Album Review: Professional Rapper by Lil Dicky

I have mixed feelings on Lil Dicky. He can make genuinely funny, enjoyable tunes, like $ave Dat Money and Too High, and atrociously unfunny trainwrecks, like Earth and Pillow Talking. But today, I'm going to take a look at his debut album, Professional Rapper, and see if it's as funny as George Carlin, or as unfunny as Amy Schumer.

Cover: This is a very cool cover. It has a very meta vibe, with Dicky's resume, a condom, what I presume is a joint, black earbuds, and a phone playing the song "Professional Rapper". A very interesting, eye catching, meta cover. The white and blue color scheme is also a nice touch. Verdict: 4/5.

Song 1: Meet The Burds (Interlude)

This is a very interesting opening. It's basically Dicky talking to his parents. It's very interesting, funny, and sets the tone for the album. But it's not really that interesting.

Verdict: 3/5.

Song 2: Professional Rapper

Title tracks are usually really good, and this one is no exception. Professional Rapper is not only the best song on this album, but one of the best songs of Dicky's career, if not his absolute best. The production is great, Dicky sounds great, Snoop sounds great, and it's interesting seeing him being strict and judging, instead of the nice cool guy he usually is. But what really makes Professional Rapper such a good song is the lyrics. They're funny, clever, feel realistic to Dicky, and really help paint a picture of who Dicky is and how he sees his industry. It's less like listening to a song, and more like reading Dicky's memoir, with a bit of comedy. Bottom line, Professional Rapper is a fantastic, funny, interesting, catchy song. Easily the best song on the album.

Verdict: 6/5.

Song 3: Who Knew

Who Knew is a very cool song. It has a very futuristic, funky vibe, Dicky sounds great, the lyrics are great, and it's a really cool, interesting song. Definitely an album highlight

Verdict: 4/5.

Song 4: Lemme Freak

Lemme Freak is really weird. The production is decent, and Dicky sounds fine, but these lyrics are weird as hell, but not in a good way. Honestly, I don't really get it. There isn't even really an attempt at making a joke, and it's just boring and dumb. Skip this one.

Verdict: 2/5.

Song 5: Lemme Freak For Real Tho (Outro)

This one is a little better. Like Who Knew, it has a very interesting, futuristic vibe. It's not amazing, but certainly better than Lemme Freak

Verdict: 3/5.

Song 6: White Crime

This song is really cool. Like Ransom by Lil Tecca, White Crime has an ominious vibe, but doesn't go overboard with how ominous it is. Also, Dicky sounds great, the song has a funky vibe, and the lyrics are really good. A definite album highlight.

Verdict: 5/5.

Song 7: Molly

Molly is a song that does a good job of showing Dicky's soft side. It's a song about Dicky contemplating him losing his girlfriend. Not only does Molly handle its subject matter well, but it sounds really good. The melody is nice, Dicky sounds good, his flow is great, and the lyrics are deep and introspective, while still having a bit of a comedic vibe. Also, Brendon Urie is on this song, and (big shocker), he's really good. His voice sounds fantastic, and it works really well. Bottom line, Molly is a very well made, interesting song. Great work, Dicky.

Verdict: 5/5.

Song 8: Bruh...

I mentioned in my best of 2015 list that Bruh... was Lil Dicky's most underrated song. And I still stand by that. Bruh... is a really good song. The beat is good, Lil Dicky's voice and flow are great, the lyrics are clever, and the song has a boppin, funky vibe. Another album highlight.

Verdict: 5/5

Song 9: Hannibal Interlude

This is another good interlude. It has a catchy vibe, it's self aware, Hannibal sounds decent, and it's funky. Much better than the first interlude.

Verdict: 4/5.

Song 10: $ave Dat Money 

This song is Dicky's biggest hit, and it's not hard to see why. It's insanely good. Sure the idea of making a rap song about saving money as opposed to spending money isn't exactly an original one, but $ave Dat Money does do the idea justice. The beat slaps, Dicky and Fetty sound great, the lyrics are clever, the way it utilizes rap tropes is clever, and Rich Homie Quan's verse is fantastic. Not only does it sound great, but it has the double of joke of parodying how guest verses rarely have anything to do with the actual song, and saying that not using all of Rich's verse in order to save money. It's no Thrift Shop, but $ave Dat Money is still a fantastic comedy song. Also, that bit near the end where Dicky talks to the waiter in his deep voice is really funny.

Verdict: 5/5.

Song 11: Oh Well

Oh Well is another great song. It's really relaxing, it has a funk, I love the poppy instrumental, Dicky sounds fantastic, the lyrics are clever, the flow is good, and Jace and Jace of Two-9 are both good. Yet another album highlight.

Verdict: 5/5.

Song 12: Personality

This song is really good. It has a funky and fun vibe, Dicky and T-Pain sound great, the lyrics are good, and it's so catchy and danceable. Not the best song on the album, but very close.

Verdict: 6/5.

Song 13: Pillow Talking

It's appropriate that the 13th song (a number that is associated with bad luck) on the album is easily the worst one. Granted, unlike Lemme Freak, I can at least see what Dicky was going for when he made Pillow Talking, but it's much more of a failure. The production is bizarre and awful, Dicky sounds terrible, Dicky's brain is annoying, but what really makes Pillow Talking fail is the lyrics. These lyrics try so hard to be funny, but just fail. It tries to be bizarre and random, but there's just no technique. It just goes from random topic to random topic, without saying anything funny. It's basically an even less tolerable version of Earth, without the environmental stuff. Easily the worst song on the album. Do not listen.

Verdict: 0/5

Song 14: Parental Advisory (Interlude)

Yet another interlude. Basically the same as the original. There's no need to comment on it. Basically everything I said about the first Parents interlude apply to this one as well.

Verdict: 3/5.

Song 15: Classic Male Pregame

This song is meh. The production is alright and Dicky sounds great, but it doesn't really stick out the way $ave Dat Money does. It's incredibly forgettable, boring, and not that funny. Skip.

Verdict: 3/5.

Song 16: The Antagonist

This song is really cool. It has a very funky vibe. Dicky sounds great, his lyrics are good, his flow is decent, and it's very catchy and groovin. It's kind of like a sequel to Professional Rapper. Really cool stuff.

Verdict: 4/5.

Song 17: The Antagonist II

Is this another case of the sequel being better than the original? Yes. The Antagonist II ups everything that made the original Antagonist good. The beat is even more funky and cool, Dicky is even better, and it's even more boppin. Another great album highlight.

Verdict: 5/5.

Song 18: Parents Still Don't Understand (Interlude)

The final interlude on the album. Is it a good one? Well, it certainly is one. It's another interlude with Dicky and his parents. Nothing to say here.

Verdict: 3/5.

Song 19: Work (Paid For That?)

This song has a very 80s vibe. It has a lot of synths, and is very funky. Dicky also sounds really good, and the lyrics are decent. Another really good album highlight.

Verdict: 5/5.

Song 20: Truman

And now, we reach the final song on Professional Rapper, Truman. Is it a comedic sucess, or a comedic dud? A sucess. The beat is really good, Dicky sounds great, the lyrics are alright, and it reminds me of Macklemore a bit. It sounds like it would fit right at home in Gemini. And that's a compliment. An alright end to an ok album.

Verdict: 5/5

Final Thoughts: Certain albums manage to exceed your expectations, and be better or worse than you were anticipating. Professional Rapper is not one of those albums. This is exactly what you would expect from a Lil' Dicky album. Some funny songs, some unfunny songs, some songs that sound good, some songs that sound awful, I got exactly what I was expecting. It's not an absolutely amazing comedy album, but it's decent for what it is. If you're a Lil Dicky fan or a fan of comedy music in general, check this album out. But don't expect anything amazing. Just expect Lil Dicky doing his thing. 

Verdict: 3/5.

Best songs: Professional Rapper, $ave Dat Money, Who Knew, White Crime, Molly, Bruh..., Oh Well, Personality, The Antagonist, The Antagonist II, Work (Paid For That?)

Worst songs: Pillow Talking, Lemme Freak, Classic Male Pregame

What are your thoughts on this album, and on Lil' Dicky? What's your favorite and least favorite Lil' Dicky song? What's your favorite comedy song? Comment below!