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Mirrorland
by
Mirrorland Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the hip hop duo Olu (aka Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (aka Doctur Dot) features guest appearances from Kehlani, Malik, Arin Ray, T-Pain, and Young Thug.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. HipHopDX
    Sep 18, 2019
    82
    EarthGang are rapping and harmonizing the sights and sound that make up the musical hubs’ cultural and social-economical tapestry. This isn’t a new Outkast. This is a new Atlanta.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 16, 2019
    80
    Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot prove to everyone that rap groups are on the rise. In a genre overpopulated with solo artists, it’s refreshing to see a duo emerge from the ashes. If you give the sick lyricism and jazz overtones a few more years, they could be the next Outkast.
  3. RapReviews.com
    Sep 24, 2019
    80
    As tracks like the apt Andre Harris produced finale “Wings” show, EarthGang can fly on their own without any comparisons. They are as much R&B as hip-hop and for them it’s an ideal match.
  4. Pitchfork
    Sep 16, 2019
    72
    The ideas sprawled across Mirrorland are mostly in service of songcraft, adding color and texture to their vibrant visions of a super-black Emerald City. It’s Atlanta rap fantasia, manifold in form and style, each track a new, distinctive set design in the production.
  5. Exclaim
    Sep 16, 2019
    70
    EarthGang's otherwise lean and careening style has the potential to reach the acclaim earned by their label head J. Cole — even if the stratospheric success of Stankonia remains out of reach for now.
  6. AllMusic
    Sep 25, 2019
    70
    Rappers Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot break up their unhinged, nasal flows with moments of jubilant soul harmonies ("Top Down"), bounding upbeat acid jazz instrumentation ("Blue Moon"), darkly experimental beats ("Avenue"), and different approaches and coloring on almost every track.
  7. The Wire
    Nov 20, 2019
    70
    Earthgang have one foot in the now, the other turned toward the horizon and an uncertain future. [Dec 2019, p.60]
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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. MetaYeet0
    Apr 24, 2020
    9
    There isn’t a single moment on this album that doesn’t pull me in or have me aggressively head-bumping. It has some amazing production thatThere isn’t a single moment on this album that doesn’t pull me in or have me aggressively head-bumping. It has some amazing production that the two charismatic members glide over with grace and style. Songs like Proud of U, Top Down, UP, and Bank get me insanely pumped up. The features provide great verses.Songs like Swivel and This Side tell stories of their upbringing, with Johnny Venus providing some of his best verses on them. Overall, this album is fantastic and one of the best of 2019. This proves that Earthgang has a place in this crazy place we call the rap game.… Expand
  2. clem666
    Oct 21, 2020
    5
    Production and instrumentals are definitely worth the trip for the level of mastery EARTHGANG demonstrate. We are entitled to some jazz, R&B,Production and instrumentals are definitely worth the trip for the level of mastery EARTHGANG demonstrate. We are entitled to some jazz, R&B, hard trap, a bit of soul and more. That's amazing they could actually sing and keep their identity on this. Some songs at the beginning of the album sounds like pure bangers and will instantly make you wiggle. But eventually you realize you are facing a cold-served dish. Johnny Venus' voice become simply unbereable as we go further into the project. Hopefully they thought about it and decided to put some featured artists at the end. Even if production of the album is incredible, the duo don't show any ability to sing and rap properly to make it decent. Some songs quickly become repetitive (as 'Proud Of U', 'UP' or 'Top Down'). Finally I really can't understand why nobody recognize that the second part of 'This Side' is a pale copy of the second part of Kendrick Lamar's 'XXX' (on album 'DAMN'): I checked it, everything is the same, even the alarm sound in the background.… Expand

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