Paul Wall & Termanology Extend Their Streak On 'Start Finish Repeat'

When it comes to statesman Hip Hop projects, the fare is generally more about rekindling past connections than forging new ones. That’s not the case for the newfound musical bond between Paul Wall and Termanology, which first sparked during pandemic studio sessions at producer Statik Selektah’s studio.

The two not only have a shared appreciation for Statik’s production instincts, but flourish when teamed up with him in recent years. Last year’s Start 2 Finish hinted at the potential of the pairing to bring out the best in each veteran MC, and doubling down proved to be the right choice. A similar outlook on life and the industry are the common threads and a healthy lyrical competition collides on a fitting sequel.

Termanology sets the stage for the dynamic on “Talk About It”: “One two punch, Term and Paul comin’ for them big rings. Every year, we leveling up and doin’ big things.” And he’s not wrong. For the length of the record, the duo match each other verse for verse. It’s a more concentrated effort than Start 2 Finish, which feels more like an extended jam session.

Shortly after Paul Wall, in an intricate and deliberate cadence, delivers one of the album’s best verses on “It’s Magic,” Termanology rips off an equally ambitious torrent of verses in a completely contradictory – but also complementary – flow. The two recreate the moment time and time again throughout the album. Additionally, there are no wasted moments on guest features from fellow mainstays CL Smooth (“It’s Magic”), Bun B (“Houston BBQ”), Big Krit (“Do It for the Ghetto”), and Peedi Crakk (“Got It Made”).

Wall’s dedicated down South fan base praised 2020’s Mind Over Matter, but critics panned his lyrical choices and accused him of pandering. It’s unclear if the personally affable Wall is out for revenge, but he spends the album reminding listeners that he can still do it. And that’s without overly relying on his old reliable references to candy paint and gleaming grills. Whatever the opinions on Termanology’s viability as an MC, at 41, he’s had a full career and then some. That’s reflected in the portrait he paints of his life as a reformed scammer to a jetsetting entrepreneur. Hip Hop from old heads is notoriously uneven, but Wall and Termanology strike the right balance between discussing the past and not living in it.

Yet it’s clear that Statik is the true connective tissue. Draping boom bap in soul and jazz samples, Statik has a knack for laying a foundation that both caters to each rapper’s strengths while also providing sufficient creative challenge. In terms of production, Statik returns with another set of soulful soundscapes that bring out different elements in each rapper’s repertoire. He’s also joined by Large Professor, Buckwild, and Cartune Beatz, which gives the record a variation in style that Start 2 Finish lacked.

Paul Wall and Termanology’s Start, Finish, Repeat is a tribute to collaboration, the potential payoff of taking artistic risks, and OGs who still have something in the tank. Wall and Termanology are a natural creative match that bring out the best in each other, and Statik is a good stylistic referee to manage their instincts.

In this second effort, the group doubles down on what worked before and adds the necessary support in terms of guest spots and production variety to turn in a follow-up that is sure to please fans of the prequel.