Russ returns with the familiar on his promo single for his sophomore album, ‘ZOO.’ “The Flute Song” is tried and semi-true, and overplayed at this point. 

In 2017, Russ proclaimed There’s Really a Wolf.  Okay.  The debut album by the 25-year old rapper had its share of moments, but suffered from its lack of features and being one-dimensional.  One has to wonder if ZOO (arriving September 7, 2018) will suffer a similar fate.  Honestly, it’s been difficult to get excited about the rapper leading up to announcing the arrival of ZOO.  He’s released a number of singles in 2018, but none of them have been substantial hits.  Likewise, “The Flute Song” feels a bit played out – how many more rappers are going to obsess about the beautiful woodwind instrument?

Naturally, “The Flute Song” features the flute – shocking right? Brief at merely two-and-a-half minutes, that’s a sufficient amount of Russ as well as the flute.  As usual, he’s confident to the nth degree, using this joint as a flex-fest. He exhibits an agile flow, oscillating between straight rhymes and pop-rap, which works out okay. The chorus is relatively catchy and definitely carefree:

“I do whatever I want, whenever I want, I love it / People keep talkin’, I just keep winning / I’m just like ‘F*ck it’ / They talkin’ reckless, I don’t believe ‘em, I think they’re bluffin’ / They just want clout, I’m just so poppin’ / I’m just like ‘F*ck it.’”

Final Thoughts

Honestly, there’s nothing much to say or add about “The Flute Song.” Truly, this is a record that is what it is.  Russ says nothing new or particularly dynamic, so once again, it’s tough to get pumped about this record or ZOO.  Maybe that changes, but, methinks the rapper could benefit from a collaborator.

Russ • ZOO • Columbia • Release: 9.7.18

Photo Credit: Columbia