“The 2ND Wave” is a hip-hop project by artist “True Lyrics the BeardGod”. Over the 11 track album, True Lyrics lives up to his name as he raps about issues about the treatment of the black community in the modern-day United States. It is a dark and gritty album that encapsulates the black experience and gives rays of hope in its lighter moments.
The first half, starting with Riot contextualizes the landscape of police brutality, abuse of authority, systemic racism, and crime that surround the black community. I appreciated True Lyrics’ multi-faceted approach in showing relevant issues and problems. This contextualization is achieved through strong imagery, storytelling, and precise delivery.
The second half of the album delves into the slightly less dark and hopeful side of the concept. There is melodic singing and soul samples. True Lyrics taps into his storytelling skills once again and delivers a strong punch in the closing track. Overall, I enjoyed listening to the album and highly recommended it!
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