The Bedroom Rap All Stars, They Hate Change drop a masterpiece jits in the whole Tampa Bay Area are gonna be jamming for decades.
In the past the duo comprised of Andre & Vonne have laced their rhymes over breakbeats, drum’n’bass, Miami Bass, and even the home grown Jook sound out of the 813. This project to me is the best mesh of all these sounds the duo has done thus far.
The homies start things off with the “Stuntro” an ode to the 813 legend Tom G’s “Skroll Muzik” series. The homies hit you with a barrage of bars off rips to let y’all know what’s up. The production makes me feel like I’m inside a lava lamp just vibing with the Gulf Coast duo. Sometimes it’s hard for a duo to go back and forth with their verses but Andre & Vonne do it effortlessly never stepping on each other’s toes, while bringing their own personal style to the song.
If I had to pick a favorite joint on the album it would have to be “Breathing”. The production is bouncy yet sophisticated and we ain’t even it the beat switch at that point. Once the beat switch kicks in and the drums are going crazy, the duo sends us into outer space. This is what the dude heard when he went through the strar gate in “2001 a Space Odyssey”. So many quotables on this joint as well. That whole “Palm trees in the yard, I come from Palm Bay Drive that’s off of Palm River Road” line just hits diff mane. You already know we shutting shit down in the burg.
The duo gives you no time to breathe on “Who Next?” So many Hip Hop nods on this one, to the KRS One sample, up to the “Burn My Shit” line synonymous with Strizzo’s Jook classic record “Bootlegg”. With such impeccable production you would expect the duo to lack in some aspect but nope, they come just as hard on the bars and flows. That whole “My shit rooted from the dirt” verse just gets you so hype.
“Reversible Keys” featuring VRITRA” is on some Progressive Hip Hop shit, so many sounds all meshing together but sounding so complete. The chopped and screwed braggadocio lyrics on the intro set us up for the swarm of synths and break beats. That seagull sound is so fire, adding just enough to take the beat over the top. The warped vocals that pop up on the end of the track give the song a second breath, almost like a third act. Who else really dropping tracks like this in the city mane!
From the video to the whole vibe this shit screams 727 bro. This joint makes you wanna just post up on Central Ave and shut shit down. Certified head knocker for sure. The drums on this one are crazy, you have no choice but to bump up and down the whole time. Songs like this make me proud to be from the city.
The “Coded Language (Interlude)” sounds like it was made in a factory. The clinking and clanking from the beat are very industrial but still have that bounce. It’s crazy how Andre & Vonne can just ooze swag and finesse over these abstract beats without it sounding forced.
I’m pretty sure this was the first single released off the album, and boy did they make the right choice. The flows on this track are just to good to believe. All the car talk fits the sound of the beat which has like a take off sound to it. Lines like “Tables turning I’m counting earning, your speakers bursting all on purpose while y’all was skeeting and skirting.” just show how dope these boys are on the mic. You already know the homies at to get the 813 legend SARGE to close out the track to add some gravitas.
“Little Brother” is on some Trill shit. The chopped and screwed over that mystical beat just makes me wanna ride down Gulf BLVD with the top down. That weird female vocal that pops up on the beat always sticks out to me. For sure a deep cut for me.
I really vibe with the structure of “Some Days I Hate My Voice”. Everyone has those times when they aren’t confident in themselves and other times when they that dude. I loved the shout outs to Team Fetti. The beat is real wavy on this one.
“Cert” is one of those feel good joints you jam at the function. The bouncy flows from both Andre & Vonne have a fun vibe to them, you can feel them smiling when they are dropping bars. The homies are certified in my book. The ode to E-40 at the end was dope from one Bay Area to another.
“Perm” has that Jam Pony Express almost Jook vibe to that just keeps your body moving. It’s dope finding all the sounds Andre & Vonne add into the beat. I think it’s really dope that they can just jam a whole beat for one track, working almost like an interlude into the final two tracks on the album.
“X-Ray Spex” is my shit. I picked up the No PFP with the X-Ray Spexs just cause of this song. Andre & Vonne’s flows on this joint are next level. The hook is one of my favorites on the project. The visuals they dropped for this joint is one of my favorites of the year with a little input from the GOAT. I can hear this song being in car commercials or some shit one day. Classic record right here.
“From The Floor” featuring DJ Gay-Z was the perfect way to end out this project. You have no choice but to jump up and down with the beat. I just think of everyone in the video going stupid. The bass is knocking but all the intricate sounds that pop up throughout the song make it feel as one. I loved how they let the beat ride at the of the track, setting you up to run the album back again and again.
What more could I say about this amazing project. Straight bangers front to back. You can really feel and hear the detail Andre & Vonne put into each track from the vocals to the beats. I really love how Tampa Bay, but mainly St.Pete this album feels. It just hits me in all the right spots. Don’t be surprised if this takes the No.1 spot in the Camp. I am so glad I waited until after their show to write my review because having a chance to sit with the album and then experience them live, was a moment the city & I will never forget. Some people might hate change but it’s inevitable.