Patreon supporters received access to this review on November 3rd, 2024.

SB11 is a member of the Lupara production crew, of whom I’m a very big fan. I think my favorite thing I’ve heard from him is the collaborative EP he did with Pro Zay, SAMPLE BAG 2. It was really short though, and it did leave me wanting more, so I’m happy to have this full length album, which was released on September 20th this year. There was a BarsOverBS physical release, but I think it was only for a limited time, so I’m not sure if you can still purchase that. I wish I was able to get a cassette, but I didn’t have the funds for it at the time that it was available. It appears to be sold out. I missed my chance sadly. Anyway, there are a lot of enticing features on this album, along with a few of whom I’m less familiar, so it’s nice to get some new faces. A lot of times producer albums like these end up being kinda lame because the features tend to phone in their performances. However, that’s not the case here at all. Every single track is enjoyable to me thankfully.

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The opening track is a highlight called Silent and So Cold, which I believe dropped as a single at some point prior to the album’s full release.

I liked this song when I heard it as a single, but I love it even more now after spending more time with it. I think I started appreciating it much more when I listened to it while smoking. That applies to the whole album in general though. This beat in particular just feels really chill while maintaining a certain level of grit. The opening verse is performed by Flashius Clayton. I’ve never listened to a project from him, but I’ve enjoyed him on features alongside some of my favorite artists ever, so I hope to check out his next release. I think he set things up really nicely on the first verse.

Broadcasting live from the ranch with Oprah
Welcome to SB11's grand opus
This the Heavenly Unknown

I think I’m ready to call Planet Asia one of my favorite rappers of all time now. It’s not only because he’s arguably the most consistent rapper of all time, but also because of the entire Gold Chain Military branch of West Coast lyricism that came up under him. Plus he has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard for rap. He just makes it seem so effortless. I feel like he could rap circles around people in his sleep. This verse is fire.

I heard your raps and I knew you was cappin'
Seen the bitch and I knew you was captain
In high school you was the man, homie, damn, what happened?
'nough issues, what the fuck's up with you?
Why the face, and why you lookin' like a fuckin' bus hit you?
It's the diamond tester star, every bar is a bracelet
Chain here to control the game like a racist
Only thing at this point that could possibly save mankind
Is 10 ft. giants appearing out of spaceships

Defcee is another one of my favorite rappers ever, and I honestly think he had the best performance on this track. It certainly helps that his flow was more aggressive than that of the other performers. He also has another perfect voice for rapping.

Stuck to the program like malware
How do they talk so much trash with no mouth care?
RZA fang dentistry bit my brain chemistry
In my early twenties dealt with middle aged memories
Different strains of remedy, therapy on an open mic
Walkin' over hot coals on my coldest nights

The rapping here is excellent. The production from SB11 was a nice canvas for each of these MCs to perform over. It feels very cinematic. I think it’s a very dope track.

The segue into Immortal is super smooth. This was the lead single for the album, and it features Josiah the Gift, SUBSTANCE810, and Shottie. I actually wrote a review specifically for this song when it dropped, which you can find here.

I think I like this song even more within the context of the full album. Pretty much all the verses have grown on me. I still think Josiah the Gift has my favorite performance here, but all three of them did a really good job. This is definitely one of the best songs on the album to me. It’s stellar.

Track 3 is called Cinema 6, and it’s performed by Mickey Diamond. This one’s pretty great. I love how tense the production is. It sounds like something I’d hear during a boss battle in a video game, and Mickey’s signature deep voice sounds excellent over it.

There’s not really a substantial hook; he just says “fuck it, let’s make a movie” as the refrain, which is cool. The verses themselves are the main thing I love about this song though. Well, the production too. I just love how hard Mickey sounds here though. I mean, he always sounds hard as fuck, but it just fits really well over this beat.

The rap Marvin Hagler, party crasher
Chrome .44 magnum with the big nose like Adam Sandler
Spin around and start spittin' it backwards like pig latin

Now that I think about it, a full project from Mickey Diamond over SB11 production would be fire. Holy… I just came up with the best idea ever: a Lupara & Umbrella Collective crossover album. That’d be insane. I need to speak that into existence. Anyway, my favorite part of this track actually might just be the instrumental outro. The entire vibe kinda switches up and gets a lot more blissful. I’m sure that was intentional. It sounds like what I would hear as I enter the gates of heaven. I love it. The song’s dope.

The following track is called Take It or Leave It, and is performed by Lord Juco. I actually don’t think there’s a better rapper that SB11 could’ve selected for this instrumental in particular. Juco fits over this one like a glove. It kinda reminds me of the album he did with Finn.

Scared she might do it wrong
Baby take the time, I'ma put a movie on
You know me, lowkey, OG know me
Stay out the way, my heart in the music
Ain't no other way, nobody safe
You replaceable, do more, you more than capable
Too comfortable, it ain't gon' come to you
Patience can punish you
If it turns into waitin', you impatient
Take it in, you a patient
All this money I'm rakin' in, it don't make my pen move
Don't let that offend you
I bend rules to break records
This shit'll take forever
My way the only way, Lord taught the holy way
You know we know it's faith
It's his job
Men are flawed, even God
Circle the only thing perfect
Loyalty only existence in the dark
Everything else has strings attached
So they can bring it back
Setbacks, I give what I'll get back
Let that breathe
They tell you what you wanna hear
I'll show you what you need
Take it or leave it

This song honestly grew on me a lot. I always thought it was dope, but now it’s one of the best songs on the album to me. Lord Juco is awesome, man. I love this one. The song’s fire.

Track 5 is called Complexity, and it’s performed by an Australian artist named Knoe. I used to be pretty averse to Australian accents in Hip Hop, but CNTRL was able to help me get past that bias. I actually think this one is really dope. It’s one of the shortest tracks on the project, so I guess if you dislike the accent you won’t have to sit through it for too long. As far as Knoe’s rapping goes, his flow reminded me a lot of Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon. The lyricism is pretty awesome. I love how disrespectful it is.

They tryna whip up the cream, but they're lactose intolerant
I've got a tolerance to a point, but the wack shit you […] be horrible
Intolerable, should confiscate the recording equipment from the lot of you
Only way to catch a favor from me is if you're honorable
Happy to share the knowledge if your plan profitable
But don't think you can get a rap from me with notifications on my socials
You dreamin' hopeful to think you can sit on a track with me
I'm turnin' water into wine in my studio by the beach
Gotta couple of bottles full, livin' the dream
Your favorite rappers and managers are in my sleep stream

I really love SB11’s jazzy, luxurious production here too. This song honestly grew on me a lot. I think it’s really dope.

Track 6 is called Thunder in Heaven, and it’s performed by Norm Regular. I had definitely seen Norm Regular’s name floating around social media prior to listening to this, but this was my first time actually hearing his music. I’m sold. I love his voice and delivery here. He sounds so angry. I really love the way the first verse ends.

It's me though, you know the steelo
I let the weed blow, man of the people, name goin', hard to be low
Still on my game, same name, made me change the tweet though
Fuck 'em, son, this shit about nothin', you know how we roll

That’s so fire. The production from SB11 sounds really aggressive. Again, it sounds like something that would play during a boss battle in a video game. Final Fantasy to be specific. Anyway, there’s not really a hook here; the breaks between each verse are occupied by a clip of someone speaking about storms. I think the second verse is even better than the first one. Norm Regular is definitely someone I’m gonna be keeping an eye on. This is one of my favorite songs on the album. It’s fire.

The following track is called Listen Too Much, and it features Cousin Feo of Death at the Derby & Flu of Lupara. The opening verse from Cousin Feo is stellar, and I like his second one even more. I think a lot of it has to do with the production. I like the second half of the instrumental a lot more than the first part. The first half isn’t bad, but it just doesn’t stand out as much. The second half of the beat is actually fantastic. I was surprised to hear Flu rapping too. He sounds shockingly dope. I had no idea he could rap, but he did an excellent job. This is another highlight on the album that grew on me a lot. I think it’s one of the best songs on the project.

Must Be a Dream features Kaos the Baker & Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon. I am a bit biased since they’re from my home state of North Carolina, but this is another one of the best songs on the album to me. Kaos the Baker released an album called The Essence of Kaos earlier this year, which was fully produced by SB11. I spoke about it in Listening Log 012, so be sure to check that out. Anyway, I think this song has some of the best rapping I’ve ever heard from Kaos. He slaughtered this track.

Stop your nonsense, your bitch not better than bitches on my block list
Perfection I piss, your whole career livin' up in hospice
I'm on the watchlist, cookin' up a livin', pretty don't come with a ribbon
Energy givin', the type vibe all the bitches be feelin'
But I'm really a villain, a skyscraper without the ceilings
The grand reaper do my killings, I'm so glad I'm out my feelings
Because everything gon' deserve a reaction
It's a satisfaction when the packs turn into Franklins and Jacksons
I'm lookin' out, and I be taxin', gettin' money, relaxin', no distractions
We the now, nigga, you the "has-been," fly linen like Aladdin
It's up, nigga, you better tap in, graduation, you be cappin'
I can see you be lackin', slippery slope without no traction

The second verse from Jah-Monte is of course excellent as well. I really love his vocal delivery here. I feel like his voice has evolved ever since I first started listening to him in 2020, but maybe I’m trippin’.

I'm so glad she out her feelings
I'm so glad I had that bag, they tried to cash me out the villain
Used to say that they can't market me, I guess now I'm appealing
But ain't much changed but the address for billing

That’s so fire. Both of these guys killed this song. It’s probably my second favorite track on the whole project.

The title track, Heavenly Unknown, features Josiah the Gift & Ace Cannons. This one is pretty incredible. I’m not even gon’ cap to y’all. This is the best song on the album. Josiah went bonkers on this track. His flow is stellar. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him flow like that before. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone flow like that now that I think about it. It’s amazing. The second verse from Ace Cannons is phenomenal as well. His breath control is astonishing. I kinda don’t wanna spoil any of the bars here, so I’m not gonna transcribe the lyrics. However, it’s worth noting that I have zero nitpicks with this song. I even like the sung hook a lot. This one’s incredible. If you listen to anything from this album, make sure you hear this one.

The closer is a song called Erick Sermon, and it’s performed by A.Saxon. He’s another artist from Australia, and his accent is a lot thicker than that of Knoe. I have to admit that it’s still somewhat of a barrier for me, but I still dig this track. The lyrics are good, and A.Saxon’s voice isn’t bad for rapping at all. He has a very impassioned vocal delivery, and this song also has one of the best beats on the whole album in my opinion. I think the line where he says “your bitch got an Adam’s apple” could be offensive to people who are sensitive to transphobia. I don’t condone that kind of thing, but it doesn’t ruin the song for me. I think this track is pretty good.

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^{This album is really great. There’s actually not a single track here that I don’t like. The production is really polished, but not overly clean. The songs all segue into one another really seamlessly. This album might actually have the best transitions I’ve heard all year. Every single feature came through with a really nice performance too. I think my favorite discovery from this album is Norm Regular. I’m really excited to hear more from that guy. I don’t actually have any consistent gripes with this project. There are certain tracks that I like more than others, but every single song is worth returning to. This one’s really dope. Check it out.}

Favorite Song: Heavenly Unknown
Least Favorite Song: Erick Sermon

B+