Whatever USA

Whatever USA, released in 2019, represents a pivotal moment in Hoodie Allen's discography where his 'blog-era' hip-hop roots fully merged with polished indie-pop production. Moving away from the sample-heavy style of his early mixtapes, this album leans into original compositions featuring prominent acoustic and electric guitars, giving it a 'band' feel despite its hip-hop DNA. The record functions as a loose concept piece centered around the aesthetics and emotions of small-town America, nostalgia, and the transition into adulthood. Critics noted the album's increased maturity in songwriting, particularly on tracks like 'Hometown Kid' and 'Giving Up On Us,' which trade punchlines for more cohesive narrative storytelling. While it retains the high-energy delivery Allen is known for, the production is warmer and more atmospheric than his previous efforts, aligning it with the 'bedroom pop' and 'indie-rap' trends of the late 2010s. It stands as one of his most cohesive projects, successfully capturing a specific suburban zeitgeist.