Birds the Trap Sing McKnight [LP] in Bloomington, MN

Titled after one of
Quavo
's lines from the chirpy summertime 2016 hit co-billed to
Travis Scott
and
Young Thug
, this fitfully hypnotizing follow-up arrived after numerous delays, toward the end of the year's third quarter. "Pick Up the Phone" functioned as the lead single off
Thug
's
JEFFERY
, and it sensibly reappears here, buried in the latter half, de-emphasized yet not quite a tacked-on bonus. It's easily the track with the most pop appeal on
Scott
's second full-length. Released almost exactly a year after
Rodeo
,
Birds in the Trap
features little development, though the large company
keeps is quite different, and
Metro Boomin
is noticeably absent. Among the present is
Andre 3000
, who drops by on "The Ends" to recollect the infamous rash of murders that struck his city during his early childhood. The album's deepest verse by a great measure, it has no discernible connection to
's surrounding rhymes of cocksure nonsense. That remains the M.O. of
, who remains deeply into heavy accessorization and proclamations of dominance, as well as punctuations with affirmative exclamations cast in dehumanizing pitch alteration. Swarming basslines and sluggish beats likewise form the rhythmic foundation, with gauzy and tickling keyboards adding sweetness to
's hedonistic hooks. Only on "Guidance," through scuttling drums granted by
DF
, is there a significant shake-up. This time,
co-produced only one track, another
Weeknd
collaboration, and it easily slips into the album's scheme with its serpentine menace and lightweight lyricism. Among the others on the guest carousel are
Kendrick Lamar
Kid Cudi
21 Savage
, and
Cassie
. They all pass in a slow-motion blur. ~ Andy Kellman