Bronx rising rapper ScarLip’s debut EP ‘Scarred B4 Fame’ feels incomplete (Review)

I believe she can do better.

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Less than a week ago, Bronx-bred rapper ScarLip, who rose to fame quickly through social media due to a controversial live video where her boyfriend said she was pretty “sometimes” and several complaints about her promotional antics, particularly involving her music video ‘She’s Hot’ and ‘Peggy’, has finally released her debut effort ‘Scarred B4 Fame’ after being signed to a major label for two years. Aside from viewing her incredible even-toned chocolate-like skin tone and hearing her unique voice here and there as I scrolled on my phone, her music wasn’t the focus. Instead, she became a poster girl attached to sensationalism. Wanting to give her a fair chance and come to my conclusions about her as an artist, I opened Epic Records’ email promoting her latest project. The email prettily gave the reader a summary of who she is, listing her famous mentor, Swizz Beatz (linked to hardcore rapper-turned glossy star, Eve), and legendary New York-born supporters like Cardi B and Busta Rhymes, the private industry event in anticipation of this project, and her recent interview with ABC News journalist, Juju Chang.

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The seven-song EP includes features from Hip-Hop titan Lil Wayne, GRAMMY winner Anthony Hamilton, and ScarLip’s take on Mary J Blige’s hook from Ludacris’ 2006 hit, ‘Runaway Love’.

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As for how I feel about the project—aside from the smart title—it didn’t carry the same energy or excitement as earlier tracks like ‘Glizzy Gobbler’ and ‘This Is New York’. It was an underwhelming experience, in comparison.

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I was hoping for bigger moments—like hard-hitting radio anthems that speak to her core fans and skits that connect the songs to her story. That kind of detail could’ve pulled us in even more, the same way she does in her interviews and on her deeper pieces like ‘Therapy’, ‘Foster Care’ and ‘Suicide Awareness’.

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Music critics understand the desire for artists and their labels to showcase different sides of an artist, but in this instance, I think the timing and execution were off. With her current buzz, it would have been smarter to play into the controversy and feed her loyal fans first with context, presented creatively.

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‘Scarred B4 Fame’ runs just over twenty minutes. To me, it feels languid (or slow) and emotionally distant—something late artists like Lil Peep, Juice WRLD, XXXTentacion, the promising rapping model Chynna, and even DMX knew how to deliver, building huge fanbases and mainstream success. ScarLip has the look, the voice, and the support. But the real question is: Can she tap into that same depth? I’ll stay patient and wait for her debut album before forming more opinions. Hopefully, by then, she’s fully tapped into her voice—as other Emo-Rap stars have. She’s got a clear lane, industry support, and one of the best labels behind her.