This album was released on January 12th this year. For full transparency’s sake, I think I should tell y’all that I was at the album release show for this project, so that probably had an impact on my perception of this LP. Not that I believe a musical opinion can be unbiased in the first place, but some of y’all may or may not care about that information. The show was fire by the way. It was really awesome to meet OLDBOY & SeKwence and chill with them for a little bit before the performances started. Everyone killed it too. Of course SeKwence and OLDBOY were the main part of the show, but it was also really awesome to see FLLS, ayashi[!]., and $uff do their thing. I even got to be in the room while they recorded new music, which was a first time experience for me. This was my first time attending a music show since 2012. I went to the good kid, m.A.A.d. city tour, and to be completely honest I had way more fun at the SeKwence show. A lot of it is because it was a more intimate setting with less people, so my social anxiety wasn’t really bothering me too much. I think I’m just more into less chaotic, over the top performances. Anyway, I listened to the album a few times before actually going to the show, and before I even saw it performed live I was convinced that this was SeKwence’s best full length album. This was my first time really hearing OLDBOY’s work, and it worked really well as an introduction. I had a feeling I would really dig this project before I even listened just because of all the listed features. Considering the fact that I’ve enjoyed every other SeKwence project I’ve ever heard, it shouldn’t exactly be shocking that I loved this album so much.

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The album begins with a highlight entitled Bang!, which features Blu. They really came out the gate swingin’ with this one; it’s one of the more uptempo, energetic tracks on the record. The melodic production is pretty fast paced, and SeKwence’s flow gives me the coveted involuntary head nod.

I'ma skate across this shit just like it's frozen
I try to stay composed, but them emotions got me triggered
So I'll pop a new prescription on the daily, hope it save me
Them options thin as ice, and all the pressure's startin' to weigh me down
But for the demons I got 80 rounds
But for the demons I got 80 pounds
I keep my distance, I can't play around
I keep a stash inside the safe, just know it's safe and sound

One thing I’ve pointed out about SeKwence’s rapping in the past that you can see here is that a lot of times the actual rhymes themselves land in places where one wouldn’t expect. They don’t all just come at the end of each line, which gives his rapping kind of an unpredictable edge. Just look at the first couplet of that last excerpt I quoted. He could’ve said “I’ma skate across this shit just like it’s frozen / I try to stay composed, but I’m triggered by emotions.” His style of rhyming is a lot less traditional than that, and it’s something I haven’t really seen other people acknowledge. It definitely makes his rhymes stand out more to me. I think I would probably be less engaged by his music if I knew when and where all the rhymes were gonna hit. Anyway, I also like how he started the verse with that “frozen” line and then followed it up a few bars later with his options being thin as ice. I don’t know if that was intentional or if it was just a coincidence, but that was fire. I also appreciate the actual content about being weighed down by the pressure of life, but then basically saying “fuck it, we ball” and locking in. The second verse from Blu is of course fantastic. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a verse from Blu that didn’t impress me, and this one is no different. That one moment where he went ham and cheese with the alliteration using the letter “G” was fire.

I am G like "God," G like "Gangsta"
G like "Good," I gravitate to the greater
I grew up growin' against the grain to gain green
Gain cheese, gain cream, all the same thing

That’s probably my favorite part of his verse. The whole thing is fire though. This was a really exciting way to start the album, and it had me excited to check out the rest of the project. It’s dope as hell. The following track is another highlight called Top Shelf Dope, and it features Sleep Sinatra. The beat here kinda gives me flashbacks to Timepiece’s production on ALLEY MUZIK. It reminds me of that album cover. I just imagine hearing this beat when I turn down the wrong alley and see two cartoon cats that are about to mug me. This is another track where the lyrical content really resonated with me.

I got all these habits from my father, shit is bound to kill me
I break the curse, this pen and paper shit is bound to heal me
I'm never trippin' off the accolades, I keep a stash inside the trophy case
I'm a chameleon with the poker face, I'm worth a billion, shit, it's on the way
I'm really worth a trillion, shit, it's on the way
I need that '96 Lexus, I got a plug that got it cheap way out in Texas
But now we really get it through the mail money
Straight to the scale money, rainy day, a little stash for some L money

The lines about writing to cope with life’s bullshit are definitely relatable to me, even if SeKwence and I do completely different types of writing. I really like this line too…

I been reachin', tryna get up out this pit for a minute, but I'ma make it every time

That’s one theme I noticed in SeKwence’s lyricism throughout this project; he has a lot of lines about overcoming adversity and growing past his obstacles. That type of shit is much appreciated because it reminds me that I’m not the only one that has to deal with bullshit in life. This song was already really dope, but then the feature from Sleep Sinatra really pushed it to the next level for me. Sleep is another one of those guys who I can rely on to perform well on every verse he spits. His flow and energetic vocal delivery sounded excellent on this beat. I loved the Simpsons and Mike Jones references. The song’s fire. Track 3 is yet another highlight entitled Cambridge Apartments, which they dropped as the lead single ahead of the full album’s release.

I definitely see why they chose this as the single. The melodic production from OLDBOY here is absolutely stellar. The beat makes me think of Sly Cooper for some reason. It also kinda reminds me of the labyrinth from Soul Calibur 2. SeKwence really killed this track too, particularly on the first verse.

Shit, I gotta make it happen
Used to cop it out in Cambridge, I was always with the package
I was always one ahead, so I ain't ever in that Turtle Mode
And precious struggle, shit, it made me stronger
From me and Face splittin' dubs out the truck in California
Y'all would've folded in them situations
I done went around the world and I ain't never tripped the laces
I ain't never gettin' caught inside the matrix

His flow is really nice on this one. The song is fire. The following track, Mercy Me, might have my favorite instrumental on the whole album. This beat is fucking amazing. It kinda reminds me of something that Ant might’ve made for Slug in the pre-Lemons days. SeKwence absolutely killed the first verse on this track too. That might be his best verse on the album. It’s definitely top 5 on the album in my opinion. This song in general might just be my favorite track. It was already fire, but then the guest verse from Teller Bank$ really pushed things to the next level for me. He sounds incredible here.

I been hustlin' since a youngin', since like way back
I made decisions for the gang that I can't take back
The pack ain't never double crossed me, it just double up
That's probably why it seem like this money the only thing I love
That's probably why it seem like this .40 the only thing I trust
I gave my niggas everything when they ain't give me none
Shit had me back out on the block just tryna pick up sumn
Shit had me up to something, 'til I'm up ain't up on nothin'

I feel like both SeKwence & Teller really went extra hard on this one. I actually really like how abruptly this song ends too. It works surprisingly well in my opinion. This shit is fire, and definitely one of my favorite songs of the year so far. It’s dope as fuck. Track 5 is called Trophies. This is a dope song, but it doesn’t really blow me away like a lot of the other tracks do. I like the melodic beat, and I think SeK’s rapping over it is great. It’s just not as memorable as a lot of the other tracks for whatever reason. SeKwence’s actual rapping is pretty much the main aspect of the song that makes it worth returning to for me. His breath control was particularly impressive on the second verse. Like I said, the song’s dope. Track 6 is called Revive Potion, and it features Freddy Stone. Once again, the production here is absolutely phenomenal. This beat is really elegant-sounding and chill. It really fits SeKwence’s style very well.

I'm not the type to pass assumptions
'Cause I been in here off the shits and couldn't function
We only focused on the better now
I still be smokin', gettin' faded off the better pound
What's in your pocket I ain't trippin' on
I'm out for more than just a check, I'm out for guidance
I been lookin' up for years but I still can't seem to find it
I finally found it in myself, inside my soul, eternal wealth

The Freddy Stone verse really pushes this one to the next level for me. His verse is a little short, but every line hits.

I blew the smoke into the atmosphere 'cause I'm a spell castor
Fuck a rap career, they 'bout to sell my show to NASA
That joint ain't got no grabba in it, so I'm passin' it back to her
All the drugs nowadays are just immaculate packaging
Just like the rappers used to be actual savages
Crossin' international borders, all my niggas in Paris

I love the way his verse ends too. The song is dope as hell. Track 7 is the shortest song on the album, and it’s called Tommy Gun. This one features bass from an artist named Thomas Ruhe, who sounds fantastic. I really enjoy the verse from SeKwence on this track too.

I can bear the weight just like my father always said
That self awareness keep you up, the disrespect gon' leave you fuckin' dead
My thoughts is deeper than the ocean
I fuck around and put elixir in the potion
I bag a script like a doctor
I flood the city, fuck the city, I'm a monster

The only reason I wouldn’t call this song another highlight is just because of how short it is. It’s less than two minutes long. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it just makes it harder for this song in particular to stand out from all the rest. I definitely fuck with it though. It’s dope. Track 8 is called Basics // When It Rains, and it features drums from Killer Kane. This might be my favorite song on the album honestly. The production is absolutely incredible. The beat on Basics sounds like sunshine in the form of music. I love it. SeKwence of course sounds amazing over it too.

I been down and I been up
I benefit, I keep it pushin', I ain't never gettin' stuck
I'm doin' everything I said I would
I'm doin' everything that I had planned out, it's perfect, but
Still it's plenty work to be done
There's plenty ways to make it pop, I'm on the way to the sun

When It Rains starts after about two minutes and forty seconds, and it has another amazing beat. I don’t even really mind the brevity of this part of the song personally. The hook that SeKwence spits here is fire, and I love the beat. Like I said, this is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album. I think it’s dope as fuck. Track 9 is called Snake Eyes, and it features greenSLLIME. This song’s got the type of beat to have me considering the nature of the universe.

I take 'em back to makin' plays at 50, shady
All the blessings from my granny and my mama couldn't save me
I was destined to survive through situations and these circumstances
Dancin' with the Devil, grippin' on this metal, I
Never trust 'em, my intuition guides me
So I'm seein' through disguises
I'm safety netted with devices
With the power of the titans, I roll the dice
This shit a gamble, heads or tails
I ain't never havin' shit, I'm undefeated, never failed
I speak the scripture for my people
Extract the poison from the needle
I wrap the package and conceal it
Put the stash behind the ceiling fan
This shit is pure enough to kill a man

The opening verse from SeKwence over this jazzy, thought-provoking loop is great. greenSLLIME killed that second verse too. All of the features on this album really came through for SeKwence. This shit is fire. I struggled with whether or not I should consider this song a highlight. I don’t love the descending piano keys that break up the verses on this track—not that it sounds bad. For whatever reason that melody just makes me feel uneasy. This song is still really dope though. I fuck with it. Track 10 is called Achilles’ Heel, and it features an artist named Shane the Shaman. Once again, I absolutely love the production on this track. I really appreciate how happy and cheerful it sounds. It sounds like the soundtrack to a good ass day. SeKwence killed the first verse, and Shane the Shaman sounds excellent at the end.

I'm dedicated to this rappin' shit
Perfect product I supply just like I'm trappin' shit
Thinkin' back on all of my years pushin' packages
Modifyin' addresses, just findin' my path, no I wasn't fond of average

The Dragon Ball Z reference was much appreciated. I love this song. The upbeat production fits SeKwence’s style beautifully, and Shane killed his verse. It’s dope as hell. The penultimate track is another highlight called Never Getting Over. Just like with damn near every other track, I absolutely love the production here. The bass in particular sounds really great, and SeKwence sounds excellent over it.

Everyday a different battle, it's a different challenge, my only option's perseverance
Confront the demons and the spirits
It's never scripted, three prescriptions help me pen it
I'm on a fuckin' different level in a bunch of ways
I'm on a bunch of different drugs with a blunt to face

I really liked that line about him dipping his quill in cobra venom. That was fire. On my first listen of the album, this was my favorite solo track. I think Basics // When It Rains has overtaken that spot after multiple listens, but this one is fire too. The final track is called ILuvMe, and it has another great beat from OLDBOY. The rapping from SeK is nice too.

I ain't playin' 'round with no lames
I ain't on shit but my own lane
I ain't on shit but the next level
Need the rollie fuckin' China with the biggest bezel

The way this song is structured is pretty cool. This one definitely makes sense as the outro. Most of the song is taken up by the hook, but there’s one short verse around the midpoint of the track. This feels like the song that plays as the credits roll for the album. I think it’s really dope.

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^{This is my favorite SeKwence album. It’s probably obvious at this point, but a lot of it has to do with the stupendous production from OLDBOY. These beats are really awesome. From front to back, I think this is SeKwence’s best produced album, which is saying a lot because he’s a top tier beat picker. I feel like SeKwence really locked in on this project. It’s a really well-crafted, well-sequenced body of work. If you’re a fan of SeKwence then this is a must-listen project. I don’t see how you couldn’t love this if you’ve been into SeKwence’s work in the past. This is quintessential SeKwence music. It has a lot of my favorite songs he’s ever done, and the features all came through with really great performances too. I really don’t have any consistent gripes with this one. I think this shit is dope as hell. Check it out.}

Favorite Song: Mercy Me
Least Favorite Song: Trophies

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