Ye vs. Pharrell? The Battle On “It’s Almost Dry” By Pusha T
Intro:
Pusha T delivered again with another high-quality coke rap album. It’s Almost Dry sees the Virginia music veteran deliver fiery & menacing lyrics over production primarily handled by both Kanye West & Pharrell Williams. He’s worked closely with both Hip-Hop legends & producers for decades of his long career. Push even noted that he would go back & forth between both super producers while crafting this album for them to competitively compare each other’s beats. With all that said, which producer performed the best on this new Pusha T album?
Kanye’s Case
Although both producers utilize samples, Kanye still just has a beautiful way of manipulating them. He chooses eclectic ones that complete the cocaine & drug dealing aesthetic of Pusha T’s subject matter. Songs like Just So You Remember & Hear Me Clearly serve as the setting for Pusha’s harsh reality & cold lyrics (especially with the percussion featured on both beats). Other producers that assisted on Kanye’s portion include Labrinth, 88-Keys, BoogzDaBeast & more.
Fans of Daytona will love to hear that Kanye’s contributions carry more of that project’s style/vibe than Pharrell’s. It seems as though Pusha bars out more on the Ye tracks (Ex: Diet Coke & Dreamin Of The Past). However, one of the main elements of It’s Almost Dry is its artistically minimal/stripped back (at times). And with that in mind, I think Pharrell is able to do more with less.
Pharrell’s Case
Pharrell delivers extremely infectious production that’s both bouncy & slightly club-friendly. Songs like Neck & Wrist are both eerie & luxurious, and additionally are more accessible than some of Ye’s beats. I also think Pharrell’s beats stand out more due to either usually being harder or more abrasive too; which lets Push rap with more viciousness & aggression (Ex: Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes).
Again, the album takes a minimal/stripped-back approach to its haunting production overall. Pharrell accomplishes this goal better than Ye because I’d say a majority of his contribution feels more complete and/or fun. And last, I appreciate how Push tries new things on Pharrell’s beats & is more focused on the song itself > the numerous bars.
Overall:
In short, I’d say Pharrell had the more impressive production on the entire album. Both Hip-Hop legends provide Pusha T with dark & sinister beats to create a menacing atmosphere. However, for an album that’s very minimal & stripped down, I believe Pharrell was capable of doing more with less. It’s definitely a hard choice as the decision really boils down to personal preference at the end of the day. Thank you all for reading, and be sure to listen to Pusha T’s new album with the link below.
