Don Toliver, Bandit | Song Review 🎵

With an assist from Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) via sample, rapper/singer Don Toliver delivers a brief but entertaining rap single with “Bandit.”

Five words: “I did it for love.” Love, indeed, will make you do things. In this case, the lyrics aren’t rapped or sung by Don Toliver. Yes, “Bandit” is Toliver’s single – he’s the lead artist – but, it also samples Tame Impala (“One More Hour”). Hence, the first voice heard on this two-and-a-half minute single isn’t Don – it’s Kevin Parker.  No worries, though! Don Toliver asserts himself consistently throughout “Bandit,” even with the assist by Parker.  “Bandit” earns high marks in the production department, particularly that bad ass beat by ReidMD.

The production is a pro. The sample, also a pro.  The lyrics – those bars –  by Don Toliver? They intrigue as well, even though they’re not deep.  His cadence and flow are on-point. It doesn’t take long for the bandit to be mentioned either: “I do damage (Bust it) / You niggas can’t stand it (Bust it) / Psycho bandit (Bust it) / Like it’s Marilyn Manson (Bust it).” Marilyn Manson, huh? Ooh wee, Don! Besides the chorus, Toliver gives us an unapologetic post-chorus (“I fuck from the side, and I keep that bitch cummin’ (Woah) / If I gotta reach up, I’ma keep that bitch dumpin’ (Woah)”).  Woah, indeed! He also delivers a verse (“Get deep in the pot, get deep like a plumber (Deep) / Why would I keep her? I will never love her”), and an outro (“Belt on that boy like a BeBe, huh”).  All told, “Bandit” is not the second coming, but, it’s an intriguing listen from Don Toliver – entertaining.

Don Toliver • “Bandit” • Cactus Jack / Atlantic • 2.1.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Cactus Jack / Atlantic; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]