Don’t sleep on this latest album from Lukah. It was released on September 1st this year. Some of you may remember that I reviewed Lukah’s 2021 album, Why Look Up, God’s in the Mirror. I really enjoyed that album, although I did have some minor critiques. I went on to enjoy his Raw Extractions album from last year, although I didn’t think there was really a change in quality from the preceding record. However, this latest album shows a lot of growth. I think this is easily the best album Lukah has released. I personally love when albums are super black, so I kinda had a feeling that I was going to love this record, and it didn’t let me down at all.

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The first song I wanna talk about is called Exceptional Negro. This one was produced by Deener, and it’s got a really dark, jazzy, hard-hitting instrumental. I think this beat is amazing honestly. Lukah fucking killed this shit too. His flow has really improved a ton. Go back to his first album, Chickenwire, and compare it to this track. It’ll be clear as day that he’s grown a ton since then.

I only get better with time, and most people can't understand it
Because I'm guilty, damn it, I create a work outside the world's ambits
Life should never be rancid, I'm placid when I'm in transit
I'm black, proud, and candid, so fuck the slate I was handed
The culture is ours, art is our power, can never be disbanded
So let 'em look at me with disgust 'cause I won't exist the way they planned it
Remove the chip that was implanted

Another aspect of his music that I feel like has improved since I first checked him out is his songwriting. This isn’t just a collection of dope verses over good beats. They actually feel like fleshed out songs with engaging structures. The hook on this track in particular isn’t super catchy or anything, but it works really well as a break between the verses, and sometimes that’s all that’s needed. The second verse is even better than the first one. I love the lines about how white people’s forms of blackface have transformed over the years.

The face is no longer painted
Instead they're cocking their hats and sagging their pants with chains that's plated
They thought putting their hands in the pot would make the recipe tainted
In our face, yeah, we're hated, but in private they're fascinated

The song is dope as hell. The next highlight I wanna talk about is called Melanin Child. This one features an artist named LottaLox, and is produced by SB11. The beat is fantastic, just as I expected it to be. Once again, it sounds very dark, melodic, and jazzy. Lyrically, this song is beautiful to me. It’s basically an ode to the black child.

Dear melanin child, born in the wild
I know that you're stressed, when the last time you looked in the mirror at yourself and you smiled?
And I know you act out 'cause you have no place you can call home and nobody to dial
Trust I know how you feel when you going through life and you tryin', but get disavowed
Black child, we'll get through this somehow

The vocals from LottaLox were a really nice touch, and I like the hook on this song a lot too. I just love the lyrical content of this track. Lukah knocked this one outta the park, and the other artists who contributed to the song did a great job as well. It’s dope as hell. Track 7 is called Black(s) ‘n Control, and it was my favorite song on my first listen of the album. It might still be my favorite track. I don’t know yet. I haven’t made up my mind, but this is definitely a strong contender. I just really love the boom bap production from Walz, and Lukah’s flow and delivery are absolutely on point. Lyrically, this song doesn’t feel quite as deep as some of the other tracks such as Spook’s Blues, but it’s still pretty great. Basically, he’s rapping about how white people would fold under pressure if they were in black people’s shoes. It’s really well done. I think the song’s awesome. Track 9 is called A Black Man’s Worst Fear, and it’s produced by Deener. This might be the best song on the album lyrically. This shit is crazy. The storytelling from Lukah about being pulled over by a cop is masterfully executed. The dark, creeping production matches the lyrical content perfectly too. This is really a perfect song honestly. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. I thought it was fire the first time I heard it, but now it’s become one of my favorite songs of the year. As someone who has had run-ins with the police that caused my anxiety to skyrocket, I really felt this track. I think this song is brilliant. It’s probably my favorite song on the album. It’s dope as fuck. The last track I wanna talk about is called Fly Blackface Fly. The production on this one from Hollow Sol is amazing. This might actually have my favorite beat on the album. I love how dusty the percussion sounds, and the dark loop sounds awesome. Lyrically, this song is like a direct message to white people.

What you think was gon' happen after that abolition?
Now niggas are doctors, lawyers, teachers, and politicians
We come from royalty blood, we couldn't have been submissive
Reparations are owed, but I'm like fuck your remittance
And if it was given you still wouldn't get my remissions
That ain't gon' make up for all the lynchings, rapings, and whippings
Now you gotta deal with me, a vicious new edition

I love Lukah’s use of anaphora in the second verse with the phrase “I’m what you fear, ain’t I?” He killed this shit. I think this works really well as the last actual song on the album. This shit is fire.

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^{This album is great, and it’s easily Lukah’s best project in my opinion. Going from his first album to this project makes it totally obvious that he has grown immensely as an artist. I went back and read my final thoughts on his third album before writing this review, and my main critique of that LP was that the songwriting felt a little lacking. This latest album totally fixes that issue though. There are actually some solid hooks on this project that prevent the songs from getting stale. The variations in song structure help to keep things interesting for me. The main reason I love this album so much is that I just think Lukah knocked the theme out of the park. As I mentioned in the preamble to this review, I have a soft spot for ultra black albums. There’s not a single song I dislike on this project. I mean, I probably won’t be returning to the interludes with Al Lewis, but I’d be lying if I said they really took away from the experience for me. I think they work pretty well in setting the tone for the rest of the album. Again, this is the best project Lukah has released in my opinion, and I look forward to seeing if he can surpass it in the future. This is great. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below.}

Favorite Song: A Black Man’s Worst Fear
Least Favorite Song: A Colored Night

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