Star: Album Review

“You are now a witness to something great, a miracle” is a bold way to open an album, one that could have easily backfired if 2hollis didn’t deliver. But he did. A rising name in the underground, 2hollis is quickly becoming the face of a new EDM/Alt-trap fusion that began gaining traction in 2024. Much of the controversy around him stems from his industry connections, his father is the drummer for Tortoise, and his mother founded the labels Biz3 and OWSLA, as well as managing EDM legend Skrillex. That might explain the musical path he’s chosen, but the real question is: can he make good music? And the answer is a resounding yes.

Before Star, 2hollis released three other albums, White Tiger, 2, and Boy, each showing steady progression in his sound. Star opens with the track Beginning, where the aforementioned quote sets the stage. It transitions seamlessly into Flash, which perfectly sets the tone with its snappy drums, melodic plucks, clever songwriting, and an infectious chorus.

While Cope, a calm, unnerving track, feels slightly misplaced as the third track, the album quickly recovers. The next eight songs showcase the best of Hollis’ versatility: You and Tell Me bring house and techno vibes, Burn blends hip-hop with a heavy EDM drop reminiscent of early Skrillex, and Girl is one of the calmer yet most unsettlingly addictive cuts. Even the vocal-free interlude Dream Rain Sports is hypnotic.

The only real downside is the weak ending. Eldest Child and Safe are the least compelling tracks and feel unworthy of closing such a strong album. Still, Eldest Child gets some credit as a bold experiment, even if it didn’t quite land.

Overall, Star feels like a love letter to the future of music and the next wave of genre-defying artists. It’s truly impressive.

Rating: 8.5/10