Chicago rapper Valee and classical composer-turned-Hip Hop producer MVW continue their seamless creative partnership on VALEEDATION, a collaborative album that bridges their contrasting musical styles with playful ingenuity. Following MVW’s 2021 debut CLASSIC$, where Valee featured prominently on half of the tracks, this 14-track project solidifies their chemistry and delivers a distinctive blend of minimalist rap and genre-defying production. Throughout the album, Valee’s laid-back, swagger-laden bars float effortlessly over MVW’s intricate soundscapes, which fuse polished classical instrumentation with the thump of trap beats. From start to finish, VALEEDATION is a celebration of contrasts: refined strings meet rumbling 808s, and whimsical melodies coexist with hypnotic hi-hats. One of the standout moments comes on “Yo Yo,” featuring Tony Shhnow. With its trippy, psychedelic vibe, the track shines thanks to Shhnow’s sharp verse nestled between Valee’s entrancing, understated hook. The production peaks with “Pistacchio,” a futuristic-meets-retro track that feels like vaporwave collided with trap in a time-traveling DeLorean. ZelooperZ steals the spotlight with humor and flair, delivering one of the album’s most memorable lines: “Every time I text Valee, it’s morse code.”
While the album maintains its unique energy, the second half loses some momentum. Tracks like “Tailor Swift,” despite its status as a lead single, don’t quite match the brilliance of earlier highlights. However, VALEEDATION regains its footing with the closing track, “Ain’t Exotic.” Like “Pistacchio,” the finale masterfully melds the past and present, incorporating funky, disco-inspired elements into a modern trap framework. As Valee’s fourth project in just two years, VALEEDATION cements his steady ascent while providing a platform for MVW’s adventurous production. The album is both a testament to Valee’s effortless charisma and a showcase of MVW’s ability to push genre boundaries, offering a listening experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly innovative.