LA REEZY LAYS THE GROUNDWORK TO BECOME HIP-HOP’S NEXT STAR ON “SKIDDLE BANDANA”
2026 XXL Freshman Shines On Debut Album
New Orleans has long been a beacon of Southern hip-hop. A scene pioneered by Lil Wayne in the mid-2000s has produced a plethora of names that die-hard hip-hop listeners will know well, like Kevin Gates, Jay Electronica, and Curren$y. Still, the Crescent City has been patiently waiting for another superstar capable of carrying the sound into hip-hop's next era. On his debut album, Skiddle Bandana, La Reezy showed that he can be a defining figure in the next generation of hip-hop.
Recently, La Reezy was announced as a member of the 2026 XXL Freshman Class, and his name stands out on the list as an artist capable of making a real impact. La Reezy’s southern flair combines with his vivid storytelling. While he credits his influences to Ye, Kendrick Lamar, and even a bit of Tyler, The Creator, I can’t help but be reminded of André 3000. I was first introduced to La Reezy during his feature on the standout 2025 jazz-rap album Egotrip, by John michel and Anthony James. La Reezy’s EP LEADER OF DA UTH, released earlier in 2026 also caught my attention with its aggressive boom bap and dynamic production on “RESPECT DA YUNGIN.”
Now, on his debut album Skiddle Bandana, executive-produced by himself along with Oakland, California native ClayDough, La Reezy attempts to claim his place in the hip-hop landscape. “...Curly Head Boy” begins this 13-track run with a brief interlude of quickly changing radio stations before La Reezy begins rapping over cinematic synths, laying the groundwork for the themes of family, Black excellence, and his ascending career.
After a seamless four-count transition, La Reezy moves into the appropriately titled “Hot.” Reezy paints a vivid picture of a scorching hot day in New Orleans on a hook with an easy-to-follow rhyme scheme that relies on repeating the last word of each line.
Next, on “Family Bizzy,” La Reezy zeroes in on his close relationship with his family. He goes in depth on the impact his relatives had on him growing up, describing how he’s using his career to support his younger family members. This is one of the standout tracks on Skiddle Bandana, again relying on nostalgia but also on deeply personal lyrics. Family isn’t common as a centerpiece in hip-hop, and a track like this shows where La Reezy’s values lie.
“Normal Struggles” is another fun track; this one in particular really reminds me of Andre 3000, but the song lacks the hook to tie together what is otherwise a solid track. Going back to the phrase “Normal struggles / Normal struggles, I guess we just gon' pray for stronger muscles / Feel like the world crushin' us, but who cares? / This normal struggles, normal struggles,” holds the song back as it fails to capitalize on its emotion. Similarly, “Pretty Girl Bullshit” also fell short of expectations. The writing throughout the song is passable, as La Reezy details “pretty girls'” relationship problems. Still, the deep vocals on the chorus feel out of place on Skiddle Bandana.
La Reezy takes his opportunity to talk directly to God on “How Did You Love Me,” asking how God brought him such a perfect woman. The first half of the song serves as a love letter to his fiancée before transitioning into a rap about his relationship with his mom. The sample on the hook makes the track stand out, and again, La Reezy’s focus returns to his family.
After another quick interlude, La Reezy shows his outlandishly high potential and celebrates his cultural roots on “Melanate It:” “Brown is the crown you could never take / Never take, never take, never take / Down to the ground, remember that you great.” This track focuses on what it means to be Black and the pride La Reezy takes in his skin. The Southern flair in his voice on the chorus, the bouncy, joyful snare production, and the guest vocals to drive home the song create a memorable track.
“God Forgive Me” focuses on the ripple effect of judging others, and is quickly followed by the title track, where La Reezy details two traumatic stories, conveying a message of positivity through his music and growing influence despite ongoing injustices.
The more melodic approach on “Aight” means a less pleasant listen than the songs that precede it. The layering is intended to add a joyful layer, but it falls flat and is emotionless. The use of alliteration on the hook is also a downside. I do enjoy his lyricism on the impacts of change and evolving culture and music together at the end of the second verse.
One of the best, most explosive tracks of La Reezy’s young career comes next in “Gold Chains.” The song is again reflective of his upbringing and his place as a leader of the Southern hip-hop scene in New Orleans. “King of New Orleans, the king of the South / I'm the king of the land, I'm the king of the map.” The production of this song allows for the raw emotion of his dense 32-line verse to shine.
Skiddle Bandana ends with a celebratory mood on the 13th and final track, “We Live.” La Reezy takes a moment to celebrate the things he has made clear are important to him in the themes of this album: his thriving family, escaping the trap of poverty, his rapidly growing influence in hip-hop, his roots growing up in New Orleans, his cultural heritage, and Black excellence.
It’s these themes that make La Reezy such a fascinating artist; he’s focused on topics that are, in a lot of ways, foreign to other mainstream or Southern artists. La Reezy thrives when he is emotional in his storytelling, and throughout this album, there are glimpses of a young artist with the talent required to be truly great.
The hype around La Reezy meant expectations for this album were high; many were expecting an unforgettable project that left no doubt about who La Reezy is and how quickly he’s coming for hip-hop. Instead, we got an album where La Reezy lays the groundwork to keep growing artistically, even if it didn't meet the sky-high expectations (possibly unfairly) attached to him. More cohesive hooks throughout this project, possibly allowing more vocally talented artists to shine, would have improved the album’s atmosphere. La Reezy’s lyricism will continue to help him steal the show. He isn’t quite at the top yet, but it’s only a matter of time with an artist this talented.
