G Herbo - 'Swervo' Review

From Lil Herb to G Herbo—16 year old rapper to Chi-raq phenom—G Herbo’s music is standing the test of time as his art evolves. With every new chapter in his career, he’s given fans a new alias to call him by. G Herbo was merely a nickname back when he was Lil Herb; but his adoption of it symbolizes his ascension into adulthood.

When Ballin Like I’m Kobe dropped, that progression was complete. Here was a new man it seemed- someone who still possessed relentless energy but had become more self-aware. Strictly 4 My Fans marched in the same vein, and gave fans another pseudonym for Herbo: "Humble Beast".

Herbo’s debut album, Humble Beast is his best project to date—or at least a contender. Despite the success he had achieved, he still managed to maintain the rugged underdog energy that fans love him for. The side of him that’s “Humble” expounded on his progression from rags to riches, and the close friends he lost along the way. The side of him that’s a “Beast” declared himself the “Man Now” and flexed on his haters with no remorse.

But Herbo’s sophomore LP—a joint venture between him and trap pioneer, Southside—is the latest chapter in Herbo’s career. Swervo is G Herbo at his most unapologetic and most arrogant. On speaker-pounding production, Herbo’s chin is up when you mention other rappers, his team is ready to blast for him, his cars have no chill, and his chains are like a strobe light.

Atlanta and Chicago street revelations converge on “That’s How I Grew Up” ft. 21 Savage. Herbo’s intensity is magnified by Southside’s 808s thumping in the background. 21 Savage is cutthroat and points to his stat sheet, reminding listeners that he’s with the shits.

Herbo’s flow on “FoReal” feels effortless, as he raps with machine-gun esque delivery and boasts about not talking “shit” because he’ll “end” a “rap career”. It’s the most braggadocious record on Swervo.

On “Pac n Dre”, he and Southside’s chemistry is on full display. Southside chimes in on the hook to assist Herbo. The duo is “balling for real” and liken themselves to the greats. This track’s energy is loud, disrespectful, and confrontational. Pull up in traffic with this bumping full throttle.

Then there’s the sleek, hazy, and dark “Bonjour”. Herbo rhymes with a slurred delivery, stretching the closing words of some of his bars. But his last remarks about his city are poignant: “the police here ain’t solving murders- this ain’t Law & Order”.

“Letter” is the most reflective record on Swervo though. Addressed to his son, he chronicles some of his upbringing and rejoices that his son won’t have to live through the same things. It’s personal and feels like you’re right there with them.

Everytime G Herbo drops a project, his artistry grows- whether it’s a new flow, new producer, or new story to tell. He works more intensely with Southside on this one, but there’s a new and glaring issue on here: there are moments when Herbo sounds offbeat. He’s always had a rapid-fire flow, but he sounds off-kilter and unsteady at times.

Instead of gliding on some beats, he sounds like he’s doing a clumsy job of staying the course. The result feels like he’s rapping at the beat, and not on it. It’s strange; it comes across like he’s trying too hard.

Essential Tracks

• “Some Nights”
• “Swervo”
• “That’s How I Grew Up” ft. 21 Savage
• “FoReal”
• “Catch Up” ft. Chief Keef
• “Pac n Dre”
• “Bonjour”
• “Letter”
• “Focused”
• “Who Run It (Remix)”

The Verdict

Swervo is G Herbo at his least Humble, and most arrogant. It’s a braggadocious follow up to an album that found him reflecting on his past in many instances. They call him "Swervo" because he did that when he “crashed” his “last whip”; but with that ferocious drive and hunger, who knows what we’ll be calling him next.

Swervo is a B.