The Good: PRhyme 2 is about building bridges between hip-hop’s veterans and rising icons, who will predict the size and shape of the next wave. Where Royce’s peers have angrily demanded to be respected by the young guns, he and Premier invite them to coexist. In doing so, they create room for themselves in a new era and do a solid job of showing their classmates how it’s done. PRhyme 2 is a clinic in adapting to a changing climate to retain the freedom necessary to do what you love. The Bad: Going out of his way to be the change with respect to inclusivity in rap, Royce takes on a noble mission to unify rap’s ranks in an era marked by contentious generational beef and cooks the message until the meat is just a bit too tough. A lingering appetite for glory also makes room for ego and showmanship to muddy the final mix. The beats are unnecessarily busy at points and surprisingly minimal at others.
