It's usually rather easy to tell what an artist's intent is just from hearing their music. It's obvious when an artist is just trying to make a buck, and you can also tell when they're really pouring their heart out and just want people to hear them. Adlib's music is most certainly the same way. From the first listen of his newest album,
The Highway, it's clear that he isn't trying to impress the industry. He isn't trying to be anything but himself, which is a hardened MC who isn't interested in making friends, just music for any and all rebellious, like-minded individuals. Being an underground rapper from Philadelphia, his music certainly has that Army of the Pharaohs-esque, gritty boom-bap feel, but The Highway is proves that he's more than that better than he ever has before.
This is one of the most diverse albums lyrically and production wise to have come from the underground Philadelphian scene in recent years, but with that comes a set of problems as well. Almost every song on this record sets a different tone. The opening track has a very large, evil sound to it while a track like "Rolling Stoned" has more of a jazzy, upbeat, swing-like rhythm, then the song right after that, "Doobie Brothers", is a western-influenced storytelling track of his drug-filled escapades. This record feels so scatterbrained, it lacks any sort of coherence or consistency as an full-length album. Fortunately, Adlib is one of the more entertaining and charismatic rappers to come from his scene, while he may be a tad short on technical skill. Because of this, there really aren't any bad songs on this album. First of all, there are only ten, so he definitely knows how to cut out the filler, and also the production compliments him very well, since he's got just as large of a presence on a track as the beats do.
Adlib's ability as a rapper could be seen as another drawback, seeing as though he isn't a particularly good MC. However, his over-the-top, somewhat dramatic sounding delivery and comical story-like rapping style only adds to the vibe he's trying to give this record. He described the album himself as "my soundtrack for the misfit, outsider, outcast, underdog and all the Anti-heroes out there" and that's exactly what it sounds like. Adlib is nothing if not relatable in his semi-insane tales. All he seems to care about is making music for other people like himself to connect with.
The Highway does a fantastic job with that, though it may not be an especially coherent album. That doesn't take away too much from the music itself, it may cause a problem with the replay value of this record. Regardless, Adlib achieved his goal with
The Highway, and anyone that can relate at all to his rebellious, punk-like attitude is bound to appreciate it.
