Young Dro – ‘Day Two’ Mixtape Review

In April 2006, before the start of T.I.’s legal troubles, DJ Drama introduced the world to Grand Hustle affiliate Young Dro with Day One. Dro, a wordsmith with a somewhat gargled country drawl, charmed listeners with witty wordplay and unmatched confidence. The strength of the mixtape – which carried the singles “Shoulder Lean” and “Rubber Band Banks” – ultimately sparked his debut Best Thang Smokin’ which faired well on the Billboard charts. Since then, Dro’s yet to reach his heights of 2006, but he’s remained consistent in the mixtape circuit, and Day Two suggests an attempt to get back to the formula that first propelled his career.

Back with Drama, Day Two finds Dro sticking to the predominantly frivolous yet entertaining subject matter the Bankhead MC has shown mastery of throughout the years – women, weed, lean and Polo. It’s all enhanced by Dro’s vocabulary and his knack for rhyming the most absurd yet sensible adjectives possible. A stable of producers handle the production here, but it’s ATL duo FKi that stand out immediately as the beatmakers who best highlight his skillset and flow. “Be Like That Sometimes,” “3 Krazy” and “Mucho” – which finds Dro utilizing his Spanglish in the hook along with various tongue rolls and howls – are all standouts produced by FKi and serve as reminders of just how great Dro can be when he sticks to his fun-loving self.

There are also a handful of moments when Dro’s attempt to tread the fine line between pure slapstick comedy and genuine sincerity miss their mark. “Hooligans,” which features a bevy of Grand Hustle affiliates, sounds like a throwaway from the label’s recent collaboration tape. On “Kilt,”—a plaid-man skirt and bagpipe sampling record—Dro briefly forgets his geography by dedicating the song “to his Irish cats.” But really that’s all fine and good, because through Dro’s wacky mind comes gems like “Wazam,” where he raps “Y’all bout to make me go bananas, my designer is McQueen, bitch, Alexander/ Salamander damn sandals, tell the police I got rights like fuckin’ Miranda.”

All in all, Day Two has its share of highs and lows, like most Young Dro mixtapes. But what makes it more memorable, is how closely the highs remind of Dro’s heyday. It’s unlikely to find the same level of success as its first installment, but it’s a fine effort from one of Atlanta’s oft-overlooked talents.—@wavydavewilliam