Psychodrama
by Dave
  • Record Label: N/A
  • Release Date: Mar 8, 2019
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 205 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 164 out of 205
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 205
  3. Negative: 13 out of 205
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  1. farfetchedfan
    Feb 3, 2020
    6
    Location is AMAZING. I wish we could rate individual tracks but an amazing track doesn't make an amazing album unfortunately. The rest is underwhelming by comparison.
  2. Ibn_G
    Mar 19, 2019
    6
    Psychodrama is a very introspective and personal album by Dave in which he talks about a lot of issues regarding his own mental health, his relationships, his family, his race, abuse relationship poverty and the general state of things in South London.
    His wordplay and lyrics are pretty good and mostly creative. One thing that could be a problem for some people are UK slangs that they    Psychodrama is a very introspective and personal album by Dave in which he talks about a lot of issues regarding his own mental health, his relationships, his family, his race, abuse relationship poverty and the general state of things in South London.
    His wordplay and lyrics are pretty good and mostly creative. One thing that could be a problem for some people are UK slangs that they might not understand. The beats and atmosphere are pretty chill and pretty basic, you might like that or not so much. One thing that bothers me with this album is Daves' delivery and flow. There is no real variation in how the approaches songs, so if you hear one song, most of the time you heard all the other songs just with different lyrics and another beat. The delivery also hurts the lyrics and general message he is trying to tell because it just feel like it's all on the surface and not really deep.
    All in all, Psychodrama is an alright album but nothing that revolutionary, highlight for me would include the opening track "Psycho" which is maybe the best song on the album, also tracks "Lesley" and "Screwface Capital" but without the unnecessary instrumental at the end.    … Expand
  3. RSVaughan
    Mar 31, 2019
    5
    This album is extremely overrated somehow. It's alright, sure, Dave's storytelling and lyricism skills are outstanding at some points on the album, but they also falter on some of the less serious songs. The concept is cool, but it's not executed as convincingly as it could've been. Mostly though, the beats on this album are boring as **** They all use the same piano and it makes songsThis album is extremely overrated somehow. It's alright, sure, Dave's storytelling and lyricism skills are outstanding at some points on the album, but they also falter on some of the less serious songs. The concept is cool, but it's not executed as convincingly as it could've been. Mostly though, the beats on this album are boring as **** They all use the same piano and it makes songs that aren't super lyrical really boring to listen to. Overall this album is not nearly as good as it could've been with a more realized concept and more interesting beats.… Expand
  4. sammyanthony
    Apr 12, 2019
    6
    An okay album. Can't be compared to any other 90's scoring albums. Pretty much forgettable.
  5. LukeMontgomery7
    Mar 19, 2019
    6
    Gonna be pretty concise here, think overall the album is pretty good, with some clear standout songs, e.g. Psycho and Lesley, but needs improvement in some areas. Lyrically, album is solid and the topics he's talking about are relevant and discusses them well. Delivery is fine, but can sometimes sound a bit lethargic. Main let down of the album is the production, far too generic andGonna be pretty concise here, think overall the album is pretty good, with some clear standout songs, e.g. Psycho and Lesley, but needs improvement in some areas. Lyrically, album is solid and the topics he's talking about are relevant and discusses them well. Delivery is fine, but can sometimes sound a bit lethargic. Main let down of the album is the production, far too generic and forgettable, no tracks really stand out with great production. 6 to a 7 out of 10 for me, the fact it's receiving this level of acclaim is absurd, as pretty sure it's only because the topics he references are considered woke by the media, which is very frustrating, good lyrical content has to be backed up by good music, and sadly this album isn't in my opinion.… Expand
  6. FromKanga
    Apr 2, 2019
    6
    Good lyrics and alright instrumentals individually but it didn't fit well together for me
  7. kjhkjhk
    Apr 4, 2019
    6
    my taste for rap music is very specific, i like Kendrick, Jay, Eminem but this is i dunno it's just not for me. The inflection on the words stands out but not in a tasteful way, it doesn't feel natural it feels forced
    The content on the other hand is top notch. I like the way he addresses so many many issues in a very eloquent way. But the sound of him rapping is a little cringe-worthy
  8. chiccoequina
    Feb 27, 2020
    6
    The album starts with Dave laying out what the album would be focusing on with the opening track 'Pyscho' in which he describes his mental conflicts. The album continues with the song 'Streatham' where he talks about the pressures of the place of his upbringing. One of Daves highlights on the album was 'Black' in which he challenges racial issues as well as British politics. While DavesThe album starts with Dave laying out what the album would be focusing on with the opening track 'Pyscho' in which he describes his mental conflicts. The album continues with the song 'Streatham' where he talks about the pressures of the place of his upbringing. One of Daves highlights on the album was 'Black' in which he challenges racial issues as well as British politics. While Daves lyrical content in the majority of the album is witty and concise, the mellow instrumentals often cease to amaze or elevate some of the songs. Furthermore, this traps Dave into a rap delivery emulating spoken word rather than rapping often devaluing some of what Dave is saying. Therefore I believe as a whole album it was aight but lacked its full potential.… Expand
  9. zachym11
    Oct 13, 2020
    6
    A good concept runs thought the album, however I find some a good portion of the tracks to be slightly boring and very similar.

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best Album of 2019
37
#37 Most Discussed Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. AllMusic
    Dec 13, 2019
    90
    PSYCHODRAMA has all the makings of a generational classic. Packing dense lyricism, poignant introspection, and resonant production into a neatly compiled concept, Dave's debut album is the product of a MC beyond his years, standing firmly among the Godfathers and Made in the Manors as one of the strongest British rap albums of the decade.
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  2. The Wire
    May 7, 2019
    60
    Musically it’s mannered to the point where he makes Stormzy look like Tempa T. Token exceptions offer some respite. On “Location” with Burna Boy and “Disaster” with J Hus he briefly escapes the bland backing and naff counselling concept to explore more primal modes of expression. But ultimately the failures predominate, most notably ten minutes of the heavy handed domestic violence PSA “Lesley”. [May 2019, p.50]
  3. Q Magazine
    Apr 9, 2019
    80
    Psychodrama is a bold statement from a rapper unafraid to ask tough questions of himself--and the often unforgiving world around him. [Jun 2019, p.108]
See all critic reviews »