This album was released on March 14th this year. I recently covered brainorchestra.’s It Means a Lot project, and I really enjoyed that one, so it had me pretty excited to check out this latest album from him. The more I listen to this guy rap, the more I like him. I’m already a huge fan of his production too. I liked the first E-Town General album a lot, so I’ll be shocked if I don’t end up enjoying this new one. Every track is self-produced. I’m expecting greatness.
The album begins with a song called On My Side of Town.
I love the beat on this track. It kinda sounds like something a Pro Era member would’ve rhymed over back when they were still hot. I really like the way this song is structured. It’s just under two minutes long, so there’s only time for one verse; however, he also includes a good hook, which prevents the song from sounding too scant. I think this track works really well as an intro. I love the way it fades in. The verse itself is really good.
Taxin' anybody, yo, I need the whole pot
Gold watch, OG spliff on marble stovetops
I'm known for bold statements
And I do this for hustlers, money getters, and soldiers that hold gauges
Mind fragrant, this is studying at its greatest
I really love the way Brain flows. He always sounds really good whenever he raps. This song is really dope to me. The following track is called The Future in the Vision.
The beat on this track is cool, although I will admit it’s probably my least favorite on the album. I definitely still like it though. I like the way Brain rapped on this track with no percussion. There’s just one verse here with no hook or bridge or anything like that. The verse is really good though.
First off they fucked up lettin' my battery up
Now I gotta give the verse like a mac when it's tucked
They ass backwards, I'm smokin' hash, laugh at your bluff
Can't explain the real life when they actors to us
The smack and the dust, we dope ridden
Know that it's hope written, shit
To give a bold scripture, need a whole O twisted
Make the whole globe pivot, you barely shake the table
Bitch, I'll flip the shit and eat the pie that your mother gave you
I definitely like this track, but it’s far from a highlight on the album to me. I just don’t think the beat is as engaging as the others on this album. The rapping is really what makes this song worth returning to for me. I think it’s a good song overall. Track 3 is called Show Me the Loot. The chill beat here is really great. I love it. This would be a great song to get high to. I mean, I guess that could be said about the album in general. This song in particular just has a really chill vibe though. The verse here is really nice.
People swear they know you off of media clicks
I been livin' good, stayin' fresh, cleanin' my kicks
The bag deep, I lean in for tricks
Pull a whole show out, they see the glow, took my own route
We in the smokehouse, zoned out
Couldn't tell you much of how these things go
Kept my head low, now I'm buzzin' like the bees flow
For real though, shoutout to my Gs, had me movin' good
And my Newark family, pounds was movin' through the hood
His smooth flow sounds really goddamn good over this beat. I really fuck with this track. I think it’s dope. It’s followed by the first real highlight on the album for me, The Keys & I. The beat here is amazing. The piano loop sounds fantastic. I love how Brain just raps over it with no percussion. The only instrument present here is the piano. I love it. His flow on this track is really nice too. He killed this track on the mic and the boards.
We ain't wastin' time, blaze a dime, need my paper lined Shave your mind, thinkin' I'm foldin' to the hatin' kind Just stay in line, aligned with the stars Fuck the world, need money and cars, a condo with a bar Hattori Hanzō what I'm cut from You more like a broken blade, I'm here to show the wave I'm here to go the length, beyond the strength of the greatest guys We motivate while others showin' hate Wouldn't go if I ain't know the stakes And they high, better slow your brakes It's not your average ride
The song’s got a really straightforward structure. Everything here is just really well done though. I think this track is dope as hell. It’s followed by a track called E-Town General 2 Interlude [Part 2]. Honestly, I love this interlude. In fact, I think this is my favorite interlude that I’ve heard all year. It made me laugh. I found it much more entertaining than the skit on the first album in this E-Town General series, despite the fact that it features the same characters. I love how brainorchestra. is just getting more and more frustrated with this dude. I don’t know if it was supposed to be funny or not, but it made me laugh. I actually have the desire to relisten to this skit because it’s so well made. I think it’s pretty awesome. The next song is called The Awakening, and this is honestly one of my favorite songs of the year. The production is pretty amazing, and Brain killed it. His flow and delivery seem slightly more aggressive than usual.
Set the tone like Philips Hues, my will to prove
How I move, not a fable, baby, I'm livin' true
These jewels ain't diggable, kid
It's organic from the spirit I present when I spit
Need a necklace worth thirty six thousand, you bitch
Tryna flex now, the wallabees textile, the watch band reptile
Bless now, took a long road without a rest and sipped the mezcal
Half zip of spliffs to the chest now, been the best out
Jersey what I represent, heaven sent
Touchin' your song like takin' mescaline
The song’s got a very straightforward structure. I just love it because everything here is super well done. The beat and rapping are just really good. I love it. This song is dope as fuck. The penultimate track is called Beholder, and it’s got another one of my favorite beats on the album. The song consists of one verse followed by a hook. They’re both pretty good. My favorite aspect of this song is definitely just the production, but Brain sounds really good over it.
King shit, suplex him in the ring quick
I'm in the duplex cashin' checks, I had to think
Shit changes in a blink, but the work like a long drive
On my off days still countin' 'til I'm cross eyed
We known for boss ties, silent connection, so get to testin'
Leave a boot print where your chest is
Or a noose where your neck is if you drag the beat
Past elite, your shit got me half asleep
The verse is great. I think the song’s really dope overall. The closing track is called By Any Means, and it’s got another really nice piano-driven instrumental. I really like Brain’s relatively reserved vocal delivery on this track. I love how he’s rapping with no percussion here. This is one of the more complete sounding songs on the album since it’s the only track that exceeds three minutes in length. There are two whole verses here too, which is nice. This isn’t really one of my favorite tracks on the album, but I certainly really enjoyed it. I think it’s dope.
This album is great. I went back and read the conclusion to my review of the first E-Town General project, and my opinion of brainorchestra. has kind of changed. I no longer look at him as just a producer that raps. I don’t look at him as a rapper that makes beats either though. I just think he’s an artist that can do both really well. I think he sounds perfect over his own beats, and I don’t really know how I would feel if he started rapping over other people’s beats. I mean, I’m sure I would think it was good, but I definitely prefer him over his own stuff. His production is really superb. I hate to use the U word to describe him, but I’m just gonna say it ’cause I think it’s true. This dude is underrated. Not enough people are giving him credit for being one of the best rapper/producers out right now. I’ve never heard a project from him that was anywhere near wack. I think this album is even better than the first entry in the series, and I would love for this to become a trilogy at some point. This shit is really dope. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below.
Favorite Song: The Awakening
Least Favorite Song: The Future in the Vision
83
Focus Hip Hop 
What do you think?