In this post-rap era, rappers have been getting lazy. It’s always been cool to have an effortless approach but there was still a standard maintained out of respect for the listeners. These days, when a respected rapper drops a shitty verse (or album) we just laugh and call it ironic. It was fun at first but it’s getting common place enough for it to be seen as what it is: garbage.

On his new mixtape Body Bag Vol. 2, Ace Hood is an entirely different animal. He tries. He tries hard. His passion and sporadically brilliant punchlines (look out for the Michael Phelps one) are a refreshing change from the influx of stupidity in recent rap. Yet, there’s still enough knucklehead shenanigans on here to keep the project sounding relevant. The production is loud and intense, just like Ace, as the project’s energy builds continuously all the way to the bangin’ last track and single, “Ballin’ Like A Bitch.” Ace has been in this beast mode for the past couple years and this tight tape situates him as the go-to motivational/get buck rapper. It comes just in time for (fantasy football) training camp.

Download Body Bag Vol. 2 here.