I don’t think Memphis always gets its fair shake as a rap haven. Their foundations are distinctly rooted in Three 6 Mafia, who obviously tout the trump card of rap credits by flaunting the Oscar they won for Hustle and Flow. Shout out to Juicy J’s impeccably titled From O’s to Oscars, and his omnipresence in mainstream rap and mixtape cycle alike across the past decade. Young underground enigmas have popped up throughout the past decade, like when Chris Travis’ “Crunch Time” was one of the most highly touted songs of 2013, so much so that we’re still talking about it today. Gangsta Boo had a solid resurgence with standout BeatKing collab Underground Cassette Tape Music Vol. 1 and the Candy, Diamonds & Pills mixtape. In the past four or five years, Young Dolph has generally reigned supreme, even if he did semi-retire back in March and made it clear that he’s passing the proverbial torch to his cousin Key Glock after last year’s Dolph-Glock collab Dum and Dummer left us wanting more. In the 2010s, Memphis didn’t get the same local scene attention as Chicago drill or the ever evolving faces of Atlanta, but its impact and importance should not be understated. But this is even without mentioning the arcs of Blac Youngsta, Moneybagg Yo, BlocBoy JB -- maybe those who underestimate the scene just aren’t paying close enough attention.
So how does Big Moochie Grape fit into this picture? Less than a year ago, he was simply an East Memphis street legend buying studio time one track at a time and handing out songs to local DJs, and today, he’s the newly crowned protege of Young Dolph and the most recent signee of his Paper Route EMPIRE imprint. Label signing gifts don’t get much louder than your label head rolling up with a purple Lamborghini truck blasting your lead single -- this reveal is pretty much perfect. Big Moochie is no-frills, a spitting image of straightforward Memphis rap in the mold of Young Dolph himself (no surprise there). He has no misconceptions about who he is, and this record doesn’t either. His moniker is just outrageous enough to be endearing, especially considering that he can back up any claim that he makes, and it even brings to mind Young Dolph’s “Meech.” Big Moochie Grape takes advantage of those essential and distinctive Memphis bass lines and trap grooves to flex his street credits and extravagant lifestyle. He’s charismatic, slick, yet properly sloppy in his delivery to give his sound that southern slang.
“From the Bottom” is probably my favorite track, even if they’re all in contention, but this one especially stands out with that panning beat that bounces from ear to ear. Try to find someone who doesn’t start singing along to “Uh Huh Uh Huh Uh Huh” or quickly pick up on the chorus groove of original lead single “Big Juice” -- it’s kind of a shame that this is only eight tracks. Big Moochie might benefit from high-profile cosigns and a bevy of resources, but his debut capitalizes on that opportunity and shows us that he’s ready for the big stage. Key Glock is still my favorite Memphis rapper going right now, and I think we’re in the midst of seeing another wave of noteworthy projects coming out of the area. I’m excited to see what else Big Moochie Grape gets himself into this year.
Released April 3rd, 2020. Reviewed May 11th, 2020.
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