It took three years for Trippie Redd to follow-up his fifth studio full-length, MANSION MUSIK, which signals the longest break between albums since he broke through in 2018 with LIFE’S A TRIP. There’s an urgency to NDA, like the songs he wasn’t able to sing were bursting at the seams, dying to come out. The Ohio-born rapper’s sixth opus is a sweeping survey of the modern rap landscape. It’s always interesting to judge a mega-release by its collaborators, and Trippie invites peers from near and far to come through on NDA. Young Thug contributes to “Paperbag Boy”, which finds the two MCs rapping over a deliriously distorted and colourful beat, an instrumental clearly inspired by Playboi Carti’s influence on the 2020s. As if that’s not enough fun, Thugger comes through five tracks later on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air name-checking “Uncle Phil”, which is a decidedly more nonchalant cut. Here, the duo ride the triplet hi-hats and pounding bass rhythms like two surfers cruising a break. Trippie’s ability to turn things up or lay back at a moment’s notice is one of NDA‘s great strengths. On the sultry, yearning, PARTYNEXTDOOR-assisted “Say What”, Trippie flips heartbreak into swaggy catharsis, using the smooth R&B beat to reflect on what could have been. With other guest stars including BigXThaPlug, Lil Wayne, Rob49—and Sexyy Red on the aptly titled “Meet the Redds”—Trippie reiterates his standing as one of rap’s most impressive accruers of talent. Even more striking? He more than stands out from this very impressive crowd whenever he flies solo. Our Favourite Track: The triumphant turn-up anthem “Meet the Redds”.