This album was released on June 20th this year. I’m just gonna come out and say it; I’m expecting this to be one of the best albums of the year. Sleep Sinatra is in my top 5 current MCs, and I’m a big fan of Televangel‘s production. In fact, I love Televangel’s production so much that I’m expecting this to be a top 5 Sleep Sinatra project, which is saying a lot. I don’t think there’s been a single year in which Sleep hasn’t landed on a year end list of mine since I’ve discovered his music. He has everything I want in an MC. Before checking out this album, I binged all of my favorite Sleep Sinatra songs just to get in the mood, and I had a blast. I can’t wait to hear what he cooked up with Televangel any longer. Oh, by the way, he dropped a mixtape called Post Traumatic Growth in May, which was also really good. Definitely check that one out if you haven’t yet.
Gotdamn, this shit is fire. The opening song is called S.L.E.E.P., and it’s the shortest track on the album. I thought it was dope on my first listen, but it honestly grew on me even more after I heard it more. The beat here is fucking awesome. I like how Sleep kinda lets it breathe for a while before he actually starts rapping. The verse itself is fantastic too, just as I expected.
Remain true when the time a distortion
Tryna move less off the emotions, I'm too smart, and my brain knows it
Too many close calls that I came close with
Too many consequences and problematic endings to stay hopin'
So this is faith in action when I'm flowin'
Found strength in the beauty of love, and it keeps growin'
Delete omens, defeat what the hate spoken
I done been through so much shit, and I ain't broken
Knowin' they won't realize the gift until the name's glowin'
Got too many cards in my hand that I ain't showin'
The more I listen to this song the more I like it. The production is phenomenal, and Sleep sounds fantastic over it. He killed this shit. The hook is pretty fire too. I like the S.L.E.E.P. acronym he came up with. The song’s amazing. The following track is called Blaksmith, and it features AJ Suede. Once again, I was blown away by the production. Sleep sounds so good on it too.
Paint my pain through the essence, it's something surreal
Spit from the lung and get chills when connectin' it, that's too ill
My vision I appeal to in the present with an ethic
That'll have my whole family reapin' blessings
Speech perfection, my mind loaded, I keep a weapon
Walkin' in deeper sections where there's evil stretchin'
People stressin', I could be too because I need direction
I just found a way I could groove, and now the scene is catchin' on
But I been movin' strong, check the collection
This is another track that grew on me heavily. It’s another one of my favorite songs of the year. The opening verse from Sleep is stellar, and AJ Suede came through with one of the best verses I’ve ever heard from him. I love the way he ended it.
Still diligent, somewhat militant
No sticker price at the used car dealership
Suede God killin' shit, Televangel bring it back
If you still sleepin' on Sleep then you smokin' crack
The song is dope as fuck. It’s followed by another major highlight called Widows Peak. This song has the best beat I’ve heard all year. It’s fucking incredible. This has gotta be in the top five best beats Sleep has ever rapped over. It sounds like a rainforest in the form of music. I love it. Sleep’s performance over it didn’t disappoint at all either. He murdered this shit.
I don't feel 'em like I'm on lidocaine, manifesting meaning when the times is strange
Your raps is microwave, mines is boutique, on a quest for retaining finer things
From mind to looseleaf for them designer ways, I find a way to wake a few sheep
I ain't been countin', I been singled out, but they ain't knew Sleep
I'm on they heads like kufis, was livin' on the edge, I fed into a true feast
I'm grateful I ain't dead, so instead I just grew reach
Touchin' minds and hearts through defining art that I view deep
Ideas like flying sparks, start a fire and blew trees
This here is unique, from out the mood where all the roots meet
Difference between chance and fate's just a few feet
Sleep’s flow and word choices are mesmerizing here. He sounds so good over this beat. I can’t praise this song enough. The rapping is incredible, and same goes for the production. This might be the best song I’ve heard all year. I think it’s amazing. The fourth track is another highlight called Fire Forged. This one features Lord OLO and Milc. Once again, the production blew me away. This shit sounds amazing. I wasn’t familiar with Lord OLO prior to hearing this track, but he really impressed me here. He sounded fantastic.
Niggas dickride so hard, they bad to the bone
Baby boy, I'm bad on my own, I'm worth my weight in actual stone
Platinum and gold, niggas wack as a smack to the dome
Yeah, you decent, it's rap, but we have it at home
Much success even if you wish me the opposite
Sooner or later we'll all know who the prophet is
He killed this shit. The second verse from Sleep is of course fantastic as well.
I chop game like the x-rays on the Henny logo
Got a lot of drops and many coastal, we gettin' soulful
Replenished heart diminished by the vicious social
Cycle, I'm Michael killin' past preconceptions, I'm hopeful
Despite what I go through ride with vocals, define my own tune
Even with punishment think it's fresh when you bust dope moves
Seen fiends laughin' with burnt lips and a blown fuse
On an enlightenment search combined with vices and old blues
I don’t really consider myself a fan of Milc, but he’s been killing a lot of features lately. I love his verse on this song.
Y'all better chill on who y'all be comparin' me to
I'll tear 'em in two, stick my fork in 'em like tiramasu
'Less I'm gettin' married or buried ain't wearin' a suit
Get busy in any era, I swear I'm the truth
Wipe my hands clean like I'm preparing some food
Bezel got 'em rollin' like Nip in a mariner blue
Bitch bad, now she terrible too
She think a fancy drink is some Caribou Lou
That Caribou Lou line was funny and unexpected. I think I’m gonna have to keep giving Milc’s music a listen because he always impresses me on features. This song has two of the best features I’ve heard all year. My only nitpick is the hook. I don’t think it’s bad, but I kinda wish it was as good lyrically as the rest of the song. The track’s still dope as hell as it is though. Track 5 is another major highlight entitled Canonized. Once again, the production here is absolutely stunning. Sleep fucking bodied this shit too. I really like his singing on the intro too. Shit. This might actually be even better than Widows Peak. It’s really amazing. The production is just really great, and Sleep killed it. It’s kind of a short song, so there’s just time for one verse. The verse itself is fire though.
I sold tree in high school, let my mind bleed on instrumentals Headphones in my hoodie, wrote rhymes when the homework scheduled Soul connected to the craft from the highest to lowest level Only demon's your self doubt, niggas, they own devils Uphold honor I lost and brought back weathered A big difference between a man and a half stepper
This is a top three track on the album for me. It’s another one of my favorite tracks of the year. I think it’s amazing. Same goes for the following track, Zodd. This shit is fire. I think this is the song where Sleep sounds hungriest on this album. A lot of it has to do with the aggressive tone of the production, as well as the straightforward song structure. His relatively angry-sounding delivery definitely has a lot to do with it as well.
These rappers figments of imagination, fabricated more than they image, homie, listen
The way that I relay the vision will have you gainin' wisdom like the sands of time slippin'
Move forward, true to the score, that's why I'm driven, you insignificant
Only been a short stint up in this while I'm handlin' business
He rapped his ass off here, and the relatively gritty production is the perfect backdrop. This is another one of my favorite songs of the year. It’s outstanding. Track 7 is called Create a Player, and it has a really great opening verse from Archibald Slim. I don’t think I’d ever heard of that artist prior to hearing this album, but they really impressed me here.
What's it all for? The hall of fame could fall close
A tall boast, but ain't no trophies for a "almost"
That song you wrote will fall flat you play a wrong note
Done lost it all, and your bitch somewhere gettin' longstroked
That’s another one of the best features I’ve heard this year in my opinion. I really like the lighthearted production here, and the hook is pretty good too. Of course the verse from Sleep is great.
I could throw a couple trendy couplets in pyramids
Talk about some controversy, but they'd be derelict
I just wanna give you different visions to experiment
Count up and feed the fam, that's where the spirit is
I love this track. It’s dope as hell. The penultimate track is called Magicka, and it features an artist named Squeegie O. I really love the comforting, soft production on this track. The vocal sample is gorgeous. The opening verse from Sleep is great.
Stay light and keep it righteous when it's dark out
Sparks fly, energize the vibe, bring it all 'round
Tear down the context, seein' beneath all shrouds
Everybody all foul, livin' in a toxic age
Self destruction rampant, it's all about how you gain
The guest verse from Squeegie O is very good as well. This is the only song that didn’t really blow me away like the other tracks did, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I think it’s dope. The closing song is the title track, Incorruptible Saints. It’s another one of the best songs of the year. I’d say it’s top three on the album for me. The instrumental here is absolutely gorgeous. The vocal sample is beautiful. Sleep’s writing had me hooked as always. I even love the hook on this track. There’s really nothing about this song that I don’t think is great.
More than potent, been birthing styles and sonning rap Hatred on the incline, I been keepin' love intact Buildin' while them others crash Real enough to double back Fulfill my wishes, intuition makin' something outta nothing They been frontin' while I'm workin', steady huntin'
This is a perfect way to end the album in my opinion. I really love this shit. The song’s dope as fuck.
This is one of the best albums I’ve ever heard in my life. Consistency goes a long way for me, and this album is consistently phenomenal. There’s not a single track here that I don’t think is dope. The production from Televangel is superb, and Sleep is as sharp as ever. I was astonished by how hungry they both sounded here. The beats are polished, layered, and rich, and Sleep’s lyricism and flow had me hooked. Even the features all really came through for Sleep here. I didn’t expect anything to surpass Glorious Game for me this year, but this shit really blew me away. I knew I was gonna like it, but I wasn’t expecting this to become my favorite Sleep Sinatra album. This is the best project I’ve heard in 2023, and if that ends up changing then this will go down as one of the best years in music of the decade. I live for albums like this. I don’t have a single consistent gripe. Yes, there are some minor nitpicks that I have for certain tracks, but overall I couldn’t be more satisfied with this release, especially as a big fan of Sleep. This is the album I’m gonna point to when people ask me why I love Sleep Sinatra so much. These are some of the best songs he’s ever recorded. I can’t wait to live with this album and give it more listens. I can’t praise it enough. Check this project out and let me know what you think in the comments below. I think this shit is amazing.
Favorite Song: Widows Peak
Least Favorite Song: Magicka
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