Review Summary: A man conflicted with his emotions as he struggles to cope with his everyday struggles. An artistic piece of work that should be praised for exactly what it is.
Khirey Akeem, the most outspoken artist (even pushing Kanye to the side) of this era, has been on a triumph victory lap since the release of his out of nowhere mixtape, “jackass.” He toured somewhat, shut down Apache Café in Atlanta, Georgia, and became a talking topic around all indie circles. With all of this sudden success you would think he’d ride it all the way out until the latter part of this year, but that’s not the case in the slightest. Khirey Akeem announced earlier in January he had completed his next project and it would be available February 19th. Staying true to his word the project is here. No not a mixtape but an EP entitled “asshole.” The second release in his ongoing string of “ass” named projects. Would this be a sequel to his powerful first release or will he shift directions and make something totally out of the water for the good (or bad) and better (or worse) releases of his short discography? Let’s delve into the project
The first voice heard on this new project isn’t that of Khirey Akeem but that of the late great Tupac Shukar. Interesting take on opening a project with such a profound interview from the legend himself, but the absolute first thing you notice about this EP is how well produced it is. The opening instrumental titled reveal. kicks off this album and boy is it heavenly. And by heavenly I mean that in the very word itself. It samples the synth pattern from Eternal Reveal from another notable noise hop group named Ratking. The way Khirey breaks the basics down upon this instrumental is so profound in ways that the word is almost seen as an understatement or a mere slap in the face. This is production at its finest all the way through. It’s so spacey, to a point you almost feel it’s atmospheric soundscape to where you’re immediately high off of ear contact (Can that happen? Probably not.). It’s majestic twinkles, it’s build up, it’s break patterns, it’s divinity, it’s damn near everything any producer could ask for. The beat is every producer’s dream beat and only a handful have done that. Add Khirey Akeem to your list also it’s every artist’s dream intro. Only a handful have done that, and now you can add Khirey Akeem to that list as well. The review can be over right here just as the beat instantly stops and we’re moved into the second track, dustin. With all the positives of the first track how would this second one fare? It has some big shoes to fill.
dustin., comes in swinging for the kill as this instrumental is also flawless. But with such a long intro you instantly feel as if you’re caught in between listening to an instrumental album for the heavens and in the nick of time the voice of the primary artist appears. Khirey comes in with the most challenging and thought provoking lyrics of his entire catalog setting the tone for this emotional (and at times melo-dramatic) EP. The first lyrics heard are, “I wonder if God lies cause people do and we’re made in his image, imagine that…”. Deep. Unrenowned. No filter. Purely poetic. That lyric alone is arguably the most innovative lyric heard in quite some time and that same lyric is the lyric that came from the mouth of the rapper who said, “Many men feel like minnine men, when the semi spins.” The lyrical growth that has expanded in such a short period of time (6 months and 8 days) is almost jaw dropping. A rapper who was spitting on a B+ level 6 months ago has transformed into a poetic onslaught. I’d hate to beef with him at this point if I were a rapper. The lyrics only step up more and more and even has a Nirvana reference (Hence the lyric, “I think I’m dumb or maybe I’m happy… Nirvana reference referred.”) This album two songs in is a masterpiece and that’s only two songs in. I repeat dramatically, TWO SONGS IN. There’s also a Louis C.K. comedy sketch so you must all know how I adore Louis C.K. comedy by this point now right? Right. On to track three we go, can the momentum continue? Let’s find out.
That is does! brandon. comes in with a noisy static like intro as if a radio were switching almost reminiscent of Kanye West’s intro on his last full length project Yeezus. Then in a momentary pause Khirey, angrier but more in tone calmly states, “The tales told from hell as I dwell on the thoughts of a life live without drugs.”. This kid is that young spewing out introspective lines like that, it’s almost unbelievable in a sense. And unlike jackass (Which was more sure fire) this is toned down and minimal on all levels but the best part is how Khirey sounds… Controlled. He sounds more controlled than ever before. He sounds like he’s been ready to be this dope for a long period of time and had to gain a following before he could do it. Not that he wasn’t a sensational lyricist before, now it’s on another level of lyrical prowess. Plus, he sounds so in his strut it’s almost frightening to think he was the one who made jackass. and now recently asshole in a six-month span. That there alone should strike fear in not only rappers but artist too. Did I mention the production on this track is flawless as well? This is the best produced album probably to be released this year and its only February going on March too. But then even with the awesomeness of the short but very lethal verse from Khirey out comes a sample of legendary San Francisco local artist Lola Brown. It’s loud, it’s abrasive, it’s edgy and it only adds to the intensity of Khirey’s rapid fire delivery and verse on the earlier part of the instrumental. Noise Hop at its finest. Nothing better than an artist who does a genre so well. Three tracks in and the only thing I’ve heard is a pure masterpiece. It’s almost heaven to my ears and purely perfect in all its imperfections. I’m only waiting to hear upon what’s next and the fourth track comes on in a sparking fashion with A Yoko Ono vocal skit.
After the very powerful words from Yoko Ono herself, Khirey comes in angrier and sadder and more emotional than ever before on the powerful yet revealing track “durante.” The words are stretched in a format that can only be seen as poetry in motion or rhythm and poetry (yeah RAP). He frustratingly belts out in an almost desperate tone, “My bitch cheats when I sleep, I see her when she creeps and it hurts me deep when she’s roaming in the streets.” You feel the vivid story line as he tells all and when I say all, I MEAN ALL! It’s like the juicy subject in school where everyone knows the popular girl is a slut and only dating a rich nerd for what he has and uses him until every little is let loose. He fires off rhymes about maybe potentially catching an STD, losing his sanity, constant cheatings (maybe between both parties) and how the typical “my friends” were right topic. But what makes this somewhat cliché subject matter so definite is that you feel every word strung from the lips of Khirey Akeem it’s almost as if you’re watching him at an open mic night somewhere inside of Georgia putting on the best poetic output you’ve ever laid eyes upon. The song travels from two angles with the first part of the instrumental being pure anger but then for the first time ever you hear the vivid heart of Khirey thrown out into the open. His voice begins to crack and barrel away from his near iconic aggressive flow to pure words of pleas. The song gets more and more sadder as each lyric is put out on display as if it were a confession more so than a lyric. You actually feel nothing but hope and remorse for the poor artist and it’s not like he’s asking for it neither. I always keep forgetting but I can’t help it (because this album is so lyrically proficient) but the production is so other worldly it’s almost as if he were possessed by every production legend of all time from every genre. How can I find something to net pick about this album? It can’t be that great can it?
Finally, the closer track, and the closer is a closer of all closers. “revert” starts with chime bells being played from the very get go and are so layered. The background vocals are perfection served on a platter of more perfection, the progression is so sonically pleasing that it almost satisfies you enough to make it a soundtrack to what it’d be like for when you die. It has no words and rightfully so. A beat so perfect (yes all the beats are perfect, but there are levels to perfection and it tops all of them) needs nothing placed over them except quiet (Yes I did that). It hits you instantly just as how instantly the instrumental starts and leaves you in a blissful trance. You begin to question the realities of living and begin to seep into a depression but once it ends you’re left with this sudden feeling of hope. Hope. The feeling of all emotions displayed upon the album all summarize to the word hope. You hope for the best yet expecting the worst. That’s the whole summary of the album. It’s a surreal feeling you experience but once it all adds up it’s a tear jerker indeed. It’s one to gather yourself together after the first couple of listens. What a project for the ages and one to be remembered for years and years to come.
With that being said, the negatives are saved for the last paragraph as in all my reviews yet there aren’t any at all on this project. This project has no drum breaks or patterns whatsoever. Only pure music with pure lyricism, and pure artistry. A boy conflicted with emotions and the only way he felt he could cope were to record it and put it all out in the open. He’s invited us into his life and made himself so vulnerable but instead of asking for help he just confesses his life in such a short package but it’s as he tweeted a day before the album was officially released. Simple but effective. And that it was indeed. It’s the most well put together EP in some years. It has elements from every aspect of music except this time it’s layers stack of so well unlike jackass where the layers weren’t as well blended as they could’ve been. This project is the earliest candidate for EP of the year. Had it been released as an album it would’ve made definite album of the years but here’s a spoiler alert It’s a shoo in for EP of the year and I mean the best EP this year. Not just a mention. All there is left is to wonder where do you go from here Khirey Akeem, where do you go from here?
