As Migos continue to oversaturate themselves ever so slightly, Offset misses an opportunity to ‘right the ship’ on the totally forgettable single, “Red Room.”

Arguably, Migos have oversaturated themselves at this point – perhaps a little too much culture you might say. In 2018, both Quavo and Takeoff released solo projects.  While I didn’t subject myself to the Takeoff project, I did listen to QUAVO HUNCHO, which was… um… questionable to say the least.  Now, Offset gets into the solo action with a brand-new single, “Red Room.” Let’s hope this is not the promo single for his forthcoming project – just keeping it 100.

Starting with one of the few positives, the mood and vibe of “Red Room” is among its pros.  The record is characterized by a slow pace, its enigmatic sound, and minor key production. Also, worth noting, is the flow of Offset.  After a brief introduction, he instantly gets to work, showcasing his agility, as well as autotune-laden vocals on the lengthy chorus.  So, those are pros pretty much.

The cons of “Red Room” are what totally negate the pros. At four minutes in duration, “Red Room” shouldn’t feel exhaustive, but ultimately it does.  The big problem is that there’s just not enough variation or ‘innovative spirit’ from Offset.  Furthermore, from the start, the rapper is too abrupt in his approach. It takes a while for things to settle in; the record just sort of runs together without anything distinguishing itself.  Oh, and as aforementioned, there’s that lengthy, forgettable chorus – what was Offset thinking? Here’s an excerpt:

“I’m a maniac, go crazy for the cash (Hey, brazy)
Green Lamborghini, paper tags (Skrrt, skrrt)
Ridin’ through the city, 30 mags (Brrt, bow)
N*ggas snitchin’, they the police with no badge (Woo, woo, woo)
How I grew up, my momma was my dad (Momma, huh)
So when I blew up I put her in a pad (Mansion)
I like to throw up when I think about the crash (Ugh, ugh)
Not playin’, when I hit the tree I smell the gas (Hey, hey)…”

Final Thoughts

Honestly, “Red Room” is nothing short of a hot mess.  This is some of the most forgettable four minutes of rap that I’ve heard in some time.  Even with a respectable flow and vibe working in his favor, Offset just doesn’t put it all together the way he could and should have.  Worth spinning more than once? Absolutely not.

Offset • Red Room [Single] • Quality Control / Motown / Capitol • Release: 1.18.19

Photo Credits: Quality Control / Motown / Capitol