinct parts ramping up the beginning and taking on a sort of pleading falsetto to finish.

The final track "Christina Milian" drives bass in to the skull as BBG compares a lady to the eponymous Ms. Milian and goes on to mention the Nick Cannon on his waste. Another thing that has always caught the eye of this blog is the artist's use of use of pop culture references that predate what one, from his age one would assume his sphere of influence. In short BBG might have an old soul.

The mainstream hip hop vanguard is currently entirely mixed up in the landmark case of Graham v West. Is Donda better? CLB? Who is streaming more? Who had the better album?

While this goes on North Carolina bred California resident BIGBABYGUCCI has been not so quietly building a huge fan base and releasing songs good enough to go on either artists new album. If you claim to keep you finger in th pulse of Hip Hop music and have yet to listen to rapper BIGBABYGUCCI , you need to check that pulse again because this up and comer is easily, in the humble opinion of this blog, the next big thing.

BBG is the top man at his own record label Better Temperatures where he is not only consistently releasing a string of HEAVILY streamed projects, he is also overseeing two other hot topics in the underground namely rappers Austin Skinner and 30 Rock.

The former, a Virginia resident is tearing up the underground with his EPs like August’s “Detached” the latter is forming a following with his exciting bars and amazing social media presence.

BBG released his first project to the platform SoundCloud in 2016. “Universe” is now available on Spotify and Apple Music. His early work is heavily trap influenced and to be honest doesn’t stand out to this blog. What eventually does stand out is the growth BBG shows over the next several years. By 2018 BBG managed to begin combine trap style rap and psychedelic harmonizing with the occasional auto-tuned warbling to create a style that is uniquely him.

2019’s “Universe 2” gives us a totally different BBG than we hear on the original. The track “Shrimp and Lo Mein” serves to introduce us to a hook juggernaut, that never disappoints. Again and again BBG delivers meaningful hooks that become ear worms as evidenced by 2020s “Blood on the Asphalt”

The Young man’s dedication to this new style is even more evident on his extremely cohesive EPS that don’t just play but offer a listening experience. His beat selection is second to none utilizing smash up and coming producers Fish and Joe Dirt.

2020’s EP Teen Spirit contains highlights and fam favorites such as “Jason Voorhies” and “Switch Locations” the former of which has a few interesting TikTok videos. If you listen to his catalogue up to that point be sure to double back on the 2019 album “Send Help” you will find a man very poised to be a major player in the next year or so.

Realizing that relevance is a fleeting quality BBG seemingly never takes his foot off the proverbial gas. 2021’s “Assume the Worst” is perhaps the most cohesive short work from a new artist. The opinion of this Blog is that “Assume the Worst” is a masterpiece of an EP.

Songs like “Bleed Thru” and “Walk off the Ledge” show BBG’s command of the beat as he strangles every song into submission. It is clear that BBG puts pain and hurt into every bar and verse in my opinion going way past the emorap label many pubs have put on him. Fan favorite “unhealthy” is a song that, as a combat veteran of the Iraq war, touches my heart in the realist way possible. “20 on a Necklace” fulfills the obligatory stuntin song as BBG moves effortlessly over a guitar laced bass backed romp stating matter-of-factly “she hopin we never separate. I’m just hopin I don’t go back Section 8” and “All these diamonds in my mouth, just be mad at the dentist”

“Bloody Murder Elegance” finds BBG floating over snare and cymbal without care as he attempts to woo a girl he clearly has history with. The real feat is that even though BBG was born in the 90s he has somehow been able to grasp the importance of being able to deliver meaningful bars and hooks. This ability will serve him well as with these talents he will avoid 1 trick ponyism.

The February 2021 release of “Assume the Worst” was enough for the big names to start looking his way. Then boom here comes “1 Night I took Acid” A full length album , “1 Night” again displays BBGs dedication to cohesion of the overall sonic experience. “Money Machine Madness” intros the album with a mellow yet somehow grating beat and gives way to fan favorite megahit “Pressure+Layers” starring underground emorap vet Cold Hart. “Hotel California” is an acoustic guitar based bass and snare adventure the hook to which is learned the first time you hear it and impossible not to sing by the inevitable 3rd play. “Dinero” the second video off the album again utilizes the acoustic guitar to drive the bass through the listeners ear. One mo gain BBG gives us a hook you can’t stop rapping as well as displaying some of his lyrical chops. “Dead On Arrival”, perhaps my favorite song on the album uses digital bells to keep time and a subtle bass drum that serves only to compliment BBG as he vibes easily on the beat. The inevitable track about trust issues is there. It’s called “Tuesday” and it’s a BANGER.

This publication discovered BBG on TikTok. My girlfriend made a TT using the song “Jason Voorhies”, since the. I have been on a journey through his catalog that I have enjoyed throughly. I thought for sure BBG had let up on the pressure. That was when he dropped the 1 minute 26 second radio ready “Weird”. A song under 2 min better than this does not exist. I’m sorry.

In short BBG and Better Temperatures is coming for your streams. My advice,let them have them. Austin Skinner and 30 Rock DEFINITELY deserve more than a cursory glance and if it’s not clear BIGBABYGUCCI is UP NEXT keep up the good work. 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

BIGBABYGUCCI has been one of the most consistent underground artists in the past few years. Through projects such as Isolated, Teen Spirit, and Send Help, BIGBABYGUCCI has built himself a cult following that knows him best for his energetic melodic delivery and tendency to hop on hard-hitting, genre- bending instrumentals. Frequent collaborators, Fish, Harold Harper, and Joe Dirt have helped build BIGBABYGUCCI’s sonic world and distinct style. The North Carolina born artist has opted to remain independent and recently started his own label, Better Temperatures. The track “Seeing Ghosts” and its accompanying music video mark his first release on the new label and show that there’s no sign of the artist slowing down anytime soon. 

I got the chance to connect with the rising star via email and learn more about his project, dream collaborations, his major influences, and more.

Ones to Watch: What drove your decision to create your independent label, Better Temperatures, instead of signing to a label?

BIGBABYGUCCI: I really just wanted to create a hub for creatives/ my friends to be able to push our music more professionally on a global scale.

What are your long-term plans for the label? Do you ever plan on signing to a label?

I first want us to build a foundation and fanbase to put our footprint in the music industry independently. I have my own buzz going so I’m just trying to trickle it down and open doors for others honestly. I can see each of my artists charting and going gold.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations? Out of those artists, what’s your dream collaboration?

Kanye, Earl Sweatshirt, Tame Impala, Partynextdoor, Drake,  Da Vinci. Kanye or PND definitely one of my dream collabs.

How did growing up in North Carolina influence the music you make?

Growing up in NC influenced my music really the most by the things i say. The slang is really southern, you can tell I’m country lmao.

When did you first know that music was going to be your full-time career?

The minute i started making music i told myself this is going to be my job. Simply because i love making music. Took a minute to get enough going to have steady income from it but here we are now.

Recently, you’ve launched your own podcast, Universe Radio. Where do you see the show going this year?

I really just want to keep inviting my friends and shit. Just keep spreading random ideas and good music. Not really caring how far it goes.

Who’s one guest that you would love to interview on Universe Radio?

I’d love to have Druski on the show, bro is hilarious.

How did your working relationship with frequent collaborator Fish begin? What about his production style drew you to him?

I met Fish thru twitter. He was working with some of my friends and peers so i just got him to slide me a pack and the rest was history. We’re similar, always changing styles, lots of out of the box ideas, so we just clicked.

What can you tell us about your upcoming project?

My next project is called Assume The Worst. It’s a pretty short EP. Another chapter into the Send Help series. Really just a redefined sound. Just me, Fish and Harper.

Who are your ones to watch?    

Me and my whole gang..

Listen to “Seeing Ghosts” by BIGBABYGUCCI below: