This album was released on July 11th this year. Whose is an artist with whom I was pretty much completely unfamiliar prior to checking out this latest album. I mean, there was a song on a blank thought tape that featured him a couple years ago that I dug, but I still didn’t really have any idea who he was. The only reason I was even interested in checking this out was because it was released by crushr.records. I basically went into it completely blind. Thankfully, this ended up being a very pleasant surprise for me. I really enjoyed this project, which is why I decided to write about it.

The intro to the album is called The Artist’s Chant, which is pretty much just Whose singing the title of the album a cappella over and over. I’d be lying if I said I really got anything out of this track, but I’m not gonna pretend to have a huge problem with it. It’s fine.

Track 2 is called Moment of Space, and it features an MC named Sirrealist. I actually don’t even like this song that much either to be honest. When I was first listening to the album, I wasn’t planning on writing about it because it starts off kinda slow in my opinion. This song is by no means bad, but it just lacks replay value for me. I think the beat is kinda cool, but I dislike the sung hook quite a bit. The opening verse from Whose is okay, but I actually enjoyed the second one from Sirrealist more.

Space is minimal when everybody needs you
Drown myself at work, pass me a straw I can breathe through
The brightest in the room, though at times I wish I'm see through
My girl said she thinks I need therapy, I said "me too"

It’s a well made track, but there’s not enough here that I like to warrant any repeat listens in the future. It’s a solid song though.

Track 3 is called The Perfect Mo(u)rning, and this is where the album actually gets really dope. The acoustic guitar-driven production is terrific, and Whose’s writing is pretty awesome.

On days like these I just think about the words you can speak to the trees
Whisper to seeds to help them grow like I want you to grow
Grow old and die gracefully, the beautiful night, I'm tired of hiding

The lyricism just gets more and more entertaining as the song progresses, and I love the hook.

I haven't done my best, but I promise from now 'til death (I'll try my best)
'Cause I won't let you down like I let me down (I won't let you down)

I love how his vocal delivery gets more energetic and impassioned at certain points throughout this song. The closing verse is definitely one of my favorites on the album.

Why did fate have to swing it's arm of the law
And make me insecure about the size of my jaw
The sway of my hips, my big fucking stomach
With belly hair that won't go away, it won't go away
It won't go away, no matter how much I shave
Use razor blades to try to keep the roots in their cave
Bruise tiny but heavy hands on shattered glass
Wrapped up in the anger from my father with a feminine touch
I see others on their journey and show love and respect
All jealousy and contempt, run their mouth at my neck
Loud walls, but a silent mouth, I either start now or push it deep down
No sound, but I'll still hear her voice below ground

As you can see, the lyrical content is very somber. This might be the best song on the project. It’s definitely top 3 at least. I think it’s fire.

Track 4 is called I Drive Better When I’m Drunk, and it’s got another pretty awesome instrumental. The rapping from Whose is excellent here too.

You Vs. me akin to speeding down a one-way
That's like tryin' knife-play with a dull blade
I wish I could be bored
That's a luxury only the wealthy can afford
Boris with the compositions, mission can't abort
Grind my teeth to dust, snort it a la mode

The content is clearly not as heavy as it is on other tracks, but I still find it quite engaging. I’m kind of indifferent towards the hook, but it’s cool. I really love the way the production evolves during the second verse. The song’s really dope to me overall.

Track 5 is another highlight called God’s Post Nut Clarity. This is perhaps the most interesting song on the album lyrically. It’s all about Whose’s sexuality. This one also has arguably the best instrumental on the whole album. I would love to hear Aesop Rock over a beat like this. The first verse is nice, but I like the second one even more.

Runnin' from my past for fifteen years in these same sneakers
Don't even know a queer rapper to get a gay feature
New chapter, side characters turn to main people
I get anxious around large crowds, dog, I stay see through
The hours of my days are foul, I'm tryna make it out
I'm wide awake to prowl, I'm gay for sex and I'm gay for clout
I need this gender binary to give me benefactors
So I can lounge on a Finnish ranch while I drive a tractor

This song also has a pretty catchy hook where he talks about how “it pays to be gay.” It’s a really interesting song. It’s definitely another contender for my favorite on the album. It’s dope as hell.

Track 6 is called Mark of the Best. This was another favorite for me on my first listen. I don’t think I’m quite as amazed by it now as I initially was, but I do still really enjoy it. The production is very textured. It’s the kind of instrumental that I would love to hear Life Is Good era Nas rap over. The opening verse from Whose is pretty good, and the hook is cool, but the most memorable part of the song is definitely the guest verse from The Thought. The way he comes in sounds so cool, and his flow is mad nice. The song’s pretty dope overall.

I Wish I Was a Sociopath has another one of the catchier instrumentals and hooks in my opinion. The acoustic-guitar driven production has quite a sentimental tone. Whose’s flow here is really dope, and the lyricism matches the atmosphere of the beat really well.

I weep for my sisters and brothers who smothered their lights with unguided actions
And I proceed to cradle my loved ones hoping that Death will take note of my pleads
I didn't know her, but I knew someone that did, and that pain I can feel in my ribs
Nothing I can say can and will make it better, but know that we love you, and that's how it is

There’s only one verse on this song, but it’s very heartfelt. This is another contender for favorite track to me. I think it’s one of the best on the album.

Track 8 is called God Don’t Live in Glendale (Live). Just based on the parenthetical title, I was expecting this to be a recording of a live performance or something like that, but that’s not the case. This song has a pretty slow buildup. The entire first verse is performed with no percussion. There’s a pretty eventful moment in which he says “got my dick in a twink’s mouth like a fishing hook.” I really love how his vocal delivery completely switches up for the second verse once the drums come in. He sounds like a battle rapper. He reminded me of Nems in particular. The song’s dope.

It’s followed by an interlude called I’ll Keep Holding On. I was kind of expecting this track to sample Simply Red, but that doesn’t happen here. I don’t really know how to describe the vocals on this track. They’re dope though. I like the acoustic guitar beat too. It’s a dope interlude that actually grew on me a lot with repeat listens.

The penultimate track is called Lost at Sea. This is definitely one of the weaker songs on the album for me, but I do still enjoy it to an extent. The lyricism is pretty dope, although I’m not totally in love with the beat. It’s pretty good though.

You ever see someone so deep in their trauma
They believe a lover isn't as efficient as an owner?
Sippin' on that whiskey from my grandmama's shelf
Auntie caught a whiff or two and played the hand she was dealt
I watch attempts at survival as a man made of silk
Apathy will be the death of all that man worked to build
Work the plan start to shill, don't stop until the chill of death's
Frail old palm adds some footprints to that sand

The hook is solid enough, but it’s certainly my least favorite part of the song. The second verse is performed by someone named Inzom, who does a nice job.

Always got so much to give, reciprocation lost at sea
Been sailing every corner tryna find what lies beneath my feet
Is it me or is my trust being a fickle bitch?
Regardless I'ma give you what I want, and that's a lovely gift

This is definitely a good song. If the rapping wasn’t as good as it is then I wouldn’t care for it at all. The production and hook are cool, but the lyricism is what sells me on this one.

The closing track is called Silent Son, and it was released as the lead single a few months prior to the album’s release.

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I think this is a pretty great way to wrap the album up. The lowkey, somber production along with the kind of heavy lyricism sounds fantastic. I loved this couplet from the first verse.

It’s always more impressive when you pass the finish line
With 2 broken legs and a cracked spine

Honestly, this song has some of the coolest lyrics on the whole project. I love how the second verse ends with the title of the album too. Like I said, this song wraps things up really nicely. It’s dope.

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^{This album is really good. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I mean, I really had no expectations going into it at all since I was basically completely unfamiliar with the artist. It’s always a great feeling checking something like this out and discovering a cool new musician. He fully self produced this album, which is pretty impressive. I enjoyed the melancholic guitar-driven instrumentals a lot. Lyrically, this is a pretty heavy and emotional listen. Whose really put their entire soul into a lot of these songs, which is something I always appreciate. I think the project starts off pretty slow, but once it gets to track three it’s smooth sailing. The best songs to me are the ones where Whose is really digging deep emotionally. Give this project a listen and let me know what you think of it in the comment section. I think it’s dope.}

Favorite Song: The Perfect Mo(u)rning
Least Favorite Song: Moment of Space