6ix9ine, DUMMY BOY | Album Review 💿

Controversial New York rapper 6ix9ine delivers one of the very worst albums of 2018 with his inept, totally substance-less debut album, ‘DUMMY BOY.’

New York rapper 6ix9ine is undoubtedly the ‘poster child’ of controversy – understatement! He’s quite polarizing and tends to make himself even more so with inept lyrics and an utter lack of self-awareness. Following the release of his boisterous 2018 commercial mixtape, Day 69, noted for aggressive singles “GUMMO”, “KEKE”,  and “KOODA”, he drops his debut studio album, DUMMY BOY.  Man, oh man, is this project nothing short of a hot mess.

 “STOOPID”

“Bitch, I’m lit on the ‘Gram, a million likes, you see my shit / A bitch DM for the dick, but I probably wouldn’t hit.” Honestly, “STOOPID” (featuring Bobby Shmurda) has a fitting title given its utter stupidity.  It commences with an annoying, pitch-shifted vocal intro.  To make it even more annoying, it’s pitched up ­ as opposed to down ¯.  6ix9ine drops screamed, aggressive vocals sounding as if he’s going to absolutely devour the microphone.  His chorus is the first notable section of the song, and it’s totally devoid of depth. Bobby does no better, dropping rhymes referencing oral sex (*rolls eyes*) and the “Shmoney dance” (*rolls eyes even more*).

6ix9ine redeems himself (at least contextually) on his hella catchy hit ✓ “FEFE”, opting for a melodic approach.  Even so, he doesn’t sacrifice his unapologetic spirit – “Pussy got that wet, wet, got that drip, drop / Got that super soaker, hit that, she a fefe.” Sex dominates the rest of the verse before he delivers one of the catchiest parts of the song – the refrain: “I don’t really want no friends.”  He follows with a second, short verse where he moves from pleasure to violence… charming. Nicki Minaj, also melodically-driven, guests on two relatively short verses, encompassing ‘69’ (too easy), her private parts, Draco, and her status. One final verse comes at 6ix9ine’s hands, in the form of an eye-roll worthy nursery rhyme:

“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
I catch a hoe right by her toe
If she ain’t fuckin’ me and Nicki
Kick that hoe right through the door.”

“TIC TOC”

“TIC TOC” pairs 6ix9ine with another breakout rapper from 2018, Lil Baby. Melodic like “FEFE,” “TIC TOC” also keeps things simple – perhaps basic is the better characterization.  But honestly, if a song is named after an onomatopoeic clock sound, what more can you expect?

“Okay, tick tock, Audemars wrist watch
I keep a stick, I keep a big Glock
You get hit, I do not miss shots
I keep a stick, I tell her, ‘Kick rocks.’”

Perhaps the biggest takeaway we get from “KIKA” is the fact that Tory Lanez (who suffers from his own artistic identity issues) does his “own stunts, Jackie Chan with it.” Ugh. 6ix9ine says absolutely nothing, except repeat the n-word more than enough times.  That of course is a controversy in itself. ✓ “MAMA” brings Nicki Minaj along for the ride for a second time, while it marks the first of two Kanye West appearances (far too many).  Interestingly, the banger is one of only two songs from DUMMY BOY that exceeds the three-minute mark.  Contextually, it’s one of the better moments from DUMMY BOY.  The production is respectable, while the rhymes are cocky and confident, yet oversexed.

“WAKA” keeps things “short” (don’t know about the “sweet” part), featuring A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.  While 6ix9ine makes his presence known on two short verses, there’s much more Boogie on the track. Production and energy do bode well in the song’s favor.  Still, the material is so-so at best – no substance.

“BEBE” 

“Baby con ra-ta-ta-ta-ta / Baby, yo soy tu criminal.” 6ix9ine shocks the world on “BEBE” pairing up with Puerto Rican trap artist, Anuel AA for a Latin rap/pop cut. True to its Latin identity, “BEBE” is sung (pop-rapped) exclusively in Spanish. It’s a Spanish love/sex song, with some of the English translations being risqué, unsurprising with either of the two artists at the helm. A perfect example of risqué is Anuel’s second verse:

“And she gets off with me on the record in the Ferrari…
And we fuck and we always, we came at the same time
I made love to you and in your skin, I got tangled up…”

In regard to sound, the production is bright, set in a major key.  The synths are lovely, while the beat is idiomatic of reggaetón. 6ix9ine is drenched in autotune, while Anuel AA also has plenty of effects himself.  Anuel Aa remains onboard for yet another Latin cut “MALA.” Was it really necessary? Of course not. Who truly believes that the rapper is best suited for Latin music, regardless of his heritage? No one.

Kanye West makes a second, regrettable appearance on DUMMY BOY, trading bars with 6ix9ine on the brief “KANGA.” At least from 6ix9ine’s perspective, he’s back to rapping, even though he brings very little – scratch that – NOTHING to the table.  Both rappers play the race card, with West asserting, “They tried to say I wasn’t black no more / About as black as Macklemore,” while 6ix9ine chimes in, “They don’t like me ‘cause I’m Mexican.” Ugh. “FEEFA” featuring Gunna ends up being kinder, gentler, and more melodic in nature.  It’s also boring to the nth degree.

“TATI” 

Shouting, ‘turned-all-they-way-up’ 6ix9ine returns on “TATI” featuring DJ SpinKing.  The beat and overall production is respectable, as is the energy.  Still, the rhymes are basic and totally forgettable on this two-and-a-half-minute joint.  Like much of DUMMY BOY, “TATI” leaves the listener asking, “So what?” Scott Storch produces the penultimate banger “WONDO” where 6ix9ine proudly spits on the chorus, “Shorty, don’t clap-back on the dick / Don’t clap-back on the dick / Bitch, when I hit that, do a split / When I hit that, do a trick.” Oh brother! TrifeDrew helps him close out the album with another brief joint, the cringe-worthy, utterly annoying, autotune-heavy “DUMMY.” It shouldn’t surprise you that “DUMMY” is yet another ‘throwaway.’

Final Thoughts 

Sometimes, if you’ve skipped an album, it should remain skipped.  That’s the case with DUMMY BOY which is easily among the worst album of 2018.  Perhaps Lil Xan still has that award on lockdown with the insufferable disaster that is TOTAL XANARCHY, but 6ix9ine definitely gives him a serious ‘run for his money.’  “FEFE” is the best song on this affair, and as catchy (if irresponsible) as it is, that’s not saying much.  Abysmal.

✓ Gems: “FEFE” & “MAMA”

6ix9ine • DUMMY BOY • Scumgang • Release: 11.27.18

Photo Credit: Scumgang