Neon Icon

Neon Icon is either the greatest social commentary on 21st century music, a moderately funny joke or a terrible hip-hop album. It is this conundrum which makes it such an endearing listen and one of this year's must hear albums.

Riff’s lyricism, rightfully lionized for its eccentricity and boundary pushing--Riff Raff, along with rappers like Heems and Kool A.D., extend the idea of rapping as abstract expressionists did painting--is not so often hailed for its dexterity, which Neon Icon demonstrates in its barbed hooks, lackadaisical lopes, professional wrestler entering the ring peacocking.

With Neon Icon it's just as easy to tune in, drop out, and twerk.

The bottom line is that you walk away with a pretty solid collection and the realization that RiFF RaFF probably isn’t going to fade away.

Neon Icon is a fine hip-hop album from someone who seemed as if he’d make anything but

It pans out as--at the very least--a unique and varied production that asks to be received seriously, even if Riff Raff’s choppy, uneasy flow and absurdist imagery runs counter to that.

Neon Icon is the weight the internet has left us with. It’s a much-delayed product of Tumblr art, Big Brother reality TV, corporate worship and urban fetishism. Or, maybe it’s pushing against these things. I dunno, whatever, at least it’s pretty fun.

Searching for depth in an emcee so obviously beholden to gimmicks is a fool’s errand, and if you give that up, you’re rewarded with low-stakes perfectly inoffensive jams.

This album gets a C+ because I really enjoyed the time I spent hating it.

While Neon Icon likely won’t be the push that RiFF needs into the public consciousness, it certainly won’t hurt his reputation.

The bulk of Neon Icon resists coherence or purpose.

There are punk, country and EDM experiments that sound like Nineties novelty act the Bloodhound Gang without the jokes.