As Halloween approaches, some of ya'll might be looking to dive into something a little spookier than your average hip-hop record. Well, look no further than Lil Wop's hyper-Gothic, horror inspired mixtape Wopaveli 3. If the vampiric album cover didn't give it away, Wop's artistic influences clearly arise from the darkest corners of the trap, and his unique voice and macabre take on the Atlanta sound was enough to catch the ear of Gucci Mane himself. Big Wop saw something in Lil Wop, and signed the young rapper to his 1017 Eskimo Records. Now, Lil Wop has released his first project since scoring the deal, and yes, the nineteen track nightmare does feature an appearance from the mighty Guwop.
Honestly, Lil Wop's voice might take some getting used to. His slow, methodical rasp often creaks over a beat like a slow-opening door, mirroring the horror-film icons he so reveres. Not only that, he generally tends to fill his tracks with an abundance of feverish ad-libs, which can make songs feel claustrophobic at times. However, knowing Wop's aesthetic, perhaps that's exactly what he's going for. Still, some times it can feel a little overbearing, and there are times where Wop might have been better serviced toning the ad-libs down a little bit.
Songs like "Friday The 13th," find Wop at his most effective, delivering a catchy flow over a bouncing beat. Speaking of beats, the production team of Honorable C-Note, Digital Nas, 808H and Kenny Beats hold it down, providing Wop with a solid blend of nightmarish bangers over which he can groan and creak to his heart's content. This mixtape may very well prove divisive, yet for those looking for something to bump on those dark, shadowy October evenings, perhaps Wopaveli 3 is exactly what you need.