Until recently, the terms “mumble rap” or “sound cloud rap”, were entirely lost on me. I will not pretend to be anything more than an out dated hip-hop fan, and for the most part the majority of new releases within this genre pass by me unnoticed. However, in the recent months a few of these new generation rappers have managed to break into my bubble. With the posthumous release of Come Over When You’re Sober, Part 2 and the following social media fanfare, I decided to objectively dive in.

Full disclosure, I was expecting disappointment when checking out Lil Peep’s music. I was surprised to find a rather subdued and melancholy album that featured a heavy influence of third wave emo, and to a slightly lesser degree elements of punk rock. I have always had a soft spot for some of the emo bands from this era, mainly Jimmy Eat World, Brand New, and Saves The Day. Oddly enough, influences from the above mentioned bands shine through throughout the album. Despite the seeming genre clash of hip-hop and emo, this mash up seems to work for Lil Peep. My second surprise came in the form of reasonably mature and thoughtful lyrical content. I will avoid using broad strokes here, but I was not expecting this young man to be as poetic and deliberate as he was. His flow and lyricism seem to have aged past his 21 years. While what he is saying is not consistently resonant with me personally, I can see where that connection happens for others, and I respect it. The unfortunate and tragic nature of Lil Peep’s passing adds a level of morbidity to some of these songs. Specifically the songs that feature a heavy emphasis on drug use. It is unfortunate that some of the songs seem to foreshadow future events; it also serves as a eulogy of sorts.

Come Over When You’re Sober, Part 2 continued to grow on me with repeated listens. While it is far from my favorite style, I will admit, it is memorable and catchy. It is clear that this young man is naturally talented and musically aware, which is not a skill all of his contemporary peers were blessed with. Lil Peep comes off as genuine and gimmick free, which is also a point of respect as far as this reviewer is concerned. I acknowledge that this release will not be to everyone’s taste, but it is worth your time if you have enjoyed hip-hop, the late 90’s emo revival or sad music in general.