Pouya is a 30 year old rapper & singer/songwriter from Miami, Florida who’s a pioneer of the early underground rap scene that began on SoundCloud in 2012 & discovering the $uicideboy$ in their early career. His 2016 debut Underground Underdog was released to mixed reception although 5 showed considerable improvement as did The South Got Something to Say & Blood Was Never Thick as Water. 17 months after Gator was said to be his final LP, the BatKave & Buffet Boys member is returning for a 4th album.
“LORD FORGIVE ME FOR THE PAIN I INFLICT ON MYSELF” is a cloudy Memphis opener to talk about earning his stripes over a decade in the game whereas “FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING” has a smoother trap flare encouraging to let go of the bullshit to hop in the ride with him & not getting too high. “BLAME GAME” blends jazz & trap instrumentally assuring that he doesn’t want to be pointing fingers at anyone, but then “WHERE DID I GO WRONG?” shoots for a Memphis-inspired atmosphere once again saying he’s been singing the same song.
Rick Ross joins Pouya for the single “UH OH” pulling from mobb music referring to themselves as hood rats hanging out the window of the ride just before “BACK THE FUCK UP” returns to the Memphis sound so he can talk about dying a legend. “LAND OF IGUANAS” brings a cloudy boom bap vibe to the table only waking up for money & sex while “LEMONADE (DEAD MAN WALKING)” talks needing something to numb the pain. “WHAT UU BOUT” finishes the LP crossing over trap & jazz knowing what he’s gotta do.
22 months in the making & what Pouya has given us in They Could Never Make Me Hate You has to very well be a step above his last few albums & quite possibly the biggest one of his entire career spanning over a decade long. The production ranges from trap to jazz rap, Memphis rap & mobb music flexing his underground status & breaking down the lifestyle that comes with it all.
Score: 7/10