If the summer 2019 release of the original Revenge of the Dreamers III compilation did nothing else, it established J. Cole’s Dreamville Records lineup as one of the most formidable crews of the era. The project’s impact went even further, though, helping to elevate the profiles of non-Dreamville contributors like Buddy and Guapdad 4000. This expanded Director’s Cut, which contains 12 previously unreleased songs in addition to the 18 included on the original, puts the spotlight back onto the nuclear family. There are, of course, outside voices—most notably Smino, 6LACK, and Vince Staples. But particularly inspired showcases from the label’s roster including high-octane rapping (JID’s “Big Black Truck”), jazzy R&B (Ari Lennox’s “BUSSIT”), and dead-eyed slick talk (Bas and Cozz on “Outta Pocket”)—along with ever-dependable posse cuts “Passcode” and “Revenge”—prove that the Dreamville team is capable of covering all bases.
