Former Def Jam recording artist Logic and his music career appear to be at a crossroads, according to a new interview with TMZ. Over the weekend, Bobby Tarantino told the outlet he plans to create music similar to Playboi Carti due to the poor sales of his latest music. In August, he released his ninth album, Ultra 85, to 18k in first-week sales. It marks the rapper’s lowest debut yet.
Logic is known for his rapid conscious rap style, which the new album includes but doesn’t resonate with modern rap. On his way to Detroit, he told TMZ, “I’ve been on a run of doing super hip-hop music, but that stuff doesn’t pay the bills.” He decided to rap like Playboi Carti because the Whole Lotta Red creator is one of the biggest names in today’s hip-hop. Logic said: “I made my money doing pop and turn-up tracks, and I’ve been lucky to make music from my heart. But next year, I’m about to drop all this Carti-style trap and have some fun. It’s okay to make money, too.”
Logic Says His Raps Aren’t Making Money Like Playboi Carti
Logic has had a busy schedule lately, including a massive 2022 tour with Wiz Khalifa. Between album releases and touring, the rap star has faced off against multiple personal issues with his family and critics. He has frequently been attacked for his ethnicity as a mixed-race rapper and bars. Throughout the drama, he collaborated with icons like Eminem, Gucci Mane, and Lil Wayne. He announced his retirement, which turned into a year hiatus, in 2021.
Logic signed with Def Jam in 2013 and released his debut album, Under Pressure, in 2014. During his tenure with the legendary record label, he released seven albums, three of which reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. He has produced 20 Hot 100 singles, including the massive hits “Everybody,” “Homicide,” and “1-800-273-8255.” 1-800-273-8255, a song about suicide prevention, achieved eight-time platinum by the RIAA. Logic signed a massive distribution deal with BMG in 2022 after leaving Def Jam for independence.
Back in August, Logic released his latest album, Ultra 85. Well, if you were a fan of the “Therapy Music” rapper’s sonic direction you’re in for a rude awakening.
During a recent run-in with TMZ, Logic announced that he further releases will draw inspiration from Playboi Carti. Typically, this would be seen as a compliment, as Carti has been a go-to collaborator, Logic’s reasoning came off as a subtle jab at his sound.
“What I’ve noticed is I’ve been on a run of making super hip-hop music and that sh*t doesn’t pay the bills,” he said. “It’s because I made all my money before doing pop and turn-up sh*t, and I’ve been blessed enough to be in a position to make music from my heart. Next year, Imma f*ck em up. I’m about to drop all this, like, Playboi Carti trap, turn-up sh*t and go get a bag and have fun.”
Although Playboi Carti hasn’t responded to Logic’s remarks, users online did not hold back.
“‘My music isn’t working, so I’m going to entirely copy this other grown man.’ How pathetic,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter).
“Sounds interesting and sad at the same time,” penned another.
“This sounds like a threat not an announcement,” added another.
The physical editions of Everybody, Logic’s 2017 third album, came with a hidden message: “For the real fans reading this hidden message, my next album will be called Ultra 85, and it will be the conclusion to this saga.” The space Western-inspired story, started by Logic on The Incredible True Story in 2015 and brought to life by Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop’s Spike Spiegel) and Kevin Randolph (of Cocaine 80s fame), was set to be put to rest. He also intended to retire upon the album’s release. Nearly nine years removed from The Incredible True Story and seven years on from the first time he announced Ultra 85, a lot has happened in Logic’s life. The Gaithersburg MC had his run with superstardom, becoming the hottest act signed to Def Jam for a time. He’s soon to be a father of two. He did actually retire… for a year. Ultra 85does not really end the saga he started years ago. However, Logic’s flows, beat selection, and cohesive, topical verses lead to one of the strongest rap albums of the year so far.
Logic Is As Self-Assured As Ever, Continues To Develop
Ultra 85 begins with “Paul Rodriguez,” featuring a story from Paul “P-Rod” Rodriguez, a legendary street skateboarder, about the first time Logic heard the song’s beat. The production across the album, handled primarily by 6ix and Logic, is outstanding. 6ix somehow continues to get better, often feeling inspired by Madlib and J Dilla these days.
P-Rod’s brief story gives way to nearly seven uninterrupted minutes of rapping. It revisits familiar subjects, including his troubled upbringing, the hip-hop legends that inspired him, and how his come up shaped him. In between are witty lines where Logic is in his element as a rapper (“we takin’ it back on these hip-hop heads like fitteds”). It is an excellent opener, with Logic’s confidence shining through on a lengthy “lyrical exercise” track.
The third track, “Deja Vu,” featuring additional talk from DJ Drama, is a redux of “Fade Away.” The beat is almost the exact same as the original track, but the main vocal sample is reversed. His lone verse deals with the pitfalls of stardom, but also acknowledges that his rise helped inspire people. “What can I say? I guess I won’t fade away,” the verse ends. It’s a very good song that effectively calls back to The Incredible True Story, while his bars illustrate how he and his career have changed since then.
Logic Brings In The Right Features At The Halfway Point
“Ghost In The Machine” features singer Robert Ivory and fellow Maryland native ADÉ. ADÉ steals the show, penning an introspective and heartfelt verse. He recalls how proud it made him to provide for his mother after she worked hard to provide for him, adding his own perspective to one of the album’s overarching themes of family.
“Interstellar,” featuring frequent collaborator Lucy Rose, is a standout. Rose is a wonderful vocalist, whose more subdued (but still powerful) vocals always work on a Logic song. They make the songs Eminem and Skylar Grey could make if they had musical chemistry. “Interstellar” also features one of Logic’s best performances on the album. His flow feels old-school, and he delivers a tightly written verse about mortality, passion, and self-care. Logic has often excelled at writing therapeutic tracks that detail his mental health. His vulnerability is a strength of his latest music.
Despite there being no bad tracks, one thing on Ultra 85 that does not always land is the skits. In isolation, they’re fine and they all move the story along. Though, at times, it feels like there are too many of them. At this point in his career, he has more interest in telling the story he wants to tell than chasing radio hits or playlist placements. Ultimately, the skits are not egregious enough to affect the overall quality of the album.
Track 16, “ANTIDOTE,” features ZelooperZ, who delivers a fun verse. Logic’s own verse is adequate, though it’s his weakest on Ultra 85. It’s a hollow verse on a bland trap beat after the introspection on many of the previous tracks. He talks about the problems that come with having money and also makes a generic “women love me” statement. Such a braggadocious song feels better suited for a Bobby Tarantinomixtape.
The next track, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” touches on how film shaped his life. Logic talks about how Kill Bill led to him discovering RZA. Those RZA-led soundtracks directly contributed to him discovering hip-hop, and eventually becoming a rapper himself. Early RZA-produced albums sound more like RZA-directed films, with skits and movie samples that turned those albums into cinematic experiences. It’s clear Logic took inspiration from RZA’s approach to album making, writing scripts and building narratives that hold his albums together almost as much as the rapping and beats do.
The final track, “Thank You For Believing In Me,” is a pleasant closer. Every Logic album has a track where he shows gratitude to his fans for their continued support, and this is among the better ones. He sing-raps over an indie rock-inspired beat, discussing how content he is with his life and thanking his fans for being there even when he doubted himself and his work. After Supermarket, he’s made progress as a singer. He’s still not the most technically impressive vocalist, but he’s a capable one. “See you on the next one, cowboy,” says Steve Blum’s character as the album concludes.
Ultra 85 is the most uniquely “Logic” album to date. This does still mean that it is prone to some of those “Logic-isms,” as every idea and every bar doesn’t land. However, there is so much to like about the album that harping on any negatives would be more like nitpicking. It is his most impressive individual effort in years. “How you follow up a classic? What’s the outcome?” Logic asks on the opening track. Based on the result, he was more than able to answer his own question.
There really isn’t much more that needs to be said about Maryland rapper, singer, and producer, Logic. Sure, he can be a bit divisive at times. Some of his more recent releases and their topical focus are not the most glowing representations of him. However, overall, Logic has put together quite the discography over the last decade plus and Ultra 85 will go down as one of those high-quality releases. As his fanbase is well aware of already, this project has been eagerly awaited. After all, he’s been working on this effort for roughly seven years.
So, when he finally released massive updates at the start of 2024, fans took quite the sigh of relief. Some were skeptical due to this long wait, but that pessimistic outlook flew out the window. You can thank singles such as “Mission Control”, “Teleport”, “44ever”, among others for that. Expectations were certainly back up and we can pretty safely say that Logic’s supporters will be happy with the final results. Across 20 tracks equating to over an hour of material, he’s giving you some of his best rapping performances from a technical and topical standpoint. Additionally, the jazzy, soulful, and head-nodding beats courtesy of longtime collaborator 6ix, Logic, Beat Butcha, and more, are meticulously crafted and mixed to perfection.
Additionally, fans will enjoy the continuation of The Incredible True Story space odyssey of Kai and Thomas. Overall, they are equally well performed and funny. Once this accompanying novel drops, it will be interesting to see where Logic goes from here. He’s claimed to have been done with music in the past, but Ultra 85 does feel and sound like a great send-off for the prolific MC.
Logic fans will soon be able to finally feast on Ultra 85. After several years in the making, the Maryland product is going to be dropping it this Friday, August 9. With him taking so much time on this quasi sequel to 2017’s Everybody, you would think that the hype would be non-existent. However, it seems that the opposite is quite true. Fans are really digging his flows and production so far, with “Mission Control” perhaps being the favorite of the bunch so far. But, “Teleport”, Logic’s fifth and final teaser, is certainly giving it a run for its money right now.
Throughout his extensive career, he has never shied away from talking about his rough upbringing. “Teleport” is one of those very tracks, as he travels back in time to key moments during his childhood on the fourth verse in particular. Logic recalls not growing up without a male figure in his household, having little money, being molested, struggling to stay in school, as well as his family’s run-ins with law. However, he ends off “Teleport” on a positive note as he recalls all of his biggest accomplishments like starting a family and becoming a major success story in hip-hop. Logic is making a great impression right now and it feels like the anticipation for Ultra 85 is at its peak.
B**** let me teleport to February 6th, 2020 F*** rap, this the day that nobody could take from me The day my son was born I saw the whole world differently I’m not defined by my past, this a different me And you can teleport the f*** up out my face if you feel differently
Logic has spit over plenty of flips of classic hip-hop instrumentals over the years. You don’t even have to go back that far to hear the last time he did this. It was just last September on his free Bandcamp mixtape Inglorious Basterd where took iconic beats from Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco, and more and gave them his own twist. Well, Logic is doing more of the same on “Mission Control”, the fourth single from the forthcoming Ultra 85. Here, him and his close friend and producer 6ix flip Gucci Mane’s “Lemonade” and it’s straight heat. The track kicks off just like the original did back in 2009.
However, around the 13 second mark is where things totally change for Logic. The instantly recognizable piano keys are slowed down, whereas on Gucci’s version the tempo of them remains the same past the intro. Kick drums are also introduced into the mix giving it real head-nodding quality to it. The instrumental goes from trap to East Coast boom bap in the most seamless way possible. On top of that Logic’s in-your-face flows and bars about being on a mission to make it big are the perfect complementary pieces. T Man the Wizard is also in the mix, adding a chorus that matches up with the theme presented. Ultra 85is still sadly a few weeks away, as it’s due August 9.
Tour is like a war, I’m getting minimum five mill’ per mission (Oh) Uh, hit the ignition and peep the emission Self-medicate like a clinician, more than a musician My flow rare like a first edition Report for dismission, everything I ever thought of it came to fruition
If you were to ask just about any American anime fan which examples of the medium are among the absolute best, the odds are very high that their answer will include Cowboy Bebop, the groundbreaking 1998 neo-noir space Western that solidified anime’s ascendance in the States. Their reasons will vary, but that just speaks to how universally appealing the show really was, that it hit grad-school cinephiles as hard as it did kids from the hood — kids like myself and Maryland rapper Logic.
I’ve had a few occasions to write about the connections between hip-hop and anime this year, and Logic provides the latest, teaming up with the anime streaming platform Crunchyroll to launch a limited-edition merch collection inspired by Cowboy Bebop and the Bobby Tarantino rapper’s love for it. Logic’s Bebop fandom is nigh legendary; in addition to constantly referencing it in his music, his second studio album, The Incredible True Story, contains narrative skits featuring Steve Blum, who played Cowboy Bebop‘s stray-dog protagonist, Spike Spiegel.
Including such pieces as a varsity jacket, skate deck, and various apparel bearing Logic’s logo and an image of him hanging out with the crew of the titular spaceship, the Crunchyroll collection is an anime and hip-hop fan’s dream come true — literally. Logic and Uproxx connected via Zoom to talk about the collection, Cowboy Bebop‘s lasting resonance, and of course, the eternal debate among anime fans: Subs or dubs?
Talk to me about how the collaboration came together, who approached who, and what’s been your favorite part about the whole process?
It just very organically happened. I don’t even know when it was like, “We’re going to do a line,” but I couldn’t believe it, and the collaboration was wonderful. I got to use my art director with their people, and then obviously, the original artist [Toshihiro Kawamoto], which is wonderful, to draw me in the Bebop crew, which is just like a dream come true. I was this little kid watching this show, and now, I’m this man surrounded by these fictional idols of mine in a real space. Sh*t’s crazy.
The entire process was fun. It was loving. It was kind. It didn’t feel like, “You can’t do this, and you can’t do that,” and blah, blah blah, which a lot of people try to do. That’s why I don’t really do collabs. I don’t do collabs because people suck. And you know who doesn’t suck? Crunchyroll.
What was your Cowboy Bebop story? How did you find it? What drew you to it?
I had these two homies, Robert and Jesse, and they introduced me to Cowboy Bebop when I was 11 years old. I remember the first time that I saw the Cowboy Bebop movie, it was f*cking subbed. I remember watching this anime that they introduced me to and then having to listen to it, I’m like, “Why are they talking Japanese? What the hell?”
My household was riddled with crime and violence and drugs and craziness and gunshots and drug dealers. I learned how to cook crack when I was 12 years old. Cowboy Bebop was my first true escape from all of that. A lot of people, especially in the hood and where I grew up, they are extremely intelligent, very smart, but they get stuck in this cycle of using their smarts for bad. But the only reason that they’re using it for bad is because of the systemic nature of what our country was built upon. I was like, what if I put my wits into something else? So discovering anime was really beautiful because it was my first true introduction to art and what it means to be an artist.
I think it’s funny that you were talking about subs, because that was going to be one of my fun lightning round questions, subs or dubs? It’s like the eternal debate among anime fans.
Dubs, because I’m watching. I’m not f*cking reading. I want to watch. I have so much appreciation for the Japanese versions, and that’s awesome, but I speak English, so I just want to hear this sh*t. I think it takes me out of the experience. Even a lot of foreign films — I love foreign films, but I don’t really watch a lot of them because I’m reading.
Crunchyroll
What else have you been watching recently? What are you drawn to when it comes to anime?
I always love a good vintage feel. That’s why I think Studio Ghibli is the bomb because it’s like it gives us this truly animated feel, even in this digital era. But that’s because they care. It’s so beautiful. It’s like to really take great pride in everything that you do, and to also take your time, I think is something that’s really special. I mean, if you can knock something out because you can, then do it. But you see that [care] and you feel it.
One Punch Man, Space Dandy, Attack on Titan was fun, but I didn’t finish it. I need to finish it. People have been telling me I should watch Demon Slayer. I haven’t watched that, but a lot of the time when I watch anime, I watch a lot of the classic stuff.
If you were going to do an anime about your life, which studio would you pick to do it?
I’m going to be honest, I don’t really know too much about the studios besides… How do you pronounce it? Ghibli? Ghibli?
They pronounce it Ghibli [with a soft “g,” like “jeans”], we pronounce it Ghibli [with a hard “g,” like “guppy”] because of the way they wrote it. Doesn’t really matter, everyone knows who you’re talking about.
Studio Gangster, that’s who it is. I really love that art style. But I also love, I guess whatever studio did Akira, that sh*t is wild to me.
[Fun fact: Makiko Futaki, one of key animators on Akira, went on to become a lead animator for Studio Ghibli films such as Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle.]
Crunchyroll
Logic’s collaboration with Crunchyroll is available for pre-order on Crunchyroll’s store. Check it out here.
Prolific Maryland rapper Logic is finally ready to unleash Ultra 85 and it is coming very soon. According to the NFR Podcast‘s X account, the album will release on August 9th and possess 20 tracks. Fans of his know that he has already previewed the project three times over the last five months. Logic has dropped “Fear”, “44ever”, and “Deja Vu”, which is the most recent of the trio. According to Genius, this will supposedly be the veteran’s final album, but we know happened after No Pressure in 2020. He went on to release several fan-fare mixtapes and singles, so who really knows what is in store Logic following this.
Just like his future, the chance of Ultra 85 existing was also in limbo for many years. Some of his fans have even claimed that they have been waiting on this since the mid 2010s. With Logic being so hard to read overall, it is no surprise that this project has taken so long to come to fruition. If this indeed his going away gift to his fans, then we hope it will be one of his best yet. For the speedy lyricist, Ultra 85 is supposedly also going to be the conclusion to the storyline on 2017’s Everybody.
If you remember, it was about how Atom, voiced by BigVon, dies in a car crash and is reincarnated by God, played by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Everyone else also receives the same treatment. Each song is every perspective that Atom has lived through, which ties into the themes of Everybody, which is Logic’s experiences of being black and white. It is something that has divided listeners over the years, but time and time again, people still come back to his music. A lot more should do the exact same for Ultra 85 as well.
What are your thoughts on Logic releasing Ultra 85 on August 9th? Are you still ready to listen to this album, why or why not? Does this have the chance to be his greatest project based on all the information we have? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Logic. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Logic has long been a huge anime guy, and now he’s teamed up with one of the industry’s biggest US-based titans — anime-focused streaming service Crunchyroll — and one of his favorite shows, Cowboy Bebop. As for what they’re doing: It’s a new streetwear collection partnership inspired by the classic show.
The following 11 Crunchyroll exclusives are included in the collection: See You Space Cowboy T-shirt, Sympathy for the Devil T-shirt, Logic and Radical Ed Smiley T-shirt, The Crew T-shirt, Logic and the Crew-neck Sweatshirt, Logic and the Crew Sweatshirt, Cowboy Bebop 1998 Hoodie, Varsity Jacket, Beanie, Corduroy Hat, Skate Deck, and Poster. The collection is available to pre-order now on the Crunchroll online store.
Logic offered a statement, saying, “Anime was there for me when I was growing up in a drug and violence-ridden childhood and household. I discovered anime through Cowboy Bebop, and would later go on to befriend the voice of Spike Spiegel, Steve Blum, and collaborate with him on various albums, which is a dream come true. Without Cowboy Bebop, there is no Logic. I just hope that collabing with Cowboy Bebop and Crunchyroll will allow me to introduce a lot more of my fans who might not be hip to Cowboy Bebop, and vice versa, and hope that a bunch of people out there who love Cowboy Bebop will realize I’m making fun anime nerd albums.”
Logic has been working on Ultra 85 “for years and years and years”. That was according to an interview with The Greatest Creators With Guy Raz in early 2024. Fans certainly know that, as a lot of people have been on the edge of their seats waiting a long time for this to come to fruition. That hopelessness should be coming to end at some point this year, as Logic did share that info with us in late January.
A few days after that announcement, the Maryland multi-hyphenate would go on to drop the dance-inspired “Fear”. Then, the more straightforward banger, “44ever”, would follow in April, which brings us to Deja Vu”. As soon as you spin this single, your ears may catch on to the familiar flows, lyrics, and instrumental. This certainly makes sense, especially due to the name of the record.
If you thought you were hearing elements of “Fade Away”, then you would be correct! The Incredible True Story cut is a fan favorite for most, and listeners are already calling this “Fade Away 2”. The bars highlighted below are maybe the most impactful, as Logic gives us an update of the lyrics from the 2015 song. Originally, they went something like this: “Yeah, everybody gonna die, gonna go, one day / Maybe it would happen on a Monday“. This time around, he knows what to do, which is to live his life without anyone’s input. It is a great full circle moment, and ties in perfectly to the message of this song, as well as “Fear”.
What are your thoughts on “Deja Vu” by Logic and DJ Drama? Is this the best promotional track from his upcoming album Ultra 85, why or why not? Does this have you interested in what is to come on the album? What was your favorite aspect of the track? Do you prefer this over the original “Fade Away”? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Logic and DJ Drama. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Quotable Lyrics:
Yеah, everybody gonna die, gonna go, I know That’s why I flow likе a river, my liver can’t take no more Ain’t no more f***s to give, I gotta live my life Regardless if you think I’m living it right I was born in the dark now I live in the light B****, I’m ready to fight like I’m Tyson
AUGUST 9TH