In 2018, just as he was breaking in the rap world, Los Angeles rapper
03 Greedo was sent away to serve a 20-year prison stint, promising fans he'd continue releasing music from behind bars. One of the first of those promised efforts arrived in spring 2019 in the form of full-length Still Summer in the Projects. The set featured guests
Shoreline Mafia ("Trap House"),
YG ("Wasted"), and Trilliano ("Grapevine"), as well as popping production from
Mustard. Appropriately titled, the album is packed with feel-good, summery nostalgia that breezes along at a clip with
Greedo's varied delivery, which switches between auto-tuned crooning and wordy bars. While most of the album remains focused on activities performed out of prison, Still Summer closes on the introspective "Visions," a full-on confessional from his "cell with no windows" that offers the most insight into his situation. Despite his dour prospects, he maintains that, upon release, "when I get back I'll be rich." As his voice cracks, he doesn't sound entirely sure of that claim, but it's that attitude and the music that could see him through it. For fans, it's a vulnerable peek into the harsh truth of this lifestyle, one where art has become reality. ~ Neil Z. Yeung