By Hardcore Critic
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Immediately following the release of If Tomorrow Comes…, Maino announced his second album, The Day After Tomorrow. Much like with his debut album, Maino was delayed several times. Wanting to keep his fans updated, Maino turned to social networking, keeping his fans in the loop. The Brooklyn rapper released several mixtapes to keep the fans interested in his new music.
In the fall of 2011, Maino informed his followers the wait was almost over and released “That Could Be Us.” Primarily, Maino has been known as a street rapper, so the song surprised longtime Maino fans. However, Maino was able to maintain his street credibility. Speaking on the song, Maino said he wanted to put something together for the ladies, who are among the most-loyal fans.
However, upon listening to The Day After Tomorrow, Maino did not forget about the street audience he first catered to. Such tracks as “Gangstas Ain’t Dead” keep the street audience tuned in, as Maino, along with PUSH! and Mouse deliver some of the grimiest verses of 2012. On his last album, Maino received criticism for being one-dimensional, he was able to hit all corners with this latest album, delivering songs for everyone. After listening to this album and watching how Maino holds his own on tracks with Meek Mill, Roscoe Dash, T.I., and Mista Raja, without going out of his comfort zone, Maino will never be called one-dimensional again.
While Maino is proves his versatility, he lacks the lyrical ability of some other artists. Fortunately for him, witty punchlines and top-notch production are able to keep the attention off his weaknesses. The Day After Tomorrow was well-organized and enhances the strengths Maino possesses, while being able to cover his weak points. So far, the 2012 hip hop landscape has been dominated by mixtapes, which topped many albums released during this period. Maino helps to balance things out, delivering a good album during a time when fans are more excited over mixtape releases. Overall, The Day After Tomorrow is a good listen and definitely worth purchasing.
Hip Hop Vibe’s Rating: 7/10
