Master Sensei

the take

If you were to ask me how I felt about Hoodrich Pablo Juan's "Master Sensei" back in 2016, I would've told you that this was the best mixtape of the year, hands down. I don't really have the same opinion nowadays, though. Pablo Juan was on a roll back around this time, dropping almost consistently, feeding the streets quite often. "Master Sensei", produced by Spiffy Global (along with additional co-production by others such as Nard & B) is one of those ones where it sounded incredible at the time but feels a bit too dated to my liking. Either way, Spiffy's production sound on here fits the whole "Karate Kidl theme if it took place in the hood, while Hoodrich Pablo Juan does what he does best in terms of rapping. The way he comes off as confident at being the big dog of Atlanta based off his swagger and influence in the Atlanta scene at the time. Unfortunately, the mixtape doesn't have that "knock" like it once did to me. I mean, sure, I still have "Think He the Shit" and "Fuck Sum" on repeat like I'm still a true YN or some shit, but besides those (as well as "Blow It All"), it's kind of hard for me to like the rest as much as I used to. "Master Sensei" is still a good enough project for me to reminisce the old days that reflected my daily hoodrat activities, but it doesn't have that lasting power for me like it once did.