Less than a year after releasing The Lightyear Mixtape, Vernon, B.C. native SonReal has dropped another album that his fans and hip-hop lovers alike will enjoy.Where's Waldo showcases SonReal's abililty as a vocalist, not just as a rapper. Like his past albums, there are socially conscious songs, like "Out There," which deals with issues such as living on the streets and teen pregnancy, and more personal songs, like "Clap for me."
With featured artists like Saukrates, Rich Kidd and Ali Milner, and producers like 2oolman and Classified, each song is unique and catchy.
The final track, "My Life Outro," may be the most inspiring. It tells the story of SonReal's struggles to get to where he is now, from sleeping on his friend's couch, to feeling like giving up, to hearing words of support and working hard to make it.
Overall, Where's Waldo shows growth for SonReal as an artist, but manages to keep the same qualities that make the artist stand out from others - the upbeat music, the sometimes conscious, sometimes personal lyrics, and SonReal's unique voice. The album gets 4.5/5 stars.
Possibly two of the most talented in their own genres, rapper Shad and alternative artist Dallas Green (City and Colour, Alexisonfire), come together for one of the best collaborations of the year.
Green's soft, crooning voice and Shad's profound, poetic lyrics work perfectly with each other to integrate classic hip-hop with light rock.
The album will appeal to listeners of both genres, and like most of Shad’s music, will leave listeners with something to think about.
The album originally came out as a 12" vinyl, and was released on iTunes soon after. Staying true to the album name, there are only two songs, which is disappointing because listeners will definitely be left wanting more.
Because the combination of Shad and Green is unexpected, but still works, and because there is a message behind the music, Two Songs gets 5/5 stars.
Young Fateh - Mr. Wall Street
Californian-turned-Torontonian rapper Young Fateh shows that he has grown since his first mixtape but that there is still room for improvement with his latest release, Mr. Wall Street.
Some of his lyrics remain unchanged from his previous work, like those on “Killin Em” and “Run this Town,” and sound like many other rap songs with topics such as superiority over other rappers and objectification of women. “G-20 Cypher” and “Light Up” are the highlight of the album. “G-20 Cypher” is an attack on the police and the way the G-20 Summit in Toronto was handled. “Light Up” is a personal track, discussing Fateh’s feelings towards his old home (California) and his new home (Toronto), his struggles as a Punjabi rapper, and dealing with those who put him down.
By using beats from songs like Kanye West’s “Homecoming” and Drake’s “Successful,” Young Fateh’s songs will easily get stuck in your head. With clever (though not always original) lyrics and a variety of other talented featured artists, the album is worth a listen. Fateh is slowly but surely on his way to becoming a full grown rapper, and this album shows it. Mr. Wall Street gets 3.5/5 stars.