'Wild Ones'
Flo Rida
Atlantic
One and a half stars
Few rappers have adapted to dance music's takeover of popular hip-hop as well as Flo Rida. The Miami-area MC has long been a bit of a punching bag for serious rap fans, but his rapid-fire delivery and straightforward phrasing have proved a perfect fit for filling gaps between rave-y choruses. Nearly every song on his new album, 'Wild Ones,' clings to this blueprint like an Electric Daisy Carnival-goer trying not to lose those hot-pink fairy wings in a crowd. But 'Wild Ones' has enough certain hits that its formulaic qualities seem to be the main features, not bugs, of this record.
'Wild Ones' has two of Flo's top 40-obliterating recent singles, 'Good Feeling' (in which he hijacks Avicii's 'Le7els') and the title track (known for a goopy chorus hook from Sia). They are to pop radio what Putin is to Russian government -- entities so pervasive and all-powerful that opposition can feel pointless. The rest is serviceable work for the clubland meat grinder, but only 'Run,' his collaboration with LMFAO's Redfoo (who is much better at this sort of toothy pandering) gets anywhere near actual fun.
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