Review Summary: Windows rolled down. Stereo blasting.
Tha Playa$ Manual II found me in the middle of a cool summer night. From the moment the music hit my ears my attention was captured.
If you aren’t familiar, Ramirez is a Bay Area artist who has been making music since the mid-2010s. Ramirez has stated that he is influenced by ‘90s Bay Area and Memphis hip-hop. Those influences are heard throughout this album.
Even with five years between releases, Tha Playa$ Manual II feels like a natural continuation from the first. If the first manual is a high school graduate then the second is in college. Instead of trying to create something new, it expands on what was already there.
Structurally, there are no differences between the first and second Playa$ Manual. They both have skits in the beginning, middle, and end of the album. I’ve never been a fan of skits. They almost always feel like filler tracks or an interruption to the flow of the album. Here, the skits don’t do that. If anything, the skits add to the cohesion of the album.
Even with a more mature vibe, the playa persona is very much alive. This is Tha Playa$ Manual II afterall. On “Hollow Tips,” Ramirez makes it clear that he is not one to be messed with by exuding a "don't test me energy". The next track, “Cut Throat Game,” was the first track that really pulled me in. As a sucker for songs about resilience, Rami pulls me in when he says, “No matter what day you fall, gotta get back up and fight the pain. Even when it starts to rain, a player always gon’ ball. Gotta get the money, *** the fame.” It clicked immediately.
The synth funk is alive on “Playas Need Love,” which is a fun, upbeat, and romantic song. This track combines g-funk with jazz. It’s the kind of song you might hear at a skating rink with skaters dancing to the beat. “Boulevard Nights,” is a romantic song that slows things down even more. It features Latin-soul musician, Jason Joshua. Higher pitched vocals from Joshua add texture to the jazzy tones. “Pushin’ On Some Paper,” is a self-assured track that taps into the what it means to hustle. Pimping energy at its finest. “Don’t Lose Hope,” returns to a smoother, romantic tone combining g-funk and synth-funk.
What makes Tha Playa$ Manual great is its commitment to the vibe. TPMII tells a story. From the album artwork to the skits, everything feels aligned. Many of the tracks on this album can be listened to independently. However, to really feel like you’ve stepped into The Velvet Lounge, Tha Playas$ Manual works best when listened to from start to finish.
