Local Review: Dre Rage Tv — Disconnected

Dre Rage Tv
Disconnected
Self-Released
Street: 09.13.2024
Dre Rage Tv = Lil Darkie + Juice WRLD

In this digital age, possibilities for connection are endless. You can talk to anyone, listen to anybody and yet, we always end up feeling so… disconnected (see what I did there? Cleverest girl ever, they call me).

The first track, “Dial In ( intro ),” is a lyricless introduction to the album’s themes and style. It has a 2010s mobile horror game vibe with an ominous voice informing you that you have been “disconnected” (and yes, I will be abusing this disconnected motif). While perhaps a little gimmicky, it fits the vibe of the album’s tone and works as a fun introduction of what’s to come. As I always say, every concept album has to be a little silly.

“Quit Callin” follows, being our first introduction to Dre Rage Tv’s flow. Mr. Tv has a playful delivery that lends itself well to his earwormy lyrics, such as in the lines, “Imma let it ring / Imma let it ring baby,” and, “Bitch whose time is you on / It’s like five in the morn.” This genius I have adopted into my daily verbiage, much to my friends’ chagrin. The chill guitar beat, however, does the song no favors and reminds me too much of my SoundCloud-fan youth, myself being an unfortunate victim of the late 2010s.

The third track, “Alive,” continues the use of a chill guitar beat that will forever harken to new-emo, TikTok-soundbite rap. That said, the chorus has a playful, whiny delivery that gets an involuntary head sway. Dre Rage Tv shows no fear when it comes to using silly voices and playing around with his flow. I found myself wishing the beat had a little more body to it, so that his lyrics had a stronger foundation to land on.

“BogeyMan” is my least favorite song of the album. Although his delivery is confident and dynamic, the droning chorus took me out of the song. The line, “His name three times / Summon the bogeyman” felt out of place, separating itself from the album’s concept. I guess you could say I felt pretty… disconnected.

“Help Me” is the standout track on the LP with a nice bass riff that supports Dre Rage Tv’s whiny cadence and gives the song some much-needed body. With the best production on the album, “Help Me” is the song that gets people to go, “I want to hear more!” We all know nobody can help us, but it’s such an easy thing to wish for, something Dre Rage Tv must understand.

“Where’s My Phone? ( Interlude )” is a nice anchor for the album’s overall concept, and mama loves a good interlude. We hear Dre Rage Tv yell, “You know where my phone’s at?” over a classic ringtone sound. While a little scary, it works well with the flow of the LP.

“Bumpin” has a haunting beat that captures the essence of a dead Fisher-Price phone. The song is fun and lively, well-suited to a music video (take notes, Mr. Tv). I enjoyed its catchiness, and I am sure that with more polished production, TikTokers — or retired trappers — would adopt it into their daily mix.

“Different” is the first song that lended me a good glimpse into who Dre Rage Tv is. His lyrics here are personal –– mostly about how he feels about himself. I feel so lucky to live in a world where people who feel out of place can find solace in their art. “I’m just being me / Goofy, nerdy with some steez,” he raps. Dre Rage Tv’s ability to express himself through his rap is admirable. I am forever grateful for this genre’s ability to connect us.

“Sorry I Missed Your Call ( Interlude )” functions as a nice pause as the LP nears its end. Its thematic dialing of the phone is a fun and almost bittersweet goodbye.

“Sweet Taste,” the second-to-last song on the 11-track LP, lends itself to the involuntary head swaying effect. That being said, I’d appreciate differentiation in sound, as the chill guitar appears yet again. Dre Rage Tv’s style would really benefit from a heavier guitar and bass sound and a leaning more into alternative rap, to complement his darker motifs. Still, he delivers nicely here, and I found myself relating to the line “Ain’t feeling so blessed, I’m feeling so stressed.” I mean yeah, me too, bro.

The LP ends with the titular track, “Disconnected,” and again we’re greeted with a chill guitar beat. But by this point, I’d grown to like it. The lyrics have the same personal angle felt on “Different,” which I would’ve liked to hear more consistently throughout the album. His vocal inflections shine the most here; you really must appreciate his talent for creating choruses. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’ll get stuck in your head.

Dre Rage Tv possesses real talent when it comes to creating earworms. His catchy songs, paired with an edgy, nerdy, Dax Flame-esque angle, feel like they were tailor-made for the people of the internet. With a bit of polishing up of the production, TikTok greatness could be achieved. Overall, Disconnected is a fun and worthwhile listen. —Gabriella R.W.

Read more local album reviews in SLUG:
Local Review: Dysregulation — Self-Titled
Local Review: Hangxiety — Super