"Heaven Or Hell" Proves To Be A Strong Debut For Don Toliver
In August 2018, a young Houston Singer-Rapper by the name of Don Toliver dropped what was supposed to be his breakout project “Donny Womack.”However, Travis Scott’s highly anticipated album, “ASTROWORLD” was released the very next day leading to what seemed like one Houston artist was outshining the other. On the contrary, it was actually the opposite, while “ASTROWORLD” took over the summer with several smash hits, “Say Less” which featured Tolliver was one of the major standouts on Travis’ 2018 project. Soon after the releases, Tolliver was officially announced as an artist on Travis’ “Cactus Jack” imprint label, even accompanying H-Town artist on his blockbuster “ASTROWORLD - Wish You Were Here” Tour. Toliver’s playful melody and cadence resemble Travis Scott’s in many ways, especially that natural sonic feel destined for hit-making. His leathery voice is quite unique, and the melodies he uses, with a cadence that dances around the pocket, gives every song he releases the potential to be a smash. With “Heaven or Hell,” standing at 12 songs over 37 minutes, Toliver hopes to attract a fanbase by showcasing his talents. The album features many of the “Jack Boys” including the founder himself Travis Scott and Sheck Wes, as well as features from Kaash Paige, Quavo and Offset.
Categories
The songs on “Heaven Or Hell” all flow in one lane that is prevalent throughout the project and scored on a 1.5 scale. (0 = trash, .5 = not for me, 1 = good, 1.5 = a standout)
The Cactus Jack (New Houston) Sound
Every song is of the Cactus Jack Vibe, futuristic, yet somewhat based in traditional instrumentation.
“Heaven Or Hell” (1)
“Euphoria” ft. Travis Scott & Kaash Paige (1.5)
“Cardigan “(1.5)
“After Party” (1.5)
“Wasted” (1.5)
“Can’t Feel My Legs” (1.5)
“Candy” (1)
“Company” (.5)
“Had Enough” ft. Quavo & Offset (1)
“Spaceship” ft. Sheck Wes (.5)
“No Photos” (.5)
“No Idea” (1.5)
The Standouts
“Euphoria” ft. Travis Scott & Kaash Paige
Reuniting with label boss Travis Scott, Euphoria is a perfect song placed at the start of the album. While it is second to the intro, “Heaven Or Hell,” “Euphoria” feels like the first track. Also featuring Kaash Paige, all three artists perform verses that seem as if they’re dealing with something deep like past mistakes, lost loves, fame, etc... But, the chorus is where Don and Kaash sing that they’re “Drowning in Euphoria”, basking in the chaotic nirvana. Produced by Sonic Major the song is a sonic masterpiece, of dark synths and laid back muddy percussion that fits the same dark wonderland vibe that Travis Scott’s albums usually have.
“Cardigan”
A song where Don Tolliver seems to have found his ride or die, he tells her “Don’t stick around save yourself, but you can hit my phone if you need some help”, which fits the album perfectly. While “Cardigan” isn’t a traditional love song, there is a level of authentic vulnerability on the song that’s easy to resonate with, having the love you crave but not feeling too deserving of it. Frank Dukes & Sonny Digital give the beat smooth bounce, the bass bops around dancing around synths and Toliver’s vocals dripping in reverb.
“No Idea”
Originally released as a single in 2019, “No Idea” is the final song on “Heaven or Hell.” While the song is the last on the project, the first two lines sum up the album perfectly, “First things first, let me get that introduction, we on a long road to self-destruction”. That line is a great summary of the whole album, even more, so the song is about Don Tolliver’s pickiness with women, which results in Toliver returning to his go-to “Booty Call”, a relationship he didn’t realize he had gotten too deep into. Produced by CuBeatz & WondaGurl, the song is both spacey and angelic, WondaGurl’s clean-cut 808s combined with the subtle instrumentation makes for a beautiful last song.
Final Review
“Heaven Or Hell” feels like a short stint in purgatory, an imperfect equilibrium where you teeter between the good place and the bad. While the content doesn’t get too deep and the energy behind the songs isn’t too party-oriented, you can find yourself more immersed in the vibes after the party. Like a soundtrack to the grace period when you’re going home and although the pounding bass from a wild night is still subtly ringing in your ear, the silence of the commute leaves too much space for high thoughts and drunk justifications. Not attempting to chaotically live life balancing the good and the bad, but unapologetically existing between the two. The production is crisp in sound, and sonically intriguing, dark yet not depressing in the slightest, in fact, you’d find it hard to stay still listening to this album. If “Heaven or Hell” is an example of the projects to come from Don Tolliver, Travis and fans alike have a lot to be excited about. The question is, what happens if new fans get bored with it quickly? This album is a great debut, and with so few features it gives the audience the luxury of truly understanding who Don Tolliver is as a solo artist. But then there is a question of his versatility. While tenured Tolliver fans may be satisfied but there is the need for expansion especially from a sound so similar to Travis Scott’s. But I have a feeling that Don Tolliver and Travis know something that we don’t.
Scoring
Raw Score: The number of good songs on a project versus the overall amount. Songs must have a 1 or above to be counted.
Quality Score: The total amount of points accumulated over the total amount of songs.
Playback value: The resonance an album is perceived to have if played again in full. Scale out of 5.
Raw Score: 9/12
Quality Score: 13.5/12
Playback Value: 4/5
Go out and listen to Don Toliver’s “Heaven Or Hell” wherever you listen to your music. Also, don’t forget to check out OldMilk’s Instagram page and Twitter (@Oldmilk_co) for more Hip-Hop Album Reviews, The DJ 500K Playlist, The OldMilk Radar and more! Don’t Know it? OldMilk Does!
