First Weapon Drawn cover

First Weapon Drawn

Czarface · 2017

34 min · 14 tracks · hip-hop

A thrilling blend of comic book-inspired narratives and sharp lyricism set against a backdrop of gritty, boom-bap production.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    First Weapon Drawn — The title track encapsulates the album's core themes of confrontation and resilience while showcasing Czarface's signature blend of humor and bravado.
  • →
    This Fight Ain't Scripted — Here, the lyrics cleverly juxtapose the realities of street life against cinematic tropes, highlighting the group's penchant for storytelling within their music.
  • →
    Godspeed Soldier — This track stands out for its poignant reflection on loyalty and sacrifice, offering a deeper emotional layer to the otherwise brash narrative style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100
Treeline
Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Czarface's blend of storytelling and sharp lyricism over boom-bap beats creates a distinctive sound within hip-hop.

What we noticed

  • The album features a consistent boom-bap production style, with heavy use of samples and drum breaks throughout its tracks.
  • Each track typically follows a verse-chorus structure, with multiple verses from different members of the group.
  • Several tracks incorporate comic book references and storytelling elements, creating a narrative thread across the album.
  • The pacing varies, with some tracks maintaining a high energy level while others slow down for introspection.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • This Fight Ain't Scripted

    A shift occurs when the narrative voice breaks from typical bravado to question authenticity in a world full of facades.

    This moment disrupts the expected flow, forcing listeners to consider the difference between scripted drama and real-life struggles.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Czarface Theme 2:22
  • 2 First Weapon Drawn 1:57
  • 3 Czartusi 2:15
  • 4 For the Title 2:25
  • 5 Kick It Up a Notch 3:20
  • 6 A Falling Czar 3:06
  • 7 Funky Premonition 1:27
  • 8 Squared Portal 3:31
  • 9 This Fight Ain't Scripted 3:02
  • 10 Godspeed Soldier 2:24
  • 11 Something Once Human 1:54
  • 12 What the Problem Is 2:04
  • 13 Death of a Comrade 1:44
  • 14 Night Of/Mourning After 3:13

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata