Great Production, Mixed Verses

Released August 14, 2026

I’ve known of P-Lo for a while now through different artists and projects. One of his most recent notable appearances was producing Drake’s “2 Hard 4 The Radio” off the ICEMAN album. Always putting on for the West Coast and specifically the Bay Area, he’s back with a new solo album. OUT THE BOX brings things I really enjoy, as well as some aspects that I’ve taken issue with on previous P-Lo releases.

First of all, I love the Bay sound, and it’s something P-Lo executes like a pro. His production is great, which comes as no surprise to me. Between his beatmaking and his rapping, I much prefer P-Lo’s production, and he has his hands on every track but one here, alongside a number of co-producers. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy P-Lo’s rapping and even his singing at times, but he also delivers some rhymes, flows, and verses that don’t always work for me. Sometimes things feel too simple, like on “AWW YEAH” when P-Lo starts the album off with, “Who am I? P to the Lo, make money stack high never low.” And I hate that P-Lo has me hearing references to Kreayshawn in 2026, even if it’s just part of a hook.

The front half of OUT THE BOX is noticeably stronger than the second half, which gets bogged down with more laid-back vibes. “EITHER” kind of starts that trend, though it remains one of my favorite tracks on the back end. Meanwhile, songs like “GOT IT,” “10 OUTTA 10,” and “TURN YOU UP” are fine, but they aren’t tracks I have any real urge to return to. On the flip side, cuts like “BAD BOYZ 4EVER,” “FXCKIN HATER,” “RUN IT BACK,” “OUT THE BOX,” and a few others are much better and bring the energy this project needs. Even “WTD,” which features P-Lo singing, brings a bounce that elevates the track.

This album grew on me a bit since I first pressed play, but it’s still a project I have minor issues with. I love P-Lo’s production, but when it comes to his rapping and overall project sequencing, I’m still waiting for the album that really hooks me from front to back. Still, this has some great high points and is worth a listen if you’re into West Coast music—especially if you’re looking to add a few new Bay Area tracks to your playlists!

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (7/10)

Standout Tracks: “BAD BOYZ 4EVER,” “FXCKIN HATER,” “RUN IT BACK,” & “OUT THE BOX”