https://cartiercal.bandcamp.com/album/intricate
Genre: Hip Hop
Rating: 5/5
released on bandcamp August 25, 2021
Rich deep beautifully masculine hip hop.
Hip hop and Delta Blues share the distinction of demanding the most personal vulnerability of all American music genres. The music doubles as literature. Other genres like folk and emo can make a claim but at the end of album you know no musical artist better than you know a rapper. The soul is laid bare.
Here a recurrent theme is the passing of his mother. RIP. He speaks of it with heartbreaking sincerity and samples a phone message. It’s a raw milestone at any age. He incorporates the grief into the art but doesn’t cheapen it by exploiting it. I mean he doesn’t turn it into art. It’s uncomfortable to even write about. It’s so his. Check this out for a better explanation and a similar reference point: https://pwelverumandsun.bandcamp.com/track/real-death (Real Death by Mount Eerie).
On Half a Xan, instead of bragging stupidly about excessive drug consumption he honestly explains the pain of not being able to sleep with an aid and all that comes with it. Relatable.
With fellow rapper Booda Davis, concerns about emerging alcoholism are addressed. Again without foolish braggadocio.
This is exactly the kind of no bullshit approach hip hop needs. Lyrically and in terms of production and style. Of course, I’m fine with the genre moving in many directions at once but it’s nice not to feel like I’m not getting my jollies like a Jim Crow era racist at a minstrel show. And I say that, because I think it’s way too easy to mindlessly witness hip hop artists celebrate their own self-destruction.
Warmth Highest 