Written by I.S. Jones @isjonespoetry

When I was reviewing TruthCity’s first album The Prologue, I had already been listening to it for a month straight, barely listening to anything else. I was enthralled by how every single track found its way into my life, especially “1 Day” which I returned to again and again on the walk home…after work…at the end of a stressful work week. I knew before I wrote the album review that he would receive a high 4, but it got to the point where I had to ask myself “What reason do I not have to give this man a 5?” Honestly. In the end, the final album rating is all on me, but I was seriously conflicted because I didn’t know what a perfect score looked like until now. It is necessary for me to explain why this album was so successful not so an artist can pander to what I think is remarkable work, but to be mindful of what it take to create a substantial body of work capable of longevity. An artist should seek to make the kind of work that lends itself to their audience again and again but also something you are proud of. This is also being written because I know most of you didn’t read the track by track review, so this won’t take long. Promise.

1) This entire album is vulnerable, honest, and has an immense amount of heart.

From the initial track, “Mi Amigos” “1 Day” to “Till We On” and “Evening Freestyle”, Truth opened his chest and begins to let us in—“begins” because the title is “The Prologue” thus leaving the journey open for his listeners but also for the artist to change and grow as his voice does. Most notably “A Dedication” for its lyrical weight: “Thought you knew we here some killers, RIP tattoos, lost so many niggas, he can barely find the room to ink another initial / Another bodied too soon / Everyday another body, pray it’s nobody you knew / Young and living ungodly, all we are coons, niggas, hoodlums and thugs yea that’s all we are to you”. Truth talks about being homeless, having to wear the same clothes every day, not knowing when he will eat again, looking up to see his dreams painted before him. The celebration of friendship and comradery was immensely refreshing in a genre that often oversexualizes women and can have homophobic lyrics.

2) It works as a cohesive whole instead of a bunch of singles next to each other.

A body of work is successful when each component works as a self-contained world while speaking to the worlds (songs) thus making an entire universe. While there are some lyrics in this album I have a real problem, they don’t detract from the brilliance of each song. The first three tracks after the intro “New Day Freestyle”, “A Gooood Night”, and “Summertime” are songs that work as singles but also have similar upbeat tempo, choir-influences, and youthful irreverence; “Bad Girls” while the tonal shift is slight, begins the transition into the succeeding tracks such as “Ghetto House Party” and more serious tracks such as “A Dedication”. It should bring to question: Is an artist looking at the bigger picture when you make music? Are you asking yourself real questions like: “What are these songs trying to communicate?” “How does my voice, my work change, shift, or contribute to the conversation and the ever-growing history of hip-hop?”

3) Sonically, no expense was spared (and God Bless!)

Now, there is nothing wrong at all with ripping beats off YouTube to make a mixtape or album; Joey Bada$$ did it for “1999” and that mixtape is nothing short of fire. There is however something to be said about working with a producer to generate your vision, carve out your sound, instead of pulling beats offline. Every beat that has ever been made is unique in that it was made with a purpose. To that end, each track on this album was mixed by a different person. That’s some Kanye ass-shit! First album in, Truth has shown us he will do whatever is necessary to produce a phenomenal collection of work.

4) The album is versatile.

I prefer conscious rap, lyrics that make me think. I fell out of hip-hop for a moment because I was tired of the “fuck bitches, fuck hoes, fuck n**gas, get money. Money all day boiiiiiii!!!” sound. Tired of being reference to as a bitch or “pussy”. This album has turn-up songs, petty song, heart-felt song—the album is just as complicated as the man who made it which is why no matter what you gravitate towards in music, there is something for you in this album.

5) The album sustains itself because it is constantly refreshing.

I wouldn’t want to say that it’s timeless because it is too soon to tell, but I listened to this album for a month straight and didn’t get bored. I would wake up thinking about “New Day Freestyle”, went to bed thinking about “Bugatti Wishes”. I think that is one of the many qualities which makes classic what it is—music that stay with its audience and music that changes the game. Truth’s music stayed with me and if you haven’t listened to it, I hope it stays with you too.

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