Start Finish Repeat – Paul Wall & Termanology (Album 2023) [Mitch Nick’s Picks]

This week I want to get into a fairly recent album which I have been bumping here and there for over a year now. That is – Start Finish Repeat from Paul Wall and Termanology. I have probably tuned into Paul Wall here and there since 2006 or 2007 when I first heard some of People’s Champ. Termanology, however, wasn’t really on my radar until I heard 82 92 with Mac Miller produced by Statik Selektah. The Spotify algorithm fed me Start Finish Repeat a day or two after it came out October 13, 2023 and I have come back to it several times since. In my opinion, it was definitely a step up from their previous collaboration Start 2 Finish. Besides, improvement is exactly what happens when you follow the formula of starting, finishing and repeating. The title bodes well for the project overall.

When I took a look at the track list there were a few names that stood out to me right off the bat with AZ, C.L. Smooth, Large Professor and Big K.R.I.T being the most prominent. It was great to see some recent features from some of my favorite, classic hip-hop artists. Statik Selektah did the bulk of the production on the album which is always a treat for the ears. It was also awesome to hear Large Professor’s production on Houston BBQ.

Lyrically there was hardly a dull moment. For me, Paul Wall is a bit of a guilty pleasure because for the most part his references and lifestyle choices are so different from mine. But, still, I could listen to him reference his whips, grillz and driving style all day and it routinely makes me smile when he finds a new way to reference those things. I’ll listen to him compare his slow driving – crawling – to any kind of insect. Also, I appreciate his cadence as it’s something I try to work on myself. Termanology also does well with both rappers complimenting each other throughout the whole project. I enjoy his seemingly laid-back delivery that still somehow hits hard. Termanology gets personal, he drops insights but still spits. The track that takes the cake for me would be “It’s Magic”. It was great to hear a verse from C.L. Smooth who still lives up to his name. But, Paul Wall and Termanology both utterly go in. Termanology perhaps drops one of my favorite verses from him (albeit in my limited exposure to his discography). However, “It’s Magic” is definitely my most played song from the album and I can attribute the bulk of those plays to his verse.

All in all, Paul Wall and Termanology’s collaboration is synergistic, and they got even better from their previous collab. Start Finish Repeat is a smooth listen with excellent production taking you all the way through the fourteen songs. Go give it a listen if you haven’t already!