Purple Passion: Icewear Vezzo Masters the Recipe, But Plays It Safe

Released: October 30, 2025

The influence of the Detroit music scene has always been at the forefront of urban music. From the early Motown days through its thumping house scene and on to heralded acts and musicians like J. Dilla, Slum Village, and Eminem, to the current era of Tee Grizzley, Sada Baby, and 42 Dugg, the blue-collar city has never had a shortage of talent. While maybe not as well-known, Icewear Vezzo has carved out his own lane in this city of broad shoulders, with a career now spanning over 10 years. His latest project, Purple Passion, proves to be another solid entry into his discography, albeit falling short of being a classic or even the artist’s best work.

One thing is for certain: Icewear definitely has an ear for beats on this project, which features some very creative sampling and beat flips. The project starts strong with the track “Regular,” which features a creative use of the “Cotton’s Dream” sample—most notably used in Cuban Link’s “Flowers for the Dead” and The Young and the Restless intro for those whose parents or grandparents were into soap operas. The strong production and excellent beat selection carry on for the majority of this album, even when the lyrics or subject matter slack a bit. “Having My Way” is a prime example of a track where even a solid beat couldn’t save it, making it one of the few outright skips on the album. Overall though, the project is a steady listen.

Coming in at just 35 minutes, there are only three notable features on the project: Finesse2Tymes, 2Chainz, and fellow Detroit respected underground artist G.T. While G.T. shined on “GMB,” and while I was not a big fan of “Trophy Music,” I can say Finesse provided a solid feature on that track. “Status,” however, was a rare miss from the veteran 2Chainz, with a feeling like he spent the entire track chasing the beat. This is surprising because Chainz usually shines on soulful beats, but even LeBron misses an alley-oop every once in a while.

To wrap it up, Purple Passion has the feeling of a project released by an artist who is very comfortable in his lane. While nothing earth-shattering, you can tell Icewear Vezzo has mastered his recipe and is able to effortlessly put out a decent project. Although, I would have liked to see maybe a bit more risk for a higher reward to listeners and fans (e.g., more experimental sounds or a surprise collaboration). For what it’s worth, though, this project is definitely worth a spin, with bonus points if you have some 12s or good subs.

Standout Tracks: “Regular”, “GMB”, “Party of 6”, “Free“