Lil Dickys Professional Rapper: A Hilarious Debut Effort 'lil dicky professional rapper album review'

In July 2015, up-and-coming comedian and rapper Lil Dicky dropped his highly anticipated debut studio album 'Professional Rapper'. The project quickly gained traction among fans of irreverent humor and catchy hooks. But is this first full-length effort from the Philly native worth your time? Let's dive in and find out.

From the opening track, it becomes clear that Lil Dicky isn't afraid to poke fun at himself or his chosen profession. On lead single 'Launder', he spits bars like a seasoned pro while simultaneously lampooning the very notion of being considered one of them:

'I'm just an actor in this rap show

Playing roles I don't know'

It's this self-aware, tongue-in-cheek approach that sets Professional Rapper apart from other debut efforts. Lil Dicky never takes himself too seriously, instead choosing to skewer industry norms and expectations with hilarious results.

Throughout the album's 14 tracks (including bonus cuts), listeners are treated to irreverent diss tracks ('F*ck Being Broke'), cringe-worthy ballads ('B$#tch Sucks'), and even a few genuine gems like 'The Last Day on Earth' featuring his fellow comedian/actor, Fergie. The latter features some surprisingly poignant lyrics about mortality and the importance of living life to its fullest:

'I'm not gonna be here tomorrow

So I'll just live it up tonight'

Musically speaking, Professional Rapper is a mixed bag. While there are certainly moments where Lil Dicky shows promise as an MC (see: 'High Functioning Cocaine'), too often his beats feel like generic club-rap fare. However, given the album's tongue-in-cheek intentions and focus on humor rather than straight-up lyricism, this minor quibble can be forgiven.

Ultimately, Professional Rapper is a solid debut effort from Lil Dicky that will likely appeal most to fans of similar irreverent comedians like Weird Al Yankovic or Tenacious D. While it may not necessarily break any ground in terms of innovation within the hip-hop genre per se, its consistent sense of humor and willingness to lampoon industry norms makes for a wildly entertaining listen.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Recommendation: Fans of irreverent comedy and/or those looking for an enjoyable, light-hearted listen should definitely give Professional Rapper a spin. However, die-hard hip-hop heads may find themselves yawning at times due to the album's reliance on tried-and-true tropes.

Grade B+:

Lil dicky professional rapper album review