Last Friday, the prolific Shawn Volcy, aka Shreez, returned to the fray with ON FRAP II, the sequel to the first chapter released five years earlier. It’s easy to see why the MC wanted to make his mark on the imagination with a second tome: his art has progressed, is more mastered, and is punchier than ever. The same observation emanated from his latest releases, proof of his constant progression on the local hip-hop scene.
“DAVID VILLA,” a track with a catchy chorus and well-crafted rhymes, opens the ball and sets the tone for this new offering. Comprising of 14 tracks, ON FRAP II veers between trap and drill, with a touch of summer. It’s hard not to imagine yourself in the sun when listening to a track like “CASAMIGOS 2X,” one of the project’s most accomplished songs. In fact, it’s on more melodious tracks like this that the protagonist excels; a controlled cadence and relaxed flow are a guarantee of success for him.
There are no surprises here in terms of content and intentions. In a language all his own, a happy blend of joual, Montreal slang and Creole, the man from Laval talks about money, his achievements and everyday street life, among other things. The rapper is certainly more eloquent than on his previous projects, but the substance remains superficial. As long as you accept this reality, it’s easy to get carried away by the melodies of the excellent “OK!” and “VPN,” two of the album’s pivotal tracks.
Whether solo or as part of his collective Canicule, the 2019 SOCAN Award winner’s greatest enemies are redundancy and repetitiveness. At 40 minutes and counting, ON FRAP II avoids such accusations and stands as his most coherent work. The transitions between tracks have been carefully crafted, and the album is a breeze to listen to.
On the Disques 7ième Ciel label, Shreez benefits from the contribution of numerous collaborators, including Frenchman Jogga, rapper Jujuu and La Kadrilla. Each of his guests manages to pull their weight; honorable mention to Salgrimo on FRAP in the middle of the pack.
With ON FRAP II, the Quebecer hits the bull’s-eye while remaining in his usual sandbox. Shreez seems ready to take the next step out of his comfort zone.
