Diamond* has become one of the most talked-about rappers in the underground scene, and he continues to build on that momentum with BLING SLIME VØL 1. He is steadily taking over Atlanta’s swag rap scene while delivering some of the best flows and rap performances the underground has seen in a long time.
The album features Young Thug, Pz, Sk8star, Southsidesilhouette, and Lil Righteous. There are several hard-hitting tracks, including “MAN ØN THE MØØN,” “GG,” “STFU,” and “HEDIS N PELLES.” Overall, though, the strongest moments on the album come when diamond* is rapping on his own.
The album is also hosted by the legendary DJ Holiday, whose presence adds even more energy to the overall project. At 11 tracks, the album is the perfect length, never feeling boring or bloated. The beat selection is also one of diamond*’s biggest strengths and remains one of his most underrated qualities. He doesn’t disappoint on a single beat that comes his way.
One of the main criticisms of this project is that the feature list is a little too long. With 11 songs and five of them including features, it can occasionally throw off the flow of the project. There are also moments where diamond* outperforms every guest on the album, making some of the features feel a little forced. It would also be interesting to hear him expand his lyrical subject matter, as it can become repetitive at times.
Overall, BLING SLIME VØL 1 lives up to the hype surrounding diamond* and shows why he’s one of Atlanta’s most exciting artists. The project has a unique sound and style, even if some of the features don’t stand out. Going forward, many fans will likely want to hear more solo material from diamond* while also hoping to see Tezzus return, as their chemistry remains one of his greatest strengths.
VUZE SCORE: 7.0/10
By Grant Roundtree