greatest – BBB RADIO

For my first album review of 2024, I’ll be covering my first album listen of 2024: the newest record from Canadian rap duo Dookie Bros – “Happy Dook Year”! For those who forgot the first two paragraphs of my “Merry Shitmas” review from last December, Dookie Bros consists of rapper/producer/boom-bap torchbearer Shy The BeatYoda and fellow rapper Franchise.

Last year, they dropped three solid (Get it? Dropped…..solid) EPs in the forms of “Manure Music Vols. 1 & 2” and “Merry Shitmas”, the latter of which not only made it to my Top 10 bracket of BEST ALBUMS OF 2023 but stands as a shining example of Christmas-themed rap music done right! And like “Merry Shitmas”, “Happy Dook Year” is a 21-minute record with production handled entirely by Shy, no guest features and its thematic focus centered on a particular occasion. In this case, it’s about….well…..starting off the new year right. As we all should know, it’s always beneficial to go into the new year with some sort of hope, faith and optimism, even if you don’t have a clear idea of everything you’ll be doing in the new year or you’re still hung up on the losses you dealt with the year before.

And that’s the exact vibe Dookie Bros brings to the table, resulting in a project that sounds and feels more mature and focused in tone compared to “Merry Shitmas”. Now that the Christmas season is over and Mariah Carey is cryogenically frozen until November 1st, a new year has started and it’s time for the Dookie Bros to execute their game plan. Franchise and Shy sound so hungry and laser-focused on this album that even their penchant for raunchy humour is dialed back a considerable bit.

From the opening track “The Dream Team’, Dookie Bros sound determined to establish their names as one of hip hop’s greatest duos. Interestingly, it uses a snippet from an old WWF promo for the tag team The Dream Team – and as a professional wrestling fan myself, I did appreciate that bit of schooling into the awesomeness that was Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake. Periodically on the record, we hear snippets of WWF promos with wrestlers either doing hyped-up tough-talk or expressing how fired up they are for starting a new year in their legendary careers. The instrumental for “The Dream Team” features an 80s-inspired electric guitar solo laced with leisured drums, which altogether sounds like a boom-bap reinterpretation of a classic wrestling entrance theme. Shy comes through with some solid punchlines, most of which include pop culture references (points for that “Moonraker” bar, by the way) and Franchise compliments him with an exceptionally written and performed verse.

The heat turns up on the following track “The Real Dookie”. Just to touch on that title for a bit, its hook, like “The Dream Team”, involves a short succession of DJ cuts, but the Notorious B.I.G. sample used in it was always one of those things I never noticed on that specific song (I’m not going to say which one) until hearing it on this track! But anyway, over an upbeat, punchy mix of piano keys and drums, Franchise and Shy SPAZZ THE SHIT OUT, each delivering a VERSE OF THE YEAR CONTENDER!! Yes, you read it first!

Both the vocal chops added to the opening of “Flush ‘Em Down” and the hook provided by Franchise are sure to please many Public Enemy fans as this song cleverly interpolates the 1991 classic “Shut ‘Em Down” – which, in case you didn’t know, has one of the GREATEST Pete Rock remixes attached to it (If you haven’t listened to it, please do. You might need a neck brace after listening to it, however. Don’t say I didn’t warn you)! In this case, Dookie Bros share their heightened frustration over the depths some rappers would stoop to to get their music noticed and appreciated, particularly by adopting a rugged, gun-toting and drug-dealing persona. On his verse in particular, Shy warns these funk-fakers to not approach him at all, whether on wax or in real life.

Sonically, the next track “Dope Shit” is sure to please fans of coke rap, specifically the Daringer-produced songs regularly released from Griselda Records, thanks to its menacing piano chords, clinking percussion in the back of the mix that sounds like a certain something is being mixed in a jar with a spoon (if you know, you know) and a cleverly-chosen Westside Gunn vocal sample. Thankfully, Dookie Bros are self-aware enough NOT to do an actual coke rap song, since they already called out certain rappers for copying and pasting that drug-dealing lifestyle into their rhymes. As the title suggests, they’re simply informing the listener that their lyrics alone are DOPE. However, they’re just as addictive as actual dope because once you hear their 16’s, you’ll most likely come out of this song wishing you got a third verse!

Up next, we get “The Missile Launcher II”, the official sequel to a track that appeared on their debut record “When the Shit Hits The Fan”. Vocally and instrumentally, both tracks exhibit a grimy, Demigodz-esque, lyrical beatdown vibe. Surprisingly enough, this sequel plays like a literal reflection of its predecessor, where Franchise spits his verse first, ta vocal chop is used that’s similar but not the exact one used in the previous “Missile Launcher”, and Shy raps over the mellower instrumental (this is a two-beat song, by the way) while Franchise gets the aggressive one to do his thing. Both songs are fire, but in the case of “The Missile Launcher II”, this feels like a solid entry in what could be a “Missile Launcher” series spanning future Dookie Bros albums.

The album winds down with its lead single “I Luh This Shit” (not luv, mind you…. LUH!) where Dookie Bros express their love for hip hop over a smooth boom-bap instrumental. On his verse, Franchise draws inspiration from classic “I Love hip hop” songs like “I Used to Love H.E.R.” and “Act Too (The Love of my Life)” as he uses a woman he’s attracted to as a metaphor to describe the passion he feels for rap music. Shy takes a more personal approach to this topic by mentioning the sacrifices he’s made for his rap career and how he has no plans on throwing in the towel anytime soon. In short, “I Luh This Shit” is anthemic, inspirational and tailor-made for true hip hop fans like myself!

And with the closing track “The Greatest Story Ever Told”, Dookie Bros deliver what is in my opinion the best SONG on this album and one of their best songs PERIOD! There’s a sense of gracefulness and beauty to Shy’s beat, with its sentimental piano chords and laid-back drums. But it’s the sentiment of the song that stands out the most. Here, Franchise and Shy close their album off strongly with some truly heartfelt bars centered on their continued steps towards rap immortality, writing their own story as they trod on this chosen path of theirs.

Overall, “Happy Dook Year” is yet another solid entry into the already-impressive discography of Dookie Bros! Shy and Franchise’s hunger and drive are palpable throughout this album’s 7-track duration, heightened further by their razor-sharp wordplay and emotionally-driven instrumentals. For me, they certainly kicked off this year on a strong note and here’s hoping theirs is filled with great accomplishments and tons and tons of dookie!

OVERALL RATING: 8 out of 10

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