So after some weeks where I went all-in on my nerdy side, whether I was discussing Magic: the Gathering or concept albums, I did not cut myself short to say the least. So this time I will try to keep it more manageable.
This album was pretty much the theme of my summer. I seriously think I listened to this album 3-4 times a day for two months, I just couldn’t get enough. And still to this day, each time I put it on I listen to it at least twice. Before we dig further into the album, here is a little teaser to keep you interested:
Intuition (Vocals) & Equalibrum (Producer) has created a magnificent, and self titled , album. Right from the first track, Weight is Gone, we get the sense that I&E doesn’t give much attention to how far they has come, and how far they can come, with their music.
I’m half way to “has been”, but yet I never was
However, this could also be seen as a liberation given the tracks title. They are no longer restrained by expectations.
On the next track, Old Enough, they continue this ‘trend’ with
I’m unpaid and infamous / Played a thousand shows, not a one made a difference / Hmm, maybe I’m doing it wrong / But you can find me at your local dive doing this song
On this album, Intuition operates in the borderland between crisp depression and witty pessimism, proving that a lot has happened since Girls Like Me (his previous album), where he ran around in LA with his hand down his pants and whistled at girls.
This album is by no means a “heavy” or depressing affair. Intuition’s perspective is just switched from the guy who enjoy life rapping with his rap friends, to the more adult and mature man, who have been through some things, which changed his view of the world. His father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years after Girls Like Me. Reality has shaken Intuitions view of the world, and on several tracks, he seems to think about life in general, rather than rapping about his here-and-now. Here is an example from Weight is Gone:
Shit, it’s funny how the time flies /
And how it never quite feels like the time’s right /
It’s real life over rap life /
And that’s fine I just hit my prime /
And I started back in nine-nine /
Damn, ninety-nine, what the fuck? /
I aged gracefully /
It’s probably cause I never felt the need to play make-believe /
Been honest to a fault and pace patiently /
If nothing ever comes, I’m still grateful where it’s taken me /
Cause even if it all just ends /
I still met a couple gents that I can call best friends
He expresses his gratitude, which seems deeply sincere, and, despite his status as a unknown rapper after a half decade as a rapper, it doesn’t seems to get to him. On a track like Make Better (See video above), he lets optimism beam through and assures us that he also know that he has never held back from trying:
Don’t measure success by the rest, it’s less presAnnotatesure /
To dive into it headfirst, and ride for what you exert /
It hurts less to just hurt, don’t avoid it /
The product of the pain tends to make for more enjoyment /
It’s something that you’ll toil with growing past your pride /
So fail hard and fail fast knowing that you tried
Make Better is also a good example of intuitions “secret weapon”, not only is his writing skills sublime, and his flow exceptional and completely effortless, he can also sing.
Intuition & Equalibrum has created one of the year’s finest and most complete records. The lyrics are masterfully written, and as a listener you are allowed to peep through a keyhole to a personal universe rarely equaled. The productions oozes soul and mood, and even though they often lie in the subtle end of the scale, they function perfectly in their interaction with the lyrics. So without further ado, sit down, put your feet up and listen to this magnificent album.
J
Delirious Obsessions 