Grown, the sixth studio album from hip-hop duo Third Frame, is a wild mix of styles, beats and words, thanks in large part to the broad crew of guest artists who show up on the album. Ry Gizzy and DQ are certainly capable of going it alone – they’ve been doing this for more than 20 years, after all – but it’s the guest list they’ve put together that keeps this collection especially spicy.
The time that’s stretching out behind Third Frame is starting to show in their music, as they admit they’re reaching for ideas that are little deeper than the party themes they’ve explored in the past. That comes to the surface on songs like “Sexxy Too” which, despite its x-laden title, is about a pretty complex relationship. Don’t think they can’t still focus on pure good times, though, as the club-friendly “Dirty Dirty,” bass-heavy “Boom” and funky “Pocketman” prove.
Even funkier is “Keep It Movin’,” a groove-heavy collaboration with Bubba Sparxxx. A little weirder are the team-ups with TBMA, especially “Dress for the Job,” which tackles employment woes with a sardonic smirk. On “I Ain’t Worried Bout It,” Ry and DQ join Kansas City’s Kutt Calhoun to express their lack of concern with everything from conspicuous consumption to fame to social media.
Grown is an aptly titled album for a duo who are beginning to understand that there’s more to life than a never-ending party, but that there’s room for fun even as you’re getting older. Fortunately, there’s also room for friends, and Ry and DQ have drawn upon their friends’ talents to great effect here.