Few duos have been as in sync over these past few years as two of New Jersey's finest talents, Papo2oo4 and Subjxct 5. Recent albums like Pap on P.E.D's (2023) and Ballerific (2022) have shown that they truly never miss, while collaboration albums with the likes of Wiki and DJ Lucas have presented their talents to a wider audience. Keeping their trend of successes going, We Don't Miss is yet another notch on their belt of underground classics, as Papo and Subjxct both put on a clinic while making it look easy.
"Brand new everything poppin' tags, aint no need to try it on moving fast"
Right off the bat we are treated to the classic Papo and Subjxct sounds on "Poppin Tags" and the album's title track, "We Don't Miss". Papo is not one to shy away from talking about his work ethic or talent, and he always manages to do so in a way that does not come off as overly braggadocious because of just how cool he makes it sound. Subjxct is also his usual self on these tracks, layering all sorts of harmonies and 808s on top of each other impeccably.
"Jersey like an outlaw, f*** whoever prayed on my downfall, hittin' Home Runs f*** a groundball."
After an exhilarating intro, "Had 2 Ball" storms onto the scene with a beat reminiscent to the backing track of a Thursday Night Football ad. Papo displays his sports fanaticism on all of his records and this trend continues to go strong on We Don't Miss. "Who Dat" follows this up with even more sports references, this time to baseball, while hitting the listener with one of the hardest beats on the album. Both of these songs were released prior to the album being dropped, however, they still sound incredibly fresh and are exciting additions to the LP.
"Balling like I'm Allen I, you not even Channing Frye"
The intro of "9000 Degrees" takes the listener back to the 90s, with a Tribe Called Quest-esque instrumental, yet this is quickly shrugged off as Papo begins sliding on a Dirty Jersey banger. "Make It Up" doesn't try to fool the listener like the prior track, and the intensity is there from the jump. This track is what I imagine New Jersey would sound like if it was put on a record: Heavy hitting 808s and a simple, yet incredibly catchy melody accompanying Papo's infectious confidence. "Can't Step" also maintains a similar theme, with Papo rapping about how no one else can do what he does and showing off his improving hook game.
"Running the majors, balling in Vegas like the Raiders, sportin' the latest, f*** what you heard I'm staying dangerous"
The listener is then introduced to a new sound with "Power Trip", "Chase the Bag", and "Manchester". The best way I can describe the sound on these tunes is as a mix of fast-paced, Power Puff Girl influenced drums mixed in with Boiler Room sounding melodies. Papo raps his heart out and puts his talents on full display while Subjxct puts together melodies that sound like they would fit right in at a French house party. These songs are a bit different from the other tracks on the album; there does not seem to be a consistent theme that the project follows (other than the fact that the album has no skips), and the songs are a welcome addition in mixing things up.
"Amsterdam, Brussels, Mexico, missing Tokyo, took trips to Massachusetts getting lucies out in Holyoke."
To wrap it all up, we are graced with perhaps the best song on the entire album, "Been Around the World". Subjxct hits the listener with an innovative beat, which feels fresh but still contains elements of his usual self. Papo boasts, but he also shows love to those who got him to where he is now. He shouts out his family and others close to him while also, in a way, giving shouts to his fans from all over the world. This is one of the most fascinating things about Papo and Subjxct, as they both have relatively small audiences, but those audiences are chock-full of people from almost every corner of the world. "Been Around The World" is a great song to close out the album, and also a great cliff hanger as the listener is left jonesing for more.
There are no misses on this album, as the name We Don't Miss suggests, a trait that has honestly become commonplace for the duo. Papo and Subjxct have just started coming into their own over these last few years. Their progression since their days dropping on SoundCloud is so amazing to see, especially as someone who is personally a fan of their work. This album, along with both of them in general, have not gotten as much attention and respect as many fans know they deserve, yet I am quite positive that the world won't sleep on the pair forever.
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