On The New Toronto, self-proclaimed “swavey” rapper Tory Lanez comes out swinging and dripping in grandeur, with epic choral parts and dramatic strings on Makaveli. “When I go they gon’ remember me like motherfuckin’ Makaveli” are the first words he belts out, but Lanez has barely just arrived. With a debut album still on the way, The New Toronto mixtape works more as a preview of what he could do than a showcase of his full potential.
The woozy sway of Woods, with its sparse, pseudo-spooky production (thanks to Sergio R and Play Picasso), is hypnotizing. Traphouse (featuring Nyce), a dark, bruised slice of warped R&B that utilizes Lanez’s smooth-as-hell voice, just falls a bit flat. Them Days works better dynamically, with muddy vibrations swelling alongside breathy verses and hooky exclamations. Chixtape 3 highlights Lanez’s impressive singing, swerving through a rendition of Say My Name (S*M*N) and nodding to Usher’s U Got It Bad.
While The New Toronto doesn’t reach what he aspires to, it still suggests Lanez’s upcoming debut will be notable.
Top track: Makaveli