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Polo G's fourth studio album Hood Poet is currently raking in a large number of streams across major DSPs (Digital Streaming Platforms) since its release last Friday. The LP was distributed on August 9, 2024, via Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment.
The album contains 18 full-length tracks that blend elements of trap, hip-hop, and melodic rap, into its production. Polo's Hood Poet also hosts guest appearances from artists like Offset, The Kid LAROI, GloRilla, Future, and more.
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The album marks Polo G's return to music almost four years after announcing he would be "stepping out" of the spotlight to focus on himself and get sober, which is also a reason for the multiple delays this album faced during its production.
The rapper's fourth studio project officially follows up on his 2021 Hall of Fame album which debuted at No.1 on Billboard Global 200 charts after reportedly selling over 143,000 equivalent album units, in the United States, in its opening week.
Top Picks from Polo G's fourth studio album 'Hood Poet'
With a complete runtime of 50 minutes over 18 full-length tracks, Polo G delivers his fourth studio album with a blend of melodic synths and dark lyricism that at times, follows similar thematic tropes from the rapper's previous projects.
We see Polo delve into his struggles with addiction and getting sober, relationship issues, religion, and more. The project opens with the extremely anthemic record God’s Favorite where listeners are introduced to self-introspective lyricism over a deep trap production.
Fueled by its more intricate production, the project leads its listeners through various instances in the rapper's life. The features on this project do a lot to carry the project, with guest appearances spread across the LP every couple of tracks keeping fans entertained for the entire duration of Hood Poet.
Notable themes Polo G and his collaborators delve into on Hood Poet have been provided below:
- Wealth
- Success
- Luxury
- Depression
- Addiction
- Excess
- Religion
- Fatherhood
- Loss
- Death
- Gun Violence
- Substance Abuse
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
Barely Holdin' On
(Production Credits: Southside, Dr. Luke, Noah Goldstein, Smatt Sertified, Shottie, and Lufye)
On Barely Holdin' On, Polo G opens with an emotional hook speaking about his insecurities, and the passing of his friends, alongside references to his rough upbringing. The production on this record is fueled by its rapid drum sequences that blend into the sampled melodies, culminating in the song's powerful chorus.
The record was released as the second lead single for the project alongside a music video, which was uploaded to Polo's official YouTube channel almost a year ago on August 18, 2023.
"Barely holdin' on / This life gets scary as it goes on / Burdens while we carry on / I ain't perfect, spare me if I'm wrong / Hope my secrets get buried when I'm gone / Starin' at the writin' on these headstones / They keep on tryna tear me, but I'm strong / That's what you wanted to tell me all along" - Polo G's hook on 'Barely Holdin' On'.
Detox
(Production Credits: Southside, Dru DeCaro, Snake Child, and Allen Ritter)
Filled with acoustic harmonies and an entrancing trap production, Polo G delivers an emotional ballad on Detox, which finds the rapper struggling with loss, addiction, substance abuse, and fame.
The chorus repeats twice on a single verse which finds the rapper highlighting his struggles. The narrative ends with him pleading with God to make it challenging since life's "obstacles" were too easy.
"Found out he wasn't really who he said he was, left the streets shocked / All these rappers claim they lurk for blood when the beef hot / Only difference is I'm still a thug when the beat stop / I been takin' in too much fake love, I need to detox" - Polo G's hook on 'Detox'.
We Uh Shoot (Feat. Lil Durk)
(Production Credits: Southside, TM88, Rozay Knockin, Macshooter, Allen Ritter, Jermaine Elliott, and Von88)
Polo G and Lil Durk team up on Hood Poet's most electric trap record titled We Uh Shoot, which finds both rappers speaking on their industry status and affiliations.
The record is filled with enticing drum sequences, melodic vocal performances, and memorable bars, which include a reference to PnB Rock's murder in 2022, on lines like:
"So you a bear? Just imagine what a 10 millimeter would do to a goat / You know I'm a street n---a 'cause one of my old managers was sellin' dope / And I learned from the robbers, b---h, it's summertime, why you got on a coat? / And he a cool n---a, I seen what happened to PnB, n---a, the GOAT, yeah"
Angels In The Sky
(Production Credits: Oz On The Track and 1HITTWONDER)
Polo G finally delivers Angels In The Sky which is a track that was first teased back in 2020 during the pre-release of the rapper's sophomore project The Hood.
The song is an extremely emotional trap record that takes listeners through his past revisiting times he failed when recounting the loss of close friends. Notable bars from Angels In The Sky on lines like:
"Devil breathin' down my neck, but I got angels in the sky (Sky) / And I can't reveal the way I really feel, it's hard to try / Heard the opps, they want me dead because I'm dissin', tellin' lies / Feeling mutual, stuff bullets in that SIG and let it fly / Execute him, headshot, knock his brains up out his eye"
Father's Day
(Production Credits: Southside, CuBeatz, Luis Bacqué, Allen Ritter, Jermaine Elliott, and Smatt Sertified)
Toward the end of Hood Poet, listeners are introduced to Father's Day where Polo dedicates the entire record to his father. The rapper expresses his gratitude for having a dad who looked out for him and wasn't a "deadbeat".
The song ends with an interlude of the rapper's father recounting the time of Polo's birth, citing how he wished to stick around and watch him grow when he stated:
"I had him four days before my nineteenth birthday / A lot of my friends didn't have a father / That's the reality of where I'm from, s--t, I didn't have one / Like my father was pretty inconsistent, I know him and I love him / And you know that really instilled in me to be a man for my kid, you know what I'm saying?"
Polo G's fourth studio album is filled with impactful, deeply personal records that bring a sense of maturity to the rapper's expansive discography.
Hood Poet effectively captures emotions of pain, loss, and grief, with somber tracks dedicated to the people he's lost over the years.
