This is the sophomore effort from Queens host Bobby J from Rockaway. A Kwamé protégé, he would start to gain attention in the underground in the summer of 2019 thanks to his full-length debut album Summer Classics and his Statik Selektah-produced debut EP Endless Summer, the latter of which was my introduction to Endless Summer. Last summer, Bobby teamed up with Detroit veteran Hush to release the collaborative album “718 II 313”, and they were lucky enough to play 80% of it for me in the studio a year before its release. Nef produced the Radio Days EP about two years ago and collaborated with Dom Dirtee on Let’s Go Higher.
The title track starts off with this otherworldly beat that wants to take it to the next level, while “Once Again” takes a booming bap route on the instrumentation so Bobby can talk back to the hardcore songwriter Here comes the life of this bitch. Second single “Vibin’ (All By Myself)” exudes a more playful tone, discussing the theme of having fun listening to music by yourself in your room after “Mr.” Walt Checks In” episode, the lead single “Dangerous” lets people know their mentality when facing them.
Paul Wall co-wrote the third and final single “I Gotta” with Bobby, both working on their respective teams, while “Outta This Club” Tell the DJ not to stop playing this heater. After the “Tape Stand” skit, “Round N Round” had them giddy until “Get Away,” where they passionately felt the need to escape. “Hello” comes to a close with a cheerful assertion that it deserves more exposure, while “Break Me Down” ends with a refusal to break down.
It’s been 5 years since the Summer Classic, and Higher has done several EPs and group projects that have allowed him to elevate our level, and Dom Dirtee has had success with him. The engineering from Majik Ninja Entertainment’s in-house producer Fritz the Cat is excellent, Dom’s production reaffirms his status as a hardcore songwriter, and Bobby doesn’t spend 36 minutes with any guest hosts like last time.
Rating: 9/10
