Duke Deuce's 'Duke Nukem' - From Satisfying Destruction to a Mind-Numbing End

Stream Duke Deuce's Hard-Stomping New Crunk Revival Album Duke Nukem 

 At first, a thunderous blood rush through bombastic beats and Duke Deuce's explosive energy, 'Duke Nukem' cripples into inconsistency where its downfalls stimulate symptoms of a caffeine crash.

"INTRO: COMING OUR HARD" is a fitting track name, as an exhilarated Duke Deuce delivers a catchy hook and an earworm of his 'What The Fuck? Ay Ay" catchphrase over a punchy bassline. "SOLDIER STEPPIN" is a solid crunk anthem that follows. Duke Deuce is entertainingly more explosive as the production is fiercely trap-flavoured. Deuce continues his explosiveness in the roof-raising 'FELL UP IN THE CLUB' where he sprinkles a flavourful machine gun ad-lib and a decent guest appearance from A$AP Ferg.

Following the satisfactory 'ARMY' and the Offset featured 'GANGSTA PARTY', 'Duke Nukem' does begin to lose its momentum at 'TOOT TOOT', where Duke Deuce's hook is quite obnoxious. In "SPIN", poor choruses continue as the chorus performed by Foogiano drags on. After finding a slight recovery on 'DUKE SKYWALKER', Duke Deuce recalls Duke Nukem's quality start in 'BACK 2 BACK.' A favourably braggadocious Duke Deuce corresponds with a murky trap production as he delivers the album's most humourous hook, especially with the line 'Like Batman, I'm robbin back ( I robbed him back).' Fine reference.

Following a barely passable 'BUSY', where Lil Keed seemingly attempts a Young Thug impression, and a mediocre 'KIRK', Duke Nukem reaches its worst at both 'MOVE' and 'GRRR.' In both songs, the ad-libs was unnecessarily excessive where it just provoked headaches. 'OUTRO: GO 2 HELL' is a satisfactory conclusion to 'Duke Nukem' as Duke Deuce croons his brags while preaching of having a fitting circle of friends and perseverance to a tad extent.

While there is almost no limit to Duke Deuce's charismatic energy throughout 'Duke Nukem', some questionable decisions in features and lyricism, especially in the album's second half, hindered enjoyment. Hopefully, that improves in the Memphis rapper's next project.

5/10 

Favourite Tracks: FELL UP IN THE CLUB, BACK 2 BACK, SOLDIER STEPPIN, INTRO: COMING OUT HARD

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