Pac Div Grown Kid Syndrome

Sophomore slumps in hip-hop don’t necessarily work the same way they do in other genres. With the internet mostly to blame, most acts feel inclined to drop some sort of prelude EP, mixtape, or even full album’s worth of material. It’s a gift and a curse really -- you get your name out there but it's possible that you could peak with said material. Hence, the sophomore slump could occur before a rapper even releases his or her proper release. Looking to avoid that is Pac Div (formerly Pacific Division) with debut album Grown Kid Syndrome. But Brothers Like and Mibbs and lifelong pal BeYoung have a significant leg-up on their competition. Their talent aside, these guys remain on everyone's radar without saturating the blogosphere with a relentless stream of tracks -- a move that's hindered several acts (Charles Hamilton, for example). Perhaps it’s the fact that when Pac Div does drop, say, a free "album" like 2009’s excellent Church League Champions, this trio delivers.

Abstract by Andrew Martin