Under Pressure
by Logic
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Release Date: Oct 21, 2014
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
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  1. RapReviews.com
    Oct 29, 2014
    90
    When nostalgic old-timers lament the golden age of hip-hop, for those championing our current era, Under Pressure is the album to point to.
  2. DJ Booth
    Oct 29, 2014
    90
    This has the feel of a full, complete body of work, one embedded with nuances, themes and a larger, interwoven framework that nobody could digest in one listen.
  3. Exclaim
    Oct 29, 2014
    90
    Under Pressure finds Logic breaking out as an all-star emcee, raising the bar higher than anyone could've predicted.
  5. HipHopDX
    Oct 29, 2014
    90
    There are a great many moments that make Under Pressure feel like a feature film about Logic’s life, and when at its best, it is creating that sort of imagery.
  6. XXL
    Oct 29, 2014
    80
    Under Pressure feels like a roadmap to the influences he states on the album--OutKast, A Tribe Called Quest, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Quentin Tarantino films.
  7. AllMusic
    Oct 29, 2014
    80
    Just like Kendrick's stunning Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Under Pressure is an autobiographical and odds-beating debut that arrives more fully formed than expected. Maybe all those mixtapes were all called Young Sinatra because the best was yet to come.
  8. Rolling Stone
    Nov 5, 2014
    40
    This album is all surface-level, free of sharp punch lines ("I been Hungary like Budapest") or metaphors that connect.
  9. Sputnikmusic
    Oct 29, 2014
    20
    It’s not a verbatim copy of Kendrick’s work, but it’s every bit the stylistic counterfeit, and while it, along with the other mentions above, could be seen as imitations done in reverence had they been released on a free mixtape, their use on an album is no doubt a calculated effort to profit off of the ideas and work of another who did it first, in an attempt to capitalize on the ignorance of those listeners who may not know better.

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2014
6
#6 Most Shared Album of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 332 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 301 out of 332
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 332
  3. Negative: 17 out of 332
  1. MrEthan
    Oct 31, 2014
    10
    This album is simply everything. A lot of people have already said it is the best hip-hop album since GKMC and then there have also been a lotThis album is simply everything. A lot of people have already said it is the best hip-hop album since GKMC and then there have also been a lot of people who talk about him copying Kendrick. This is not true though. Logic is a really honest artist and he has stated that he is not only influenced and inspired by the legends of the old days, but also by new greats such as J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar. I find it strange how people can appreciate new school lyricists for sampling the veterans or taking inspiration from them but not when a new artists appreciates another new (relatively) artist such as Kendrick. GKMC has been labeled the best thing in hip-hop and nothing thus far has been able to top it. So where's the logic in Logic not appreciating a project as big as GKMC by taking inspiration from it? Exactly. Logic still holds his own by telling his story instead of someone else's over brilliant production, by switching up his flow and still holding it down lyrically. He's definitely not the most complex lyricist in the game but far above average still and also very easy to connect and relate to. My personal favorite rap album of the year and possibly my AOTY. Support it if you can!… Full Review »
  2. Shady313
    Mar 22, 2015
    10
    10/10 ................................................................................................................................................
  3. RATCHETSLYJAK
    Nov 8, 2014
    8
    The best aspects of this album is the production, Logic's flow and the revealing lyrics of Logic's past and his childhood. Tracks such asThe best aspects of this album is the production, Logic's flow and the revealing lyrics of Logic's past and his childhood. Tracks such as Soul Food, Under Pressure, Gang Related and Growing Pains III is worth the price of the album alone. Other tracks such as Buried Alive and Bounce contain slightly more simplistic lyrics and rely on the hook to take up the majority of the song. Overall, its's a great debut album and a breathe of fresh air for Hip Hop which has been plagued with bad rappers and watered down lyrics.… Full Review »
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