Still Striving is a testament to the intense hustle for which the Trap Lord earned his name. Trap and A Dream sets the tone, with a guest spot from mixtape magnate Meek Mill, as he and Ferg reflect on their origins and ambitions over a loop of ambient bells. A few tracks later, a pulsing bass line and the irrepressible Lil Yachty make Aww Yeah a siren song for swinging hips and mark it as a prime candidate for a floor-ready remix.
Coach Cartier, featuring the prolific Famous Dex, gets back to the mantra-like vocal layers that made 2013 single Shabba such a hit, while the guest-less Plain Jane sees Ferg in his perfectly-evolved form, spitting over a detuned piano melody, his steady flow growing in intensity over three made-for-radio minutes.
Even fan-favourite East Coast gets a remix, with an over-saturated bass and rap veterans Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross and the ubiquitous Dogg all dropping bars, but somehow manages to lose its charm in the process. Haters gonna hate though and while the jury’s out on what constitutes a mixtape these days, Still Striving is proof that the Hood Pope remains as hungry and as hard-working as ever.
