Feng's New Album: Color Over Substance?

Nineteen-year-old rapper Feng, formerly known for his moody, nuanced sketches of youth, has departed London for Los Angeles. His debut album, 'Weekend Rockstar,' marks a significant sonic shift, trading the introspective style that resonated on platforms like Instagram Reels for a more vibrant, escapist pastiche. This new direction is characterized by a superficial embrace of an "L.A. swagger" reminiscent of the previous decade. The album's title itself suggests a departure from his earlier, more complex artistic identity.

Critics observe that Feng's move to coast-hopping music reflects his new major-label deal, aiming for broader appeal. However, this pursuit of a sunnier, more bombastic sound has led to a loss of the original nuance that captured public attention. Songs like "Left for USA" now feel self-fulfilling, as the artist appears to have abandoned the "dreary London" that once fueled his more compelling work. The album is criticized for its uncurious approach, bludgeoning indie dance-rap tropes with oversaturated references.

Feng's new aesthetic, described as "positive punk" with "colors," features garish pastels and a "brute-forcing" of sounds. While he aims to subvert the "gray" London he left behind, the result is an "oversaturation" that some find less interesting than the "murky grays" of his earlier music. This one-dimensional approach contrasts sharply with his precociously worldly persona, suggesting a gap between his rapidly changing life experiences and his artistic growth.