The Maryland based rapper recently took to Twitter to share his news with the world, that he will be releasing his final album, No Pressure, next Friday on July 24. What is the legacy that Logic is leaving behind?
Logic has solidified himself as one of hip hop’s most popular artists throughout the 2010’s, and his commercial success cannot be taken away from him; his debut album, Under Pressure, peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 in 2015, his third studio album, Everybody, reached number one just two years later with the single “1-800-273-8255” becoming a top ten hit internationally.
However, through his rise to mainstream appeal, Logic sacrificed his raw, boom-bap style of rap with softer, more sensitive material that appealed to a much broader audience. By tailoring his music toward a more mainstream audience, Logic ostracized the core of his fan base that was largely responsible for helping propel him toward mainstream success. The harshness of Logic’s style early on gave way to songs containing motivational and uplifting messages which, while hugely popular among mainstream audiences and mothers playing hip hop for their sons and daughters, left a sour taste in the mouth of hip hop heads everywhere.
So what is the legacy Logic is leaving behind? Is it one of a supremely talented rapper choosing to betray the traditional ideas of what hip hop is supposed to be about? Is it of a rapper raised in poverty recognizing the platform he has and ready to make positive changes for the next generation? Is it just of a man who simply decided to follow his heart?
Logic’s legacy won’t be chosen by him, and it won’t be chosen by the mainstream media. It won’t be decided by hip hop fans or any major entertainment magazine, as much as they would like to be the deciding factor. The people who will truly remember Logic and his impact on music will be those who have been positively uplifted and changed for the better because of his music.
Logic has done a lot of things musically, both positive and negative. But his most astonishing accomplishment is what he was able to do through his breakthrough single “1-800-273-8255.” The song, whose name bears the number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, has brought major awareness toward issues of mental health and suicide prevention through the popularity and uplifting messages of the song. The song led to the hotline receiving the second highest volume of calls in one day, as it received over 4500 calls after the song initially came out. In an interview with Genius, Logic reflected on the impact of the song, stating, “In my mind, I was like, ‘Man I wasn’t even trying to save nobody’s life.’ And then it hit me, the power that I have as an artist with a voice. I wasn’t even trying to save your life. Now, what can happen if I actually did?”
No rapper has directly impacted society with such positivity as Logic has. No rapper has even come close to addressing issues of mental health and suicide on their music, let alone discussing said issues outside of the studio. In early 2010’s, Logic fans would have never guessed that at the end of his career, Logic’s number one song would be a song in which Logic is singing for the majority of his time on the track, barely choosing to rap.
Logic’s legacy goes far beyond what he was able to do in the booth. His impact on so many individuals, and on society as a whole, is about uplifting those around him not for his own personal gain, but because helping others was simply what he wanted to do, and what he chose to do. Hip hop fans may miss the old school style that brought Logic to the forefront of the rap scene, but they can at least look forward to Logic’s final work next week, one which will serve as a sequel to his 2014 debut Under Pressure. The new LP will be focused on delivering his “classic sound,” as Logic himself put it earlier this year.
Following his final album, Logic is looking forward to spending his time as a father, helping yet one more individual navigate the crazy world we find ourselves in. Logic left these thoughts to his fans in closing: “I love you all and am excited for No Pressure. Bars on bars on bars. This new perspective of life has been amazing. Mainly spending time with family and little Bobby and just cooking up… But I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you all. It’s just so fun experimenting and having fun with all music. But this next one is back to the roots for sure and I can’t wait for you to hear it when the time is right. Little Bobby boy is so cute and the most adorable little man in da worlds! Lol seriously tho, keep supporting and know I’m always here to be that voice.”
