Odd Future Vol. 2 Does Not Disappoint

The O.F. Tape Vol. 2 is the first studio album attempt by rap group Odd Future, and it is hardly a disappointment–far from it, in fact.

The album starts out with the hilarious and curse-riddled opening “Hi” by non-rapper group member Lucas, who talks smack on every member of the group besides himself, setting the mood for much of what the listener will be hearing as far as zany and creative lyrics go.

After the intro, the first noteworthy track is “NY (Ned Flander)” [feat. Hodgy Beats and Tyler, the Creator] not because of the rapping, which is subpar at best, but because of the ridiculous music video associated with the track shortly before the release of the album.  In the video, Hodgy is a deadbeat dad, and Tyler’s head is attached to a baby’s body. The song, held on its own merits, is forgettable.

The next worthwhile song is track number 5 “Forest Green” [feat. Mike G].  While released almost a year prior to the release of the album, this track is perfectly at home with its catchy beat.

The group then proves its ability to handle other ranges of music with “Analog 2” [feat. Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, and Sid], which has a decidedly laid back and R&B feel to it that may surprise listeners. “Rella” [feat. Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, and Tyler the Creator] like “NY (Ned Flander)” was released prior to the album and possesses a hilarious music video; unlike “Ned Flander,” though, “Rella” as a song is actually quite good, featuring all three group members showcasing their impressive rapping abilities, the expected creative lyrics, and excellent samples in the background.

The album culminates with “Oldie,” which involves virtually every member of the group together in one 10 minute and 36 second rapping session. Another song released with a music video, “Oldie” is the only one released prior to the release of the album. Despite lacking the flair of “Rella,” “Oldie” makes up for it by showing just how close the group truly is to each other, and it has the one thing that all the other songs were lacking: the return of Earl Sweatshirt.