Don Toliver - Heaven or Hell ALBUM REVIEW

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The summer of 2018 was a pretty great time for music, and Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD was front and center. His features were hidden, and the first listen to catch every non-Travis Scott voice is one of my favorite music moments in recent memory. Why am I talking about ASTROWORLD, exactly? While there were heavy hitters like Drake, Frank Ocean, and even Stevie Wonder, there was one voice that stood out in the track “CAN’T SAY,” and there was a collective “Who the fuck is Don Toliver?” from the listeners. Signed to Scott’s Cactus Jack label, Don Toliver is essentially a Travis protégé, and this is his debut project right here, Heaven or Hell. Let’s get into it!

Heaven or Hell is an R&B album with rap, trap, and alternative influences. Now, there was a lot of hype for this project. I can say that this subtly met it, but didn’t blow me out of the water. It’s a very eclectic set of songs, ranging from absolute bangers to melodic R&B tracks. His range of talent is pretty impressive, but I think he’s still looking for himself, or his set sound. He’s jumping from place to place to see what sticks, and for a debut album, that’s okay. It’s fine for an artist to still be searching for a sound if they’re at the beginning of their career. With Heaven or Hell, though, he isn’t a leader or a curator like Travis Scott just yet, but with time, I think that Toliver will be a heavy hitter in the rap and R&B side. Production-wise, it’s fine. It has a pretty big budget since the hype from ASTROWORLD propelled Toliver’s career, and while it’s nothing out of the world, it’s still pretty good. I also think Don Toliver has a lot more room to grow for his writing. It’s not bad, but as his career continues, it’ll hopefully grow and mature.

I can sum up Heaven or Hell in one word: potential. Don Toliver is relatively new to the scene, and Heaven or Hell is a perfect stepping stone for his career. The Travis Scott-stamp of approval certainly helps him out, but Heaven or Hell is Don Toliver testing the waters on what sticks and becomes hits for him. This is a very smart play for a debut album, albeit a little quick. I’m pretty excited for the future of his career, and Heaven or Hell is certainly a good start to it.


6/10


Stream Heaven or Hell here

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