Heir Wallace is an upcoming rapper from San Diego, California, who’s been rapidly growing since the release of his mixtape Let’s Go Crazy. Building on this success, he recently teamed up with producer and wife NoShenanigins for a brand new EP titled Bugz & Lola. With seven songs, can this prominent rapper/producer duo show they are here to stay?
Just as I praised his last record for its unique display of versatility, Heir Wallace only keeps that up here. Each song is super distinct, and he’s always pushing himself to try something new. From asserting his dominance with hard lyrical jabs on “Gas” to calling out the industry’s bluff with Bassi Boss on “Davy Jones”, there’s truly something here for everyone. My favorite quality of Heir’s is his passion for topics such as ownership and cultural pride, which is at its pinnacle on the smooth but powerful “Black Owned (Diddy)”. While it’s not always perfectly executed, the groundwork for strong topical depth is laid out, and as time goes on, he will only further refine these abilities. “Ice” was a surefire highlight as Heir’s raw lyrical talent is used to single out someone unknown and fill them in on his life where he tells them of his current winnings. Another quality I appreciated is the ability to be effective in a short amount of time. In an era where attention spans are shorter than ever, this is an important skill, and cuts like “BRUCE LEE” show producer NoShenanigin’s confidence at jumping in the booth and spitting a dope verse of her own. “Want ME to Fail” was the record’s ultimate highlight, as with a solid hook from Sian McMullen, Heir makes an inspiring motivational anthem. Summed up by the cut “Wave Investment”, “running the game is nothing” to Heir Wallace as his performance further expands on his artistic progression and overall stock.
Behind the boards, Heir Wallace’s wife NoShenanigins shows her ability as a prominent beat maker. Resolving around minimalism and suspense, most of her instrumentals follow a similar but efficient mold. Whether it’s an eerie trap beat like “Gas” or the spine chilling “Davy Jones”, Shenangins knows how to give the man she married the best sonic backing possible. “Black Owned (Diddy)” shows the height of her talents as a muddied up trap beat plays under a hypnotizing horn pattern. “Want Me to Fail” was another top tier moment as all of the different sounds residing in the background come together to perfectly back Heir and Sian’s stellar vocal performances. When it comes to curating the right soundtrack for Heir Wallace, NoShenanigins proves her worth with a phenomenal ear for beats and even better mixing skills.
In conclusion, Bugz & Lola is a good EP that shows Heir Wallace and NoShenanigins’s future in hip hop. Both are super talented and will only continue to get better as time goes on. Going forward, this husband-wife duo has proved a lot in a short amount of time, and my next wish for them is to drop a full-length record that will elevate them to the next level!
Rating: 5.5/10
Pros:
- Great chemistry
- Heir Wallace’s versatility on full display
- NoShenanigins shows future as an orchestrator/producer
Cons:
- Lack of depth
- Some songs are forgettable
Written by: Mr. Fantastic
Scored and edited by: Mr. Fantastic founder and owner of Fantastic Hip Hop
