Perfect confluence of events and movies…
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[7.12]
Anthony Easton: The use of sirens are more subtle than a voice that sounds like an electric drill, the positioning here makes all of the negative words (abrasive, shrill) turn into powerful virtues.
[8]
Micha Cavaseno: For all the many benefits, such as the embrace of the female rappers who actually made drill really pop off as much as the dudes, and the de-Brooklynification of Sasha Go Hard process, “Straight Outta Chicago” is not a good look for the potential supergroup of WWA. For one, the hip-hop beat loses Katiiiiiie, who’s always been a bit of a clunkier rapper as far as flows, whereas the grind and precision of modern beats suited her stiffness rather perfectly. Chella and Sasha are fine, while Lucci Vee turns in a hook that just reminds you that they wanted to capitalize on “Straight Outta Compton” becoming oddly relevant again, but they’ve had no desire to determine why the original worked. The unfortunate reality that I hope WWA disproves is that while the moments of girl-power on the WWA-progenitor “I’m Hotta“, or the way these many girls would be goofing together in Shady’s “Go In” video is that now its more of a selling point for, as it pains me to say, careers that are starting to peter off way too soon, and not the unification of some of Chicago’s best rappers.
[2]
Crystal Leww: They were most famous recently for drill as a movement, but the rappers of Chicago have proven more versatile. From Tink’s youthful, wise R&B stylings to Chance’s brassy granny-loving bops to WWA member Katie Got Bandz’ own experimentation with squirmy EDM, Chicago has been playing with all sorts of sounds. “Straight Outta Chicago” feels more West Coast than Chicago drill with the exception of those persistent sirens and that little bit where it breaks down. All four of these rappers sound great, but in particular, I’m in love with the shouty, militant hook of Lucci Vee and Katie Got Bandz triumphant return, announced with an unmistakable “a crazy lil bitch named Katieeeeeeee!” This feels like a shot of adrenaline and a definitive statement about the place that these women are from. Setting specific rap is nothing new, but Chicago has been doing it crazily well for so long now. This reps hard.
[9]
Alfred Soto: I wish the intentions matched the merely estimable results.
[5]
Thomas Inskeep: The “Straight Outta Compton”-aping parts of the instrumental are viscerally exciting at first but lose their punch over the course of the song, but the drill breakdowns are awesome. And all 4 of the rappers making up WWA – Katie Got Bandz, Sasha Go Hard, Chella H, and Lucci Vee – hit hard. I wish the track hit even harder, but I love this nonetheless.
[8]
Ramzi Awn: My girlfriend who just moved to Chicago will love this song. Understandably so: the message is as straightforward as the rap. None of the girls miss a beat, the effects are just enough, and “Straight Outta Chicago” has momentum. The sequencing is on point, and each verse hits harder than the last. A welcome street anthem throwback that doesn’t rest on its laurels, the single’s only problem is that it didn’t come out months ago.
[10]
Brad Shoup: Compare this to the First Cause, and it’s striking how the OGs were aiming for mass reckoning: bars spat to read as legibly to as many Americans as possible. NWA’s just the launch pad here, as the Women run through a thematic greatest-hits. The strings drop right when the cherries go off; the drumkit shares the spotlight with the drill hi-hat. Hopefully that means this is an introduction.
[7]
Madeleine Lee: This beat will always be awesome, but it’s even more awesome to hear women telling their stories over it. There’s no sense of self-importance to this track, nor of contrived irreverence. WWA are just some fun, cool, tough women who had a great idea and made it happen. They’re the crew you admire and want to make friends with, and the friends who will always have your back.
[8]