This album was released on December 18th this year. SageModeTim is another artist signed to Black Soul Tribe of Kings. I’ve met him a couple times, but I didn’t really know what to expect going into this album. I had no idea what kind of artist he was. I was just hoping that I would enjoy the album to some extent, and I thankfully wasn’t let down.

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The album begins with an intro called Call. I’m not sure who handled the production on this track or the album in general, but the beat here is really nice. It’s kind of an R&B-adjacent instrumental. It’s very Isaiah Rashad-esque. I think the melodic hook from Sage is pretty great, and his flow is really nice on the first verse. I feel like if you fuck with Isaiah Rashad there’s virtually no chance of you not liking this song. It’s really good. I think it’s dope. The following track is called Right n’ Wrong, and it’s more energetic sonically. I like the way this track is structured. There’s not really a hook; Sage is just rapping the whole time with a short break between the verses. The main appeal of the song to me is just Sage’s flow and rhymes along with the production. I think it’s a really good track. The following song is even better to me. It’s called Wave, and I think the production is great; there’s a really nice beat switch for the second verse. Once again, Sage sounds really good on the mic here. His flow and delivery are pretty nice. Again, it would fit perfectly in a playlist with guys like Isaiah Rashad, YGTUT, Michael Da Vinci, etc. It’s a dope track. Same goes for the following song, Go. The mellow production is really nice, and I like Sage’s flow a lot. This track also has one of my favorite hooks on the project. It’s pretty simplistic, but it just works really well over this beat.

Now hold up, now ease up
Let the room fill, now he seized up
Watch your back, now, Caesar

The lyrics aren’t super thought-provoking or anything. It’s just a really nice, chill song. The production, flow, hook, and vocal delivery all sound great. I think the song’s dope as hell honestly. I like it more now than I did when I originally heard it. It’s followed by the title track, Plot. Once again, the production is really nice and smooth, and I really like the way Sage is flowing over it. He sounds great here. Just like with the preceding track, this song grew on me over time. I think it’s really goddamn good. The production on Will is slightly more upbeat. Again, I think Sage’s flow and delivery sound really good. It’s nothing too flashy, but it just fits the production really well. The hook is pretty solid too. There’s nothing I don’t like about the song. It’s not one of my favorites on the album, but I definitely enjoyed it. Track 7 is a major highlight for me entitled Smile. I love this song. I think the R&B-adjacent production sounds awesome, and this track has another one of my favorite hooks on the project. It’s just a really wholesome track.

It's inconsistent
What is this feeling that's building
That's pumping my system
I'm feelin' the burden that's lifted
Baby the road is on jack
And I'm not looking back

As you can see, the lyrics aren’t super intricate or anything, but they get the job done.

I'm vibin', my dear
Feelin' my timing is near
Breakin' these curses this year
Makin' it clear right here
Niggas, we up, and it's clear

This song is definitely going in my joy playlist. It just makes me happy for some reason.

When the money's low, and you lost your ho
You done lost your homie over gettin' dough
When you start to lose all self-control
Just kick that bullshit, adios

I love this song. I like it even more now than I did when I originally heard it. I think it’s dope af. It’s followed by another highlight called Bankroll. I think this song has some of Sage’s best rapping on the whole album. I feel like he stepped things up since Cloud Envy is on this track. His flow on the first verse is really nice. The hook is pretty good too. Cloud Envy killed that second verse. His flow was great, and I liked how he switched to a more melodic delivery for the final quatrain. The closing verse from Sage is dope too. I appreciate how there are actually three whole verses on this song as opposed to just two. The song is dope as hell. Track 9 is called 3Ho’s, and it’s not one of my favorite songs on the album, but I definitely enjoyed it to some extent. The content isn’t particularly interesting to me, but I think it’s well done. I appreciate how he approached the subject with some subtlety instead of just going off the deep end on some Pornocore type shit.

Showtime bitches, showtimes bitches
Showin' out for your friends, I fuck with them bitches
I fuck with your denim
By the end of the night we gon' see what's in 'em

Again, the production is pretty chill, and I think Sage fits over it really well. The hook is pretty solid too. It’s a good song. Track 10 is called City (POV). I think it’s pretty cool to have another song dedicated to my hometown of Durham, NC. I love the melodic production, and Sage’s flow on the verse is really nice.

Remember we was lookin' for a plug to cop from
Drought in the city, ain't no faucet to drink from
East Durham niggas stay ready to murk sumn
Southside bitches stay ready to fuck sumn
Cops stand outside, get ready to end functions
Hookers on the corner, y'all payin' to dry hump
Diesel cloud, cuzzo always carry the big pump
Pluck a root, now that nigga built like a tree stump

The verse is pretty cool. I enjoyed it. The hook is pretty solid too. I think the song’s dope. The penultimate track is a major highlight entitled That’s Real. This track easily has my favorite beat on the project. I think the production here is awesome. The hook is pretty simplistic, but it works really well. It’s impossible for me to not get the coveted involuntary head nod while listening to this shit. I also think this track has some of Sage’s best rapping on the album. His flow is really nice on the verse. The song’s only two minutes and twelve seconds long, so it’s very replayable. I love this track. It’s gonna be hard for me to choose between this and Smile as my favorite song. I think this shit is dope af. The closing track is just called Outro, and it sounds a lot like early Isaiah Rashad. The production is pretty nice and mellow. I actually think this song has more of Sage’s best rapping on the album too. His flow is relatively aggressive. I think he sounds great here. The song’s got a pretty straightforward structure, so there’s not much to breakdown. I pretty much fuck with every aspect it. I think it’s another one of the best tracks on the album. It definitely grew on me after repeat listens. It’s dope as hell.

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^{This album is pretty great. There’s not a single track that I don’t like here. I appreciate how consistent the soundscape is too. All of the beats fit pretty well together without sounding too similar. I think SageModeTim has a pretty great flow and vocal delivery. None of the lyrics really stood out to me in a bad or good way. That’s not really the appeal of the album to me. I definitely enjoy this project more sonically than lyrically. A lot of the production reminded me of the type of stuff that Isaiah Rashad would rhyme over, but this project is nowhere near as melodic as something like The House Is Burning, which may be a good or a bad thing depending on your perspective. I don’t really have a preference personally. As of the 28th, this is the best album I’ve heard from December. I think it’s really dope. Check it out.}

Favorite Song: That’s Real
Least Favorite Song: 3Ho’s

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