Texas Platters

Dowrong & Eric Dingus

Progression of an MC (or producer) commences with the development of nuance, a core quality. Demonstrating its value on Stack or Starve: The American Dream, Austin MC LaDarrian Torry (Dowrong) and Drake/OVO-associated producer Eric Dingus continue their march toward greatness. The first words on opener "Young & Reckless" – "I'm just young, living my life wild" – ring equally matter-of-fact and overt braggadocio, riding Dingus' staggered, back-alley basslines. Accountability and fatherhood emerge thematic, Torry's voice and flow carrying noticeable heft and increased efficiency, both armed with more focus than the unbound rage of 2014's Dowrong EP. "Get This Money" and "S.O.S." leading the way, the MC flourishes most on tracks where Dingus parts his cloudy, dark-trap skies and creates a dedicated space where Torry can spit his long-winded, sun-hot coals. Stack or Starve: The American Dream rings as inevitability, proof that life changes and earned understanding will squeeze growth out of the hardest man.