In Defense of Logic & Ultra 85

The value and importance of peace, love, and positivity

Since the release of his debut mixtape back in 2009, American rapper Robert Bryson Hall II, better known as Logic, has struggled mightily to gain any kind of respect within the hip-hop community. His fans, of course, love him for his crisp sound, ambitious sci-fi concept albums, and unabashed love for geek culture, which he proudly displays throughout much of his discography. The more “serious” hip-hop aficionados, however, seem to greet his music with considerably less enthusiasm.

The problem with Logic, according to his critics, is two-fold. First, he often wears his musical influences on his sleeve, which has led many to accuse him of stealing beats, flows, and rhyme patterns directly from other hip-hop artists. Over the years, this perceived lack of originality has earned him a reputation for being little more than a second-rate carbon copy of better rappers. Sure, the music itself is slick and well-produced, but there really isn't much about it that stands out as uniquely his own.

Another common criticism is that, while his technical abilities are undeniably impressive, his lyrics are too self-centered, thematically repetitive, corny, and devoid of subtext. The meaning is always right there on the surface, like an onion with only one layer to peel, and often requires little to no interpretative effort on the part of the listener, which leaves many die-hard hip-hop heads hungry for more.

Now, let's break down both of these complaints.

First of all, the copycat accusation strikes me as not only silly, but also downright nonsensical, considering that sampling has been an essential part of the fabric of hip-hop for decades. Almost all rappers, especially those who operate within the realms of boom bap and jazz rap, borrow heavily from the vast libraries of music that have been built since the invention of modern audio recording. Cross-breeding and playing around with already existing material (including flow and rhythm) is precisely what makes hip-hop so distinctive and different from other genres of music. It's literally part of the DNA. Unless you are duplicating every aspect of another song, I don't buy this line of thinking at all.

Secondly, while I fully understand and recognize that Logic is not the most lyrically dense and sophisticated rapper out there, I can't help but feel that there is a bit of snobbery at play here. The idea that only someone with the same pen game as Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, or Kanye West is worthy of time and attention reeks of elitism. You may not like what Logic has to say, or even the way he says it, but to insinuate that people who express themselves in a straight-forward and accessible manner are somehow not trying hard enough just seems pretentious and snooty.

I'm not trying to suggest that people who dislike Logic's music are wrong for doing so; I don't aspire to tell anyone what they should and shouldn't like. All I'm saying is that much of the criticism directed towards him is accompanied by a strange level of vitriol and self-righteousness that comes across as sad and unnecessary—especially for an artist who has spent his entire career telling his fans to never give up, to always believe in themselves and their dreams, to embrace their individuality, to not become captured by the anger, intolerance, hopelessness, and negativity that is constantly being pumped into their social media feeds. Is it really that bad for someone to shed a little light in the doom and gloom, and in a way that doesn't require a degree in hip-hop in order to unlock the full meaning? I certainly don't think so.

Personally, I have always found Logic's attitude refreshing. His music makes me feel good about myself, about other people, about the future, and that's never a bad thing. There are plenty of artists who dedicate their art to highlighting and scrutinizing social and economic issues, and we need them. But I also believe it's important for so society to prop up more people like Logic—artists who remind us of our infinite potential as human beings, of all the things we can accomplish when our hearts and minds are in the right place. A much-needed respite from all the madness of the world.

Which brings us to Logic's latest LP, Ultra 85—a sprawling technicolor science-fiction epic that features (in my humble opinion) some of the Maryland rapper's finest and most immaculately produced work to date. The beats are stellar from start to finish, the technical wizardry is incredibly impressive, and Bobby's bars have never sounded sharper and more on point. It really feels like the natural culmination of the sound and message that he's been honing for nearly ten years, resulting not only in the best and most confident record his career, but also one of the best records of the year.

Of course, none of this will matter much unless you are already a fan; Logic isn't trying to reinvent himself or please the haters here. He still raps about peace, love, and positivity, and his influences are as visible as ever. And yet, he seems to have reached a new peak of emotional maturity and artistic clarity that even his most fervent critics should be able to respect and appreciate on some level. The man knows exactly who he is and what he wants to say, and never has he said it better.

“It's hard to see the bigger picture when you're feeling restrained, because everything you dreamed to attain can't fit in the frame. Luckily, your mind's a gallery, full of artistic expression that could fill up the galaxy. It's okay to not be okay, just don't let that present mood dictate the rest of your day. Children grow up, go to work, then forget how to play. Be nicer to yourself, show humility—while you compare yourself to others on a screen, you could put that phone down, look around, feel serene. So take it day by day and make the right decision, add something to this world, don't multiply division. Focusing on the past is not the present vision, and worrying about the future is just a head-on collision.”

—Logic, Innerstellar