No Face No Case

T.R.U., short for "The Real University" is both the name of the label started by Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz and the group banner hung over its collective roster on this collaborative album. Over the course of the 15 tracks that make up No Face No Case, 2 Chainz and the core T.R.U. membership of Skooly, Sleepy Rose, Worl, and Hott LockedN show up in different group and solo configurations, sometimes joined by rappers outside of the T.R.U. family. For the most part, 2 Chainz plays the background as his friends and protégés take the spotlight on various songs. The range on No Face No Case is wide, moving from hypnotic trap grooves and ad-libs on "Shoot It Out" to the aggressive intensity of "Rock Out" featuring impassioned spitting from NLE Choppa. Other highlights include the more sentimental, R&B/pop undertoned "How I Feel," (which features cameos from melodic singer/rappers NoCap and Quando Rondo) and the moody, textural beat of "Virgil Discount." The album is an enjoyable showcase for T.R.U.'s versatility, and pulses with the excitement clearly shared by all involved for the label in its earliest stages.