Written by Cecil Mitchell
Underground rap phenomenon smokedope2016 has returned with his first album since 2024’s THE COMEUP, a record that skyrocketed his nostalgic yet gimmicky internet presence into the underground zeitgeist. He filled a different niche than his contemporaries (rappers like Xaviersobased and Tenkay), moving away from frenetic jerk-inspired beats and leaning more into the abundant cloud rap tendencies found in these rappers’ music. His previous projects, like SMOKESHOP, were significantly more trap and rage influenced, released during the emergence of the hip-hop collective Shed Theory (featuring rappers like Joeyy, Laker Brady, and Marlon DuBois, all collaborators of smokedope). However, with the release of 2016 in 2023, he began maturing his cloud rap sound, spearheading the reemergence of atmospheric beats and emotional lyrics. It took a few years, but smokedope2016 has found his footing with THE PEAK his first truly cohesive project and, dare I say, already a modern classic.
smokedope2016 had been building hype throughout 2024, releasing singles like “Ball Out” and “White Owls” to precede the release of THE COMEUP. “Ball Out” was my favorite song of the year, totaling some 500 listens in just 2 months and securing the top spot on my Spotify Wrapped. After the release of THE COMEUP in May, he slowly began the rollout for THE PEAK, dropping bangers like “Gnarly,” “Hypebeast,” and “Icey Soles.” The first in that list Quickly became one of his most popular songs and created a significant amount of buzz in the community. Being active in smokedope fan groups was truly a special experience preceding this release. I hadn’t seen this sort of cult following since I was active in Drain Gang and Sad Boys circles. Somehow everyone knew that this album would change everything for smokedope, and although it is still a little early to tell, I’ve been thinking the same thing.
My initial criticisms of smokedope were mostly based on his versatility. Sure, his sound had shifted significantly between SMOKESHOP and THE COMEUP, but both projects felt very “samey” at times, especially with his voice. It felt like he had an aversion to experimentation, which came off as a lack of confidence. Many of the songs are deadpan and relaxed, which I didn’t dislike, but I always wished he would do something a little different. I think that’s why “Ball Out” was such a breath of fresh air. Putting even just a little more energy into his inflection did everything. While a chunk of the emotions in his songs were predisposed to superficiality, “Ball Out” delivered what he was searching for in the first place. THE PEAK, as a whole, delivers that emotion and avoids the initial sense of laxity. We can hear his confidence and growth, making his feelings even more tangible and relatable. It’s a landmark for smokedope, and proof that he’s here to stay and even change the game.
From the very beginning, you can sense the sort of ride you’re about to go on over the next 36 minutes. smokedope is wonderful at crafting both intros and outros for his records, and THE PEAK is no exception. Featuring a brief ambient intro before the heavy drums hit, “Back2Back” is a triumph from the first lyrics:
“Me and fittedcap, we back to back, we snap on every album
Should’ve known I’m comin’ up, you should’ve never doubted”
Lil Fittedcap, one of smokedope’s two in-house producers along with Bartesian Water, gets a shoutout for the work he’s put in since the 2016 project, and smokedope tells listeners that even though he may be at “the peak,” he’s not growing complacent. If this is your introduction to his music, you can also get a feel for his sense of humor on this track:
“Watch got unlimited gems, like a Clash of Clans glitch
She like subliminal texts and likes all of my fit pics”
He’s a rapper for the chronically online, especially for those with a niche interest in the late 2010s and a love for old-school Instagram.
The next track, “Icey Soles,” sounds like something right off an old Yung Lean or Bladee tape, which I find to be a source of comfort in an everchanging soundscape. It’s both epic and emotional, epitomizing the cloud rap aura that Lil B envisioned: a CGI image of a castle in the clouds. I wasn’t entirely sold on the sound when the single was initially released. However, in the context of the album, it is an excellent introduction to the emotional tone that many of the songs indulge in. “Taipei / Waterbed” is a steady tune, with no huge buildup or explosion, just a constant maintenance of energy after the initial impact. It’s got a catchy hook and a great beat. “Elite Socks” is a standout, featuring a previously underrepresented face of smokedope, one that isn’t afraid to step out of the comfort of monotonous malaise. He hits a higher frequency on this one, and it’s a breath of fresh air. The chorus is energetic and features typical smokedope lyricism but the second verse and refrain go deeper into his psyche, where he talks about his anonymity and family.
“Goyard” comes up next, featuring a punchy instrumental and SD’s classic braggadocious bars. It isn’t necessarily a contender for the best song, but its catchiness makes it clear that it isn’t to be overlooked. It’s pretty relaxed, but the climax makes the experience exciting. The next track, “Dope Love,” is a very welcome ode to bromance, beginning with lyrics like: “me and bro is always crunk”. smokedope makes a point to say that “at the peak there’s no
trust,” reinforcing the motif of the album title in the lyrics. The “peak” is smokedope’s “Leanworld” (see Yung Lean’s Unknown Memory), the perpetual home of both his accomplishments and ambitions. It adds interesting philosophical and thematic implications to his music. “Draft Night” was the fourth song from THE PEAK to get a music video, released simultaneously with the album. I wouldn’t call this track a standout either, but its classic Gud-style beat gives it a super nostalgic feeling that never fails to make me smile when I listen. The video was also my first engagement with the album on the night of the 16th. The next run of tracks has a strong start with “Gnarly,” the first single from THE PEAK. It’s one of my favorite smokedope songs, and it just might be his best. The beat is one of the most interesting of his discography and his flow is immaculate. The explosive chorus at the beginning is perfect for a night drive with the windows down, while the verses ease the energy, allowing for another great build-up. It’s the perfect amalgamation of all the elements that set smokedope apart from his contemporaries. “Trust” is another one of the emotional cuts in the record, featuring some of my favorite lyrics:
“Look back at my life different
But I wake up and it’s all the same”
Even at his most introspective, smokedope keeps the energy going for a continuously enjoyable experience. It works in his favor, and he balances it at a masterful level, rivaling his contemporaries and even influences. “In Da Party” is an obvious standout here, featuring a super catchy hook and a relaxed yet interesting instrumental. His cadence and flow are contagious on this one. It’s certainly the song I’ve been going back to the most when I’m not doing front-to-back relistens.
The final three songs on the album feature some of smokedope’s most cathartic meditations preceded by something more expected: “Hypebeast” was another one of the singles that I wasn’t completely sold on but eventually came around to. It’s nowhere near my favorite, but it serves as a great transition into the final tracks, both of which destroy the entire vibe in the best way possible. “Eastbay” has the most unique beat on the album, featuring sampled drums, unlike the digitally manufactured kits he usually uses. It’s the only song on this record not to be produced by Lil Fittedcap or Bartesian Water, instead being produced by Digital Sleeper. Here, smokedope reminisces on the pains of his upbringing, detailing his behavior and loneliness:
“Do that to me, why she do that me?
Bad kid couldn’t sit still, focused on the screen
I was hungry couldn’t eat a meal, all my friends were phony
I was so damn lonely
So I had to look cool”
“Off Tha Cid” closes out the project on a melancholic note, reflecting on old friends and betrayal. It’s relatively short, which kind of defies the expectations of what an outro should be. It’s another example of smokedope’s masterful tracklist curation, serving perfectly as a closer to the journey listeners just embarked on.
THE PEAK is quickly becoming an unexpected heavyweight in the underground rap scene, debuting at #2 on the Rate Your Music chart for 2025. Spotify also ranked the album as the 9th biggest debut in the United States for the weekend it was released. It’s clear that smokedope’s harnessing of nostalgia and his mathematical precision in creating hazy bangers will cement him as a cornerstone of 2020s internet music and a major proponent of the cloud rap renaissance. It ain’t 2016 no more.
SCORE: 10/10
Favorite Tracks: In Da Party, Gnarly, Back2Back