Review: DJ Snake Comes Up Short on Bieber-Assisted ‘Encore’

On “Ocho Cinco,” France’s DJ Snake teams up with EU DJ brethren Yellow Claw to mix up pounding beats, chipmunk vocals, cyborg shout-outs and a monster bellydance synth melody. Sure, it’s a retread of Snake’s undeniable “Turn Down for What,” which famously spurred Michelle Obama to rock out on Vine with a turnip. It’s a fairly killer retread, though, ditto the dubby bass-drop “Propaganda.” But like most DJ albums, unfortunately, Encore does little with its A-list guests. “The Half” feels half-baked considering Jeremih, Young Thug and Swizz Beatz all had a hand in it (maybe more – or less – of the name-checked kush would’ve helped). Even Justin Bieber comes up short on “Let Me Love You,” a slight tropical house come-on whose “nah – nah – nah” chant suggests a valid response.