Toronto, Ontario, Canada emcee/producer Raz Fresco self-producing his 18th studio LP. I’ve been acquainted with the man since my highschool years at this level whether or not it’s a few of his options or his personal intensive discography together with the Magneto Was Proper mixtape sequence, the Futurewave-produced Beautiful Polo Sportsmen album, the Nicholas Craven-produced Boulangerie album, the Cake beat tapes, the Gia…À La Carte collab EP with Estee Nack or extra lately the Cookin’ Soul produced Bakin’ Soul, the Daniel Son collab effort Northside & the DJ Muggs-produced The Everlasting Now. Coming off Stadium Lo Champions nonetheless, he’s again 15 months later for Y = Self.
“It Don’t Cease” begins with a mellow but rugged intro promising to do his factor so long as the solar’s shining whereas “Borders” goes for extra of a drumless vibe to speak about generational insanity. “The Residing Gentle” instrumentally embraces a heat increase bap course boasting his functionality of turning muhfuckas’ worlds off steadiness main into “Can’t Let Go” soulfully speaking about individuals making themselves prisoners of the road life.
Persevering with from there, “The Blind” returns to the increase bap telling the detractors that they will fake he isn’t profitable as a lot they as need simply earlier than “What’s Actually Actual?” begins to query the concept of authenticity in hip hop itself from his perspective. “The Deaf” ends the first half on a rugged observe speaking about making an attempt to interrupt the cycle of generational ache whereas “Mayday” kicks off the 2nd half cautioning that one can’t refund the sport.
We now have The sixth Letter making Y = Self’s solely visitor look throughout “Memoires” speaking about having recollection of your life when it’s all stated & finished whereas “Specialize” soulfully particulars him turning into an skilled at getting what’s his. “The Dumb” concludes the trilogy of songs wherein “The Blind” started & “The Deaf” bridged whereas “L.I.F.E. (Studying by Clever Types of Vitality)” symphonically talks about him making an attempt to not preach on the microphone since that’s what church buildings are for.
“Censorship” will get the album’s ultimate act going with a darker ambiance speaking about there being ranges of licensed gangsta shit occurring always whereas “PlzTllMe” demonstrates Raz’ ear for samples as soon as extra, flipping a soul observe & making data born on the microphone at the very same time. The nearer “Euphoria’s Components” sends of the Toronto veteran’s first full-length in over a yr with a soulful outro talking immediately from the guts.
The final time Raz Fresco produced a complete physique of labor for himself was Pocket Operations III: Breakfast in Berlin again in 2023 so contemplating the solo run he’s been on these previous couple years, I used to be excited for Y = Self contemplating how a lot I liked Bakin’ Soul or The Everlasting Now & I can say he gave an introspective opus that additional cements his place as one of many underground’s most revered voices over 15 years since I initially heard his verse on Ace Hashimoto’s “Tremendous Smash Bros.” as an adolescent.
Rating: 8/10