Album Review: Almost Home (December 11, 2020)

The Context – The Bronx is lauded as the birthplace of hip-hop, yet the Brooklyn borough has undoubtedly contributed to the rich hip-hop culture of NYC and beyond. The likes of Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim, and the Wu-Tang Clan not only made Brooklyn a musical mecca in the 1990s and early 2000s but also propelled the hip-hop and rap genres into the mainstream.

Today, Brooklyn hip-hop remains relevant through the diverse sounds of artists like Tekashi69, Joey Bada$$, and the Flatbush Zombies. Akeem Joseph, better known by his stage name AKTHESAVIOR, is a prominent sound from Brooklyn as well. Since 2011, AKTHESAVIOR has released music in tandem with longtime friend Issa Gold under The Underachievers collective, in collaboration with Gold and the Flatbush Zombies as Clockwork Indigo, and as a solo artist (2016’s Blessings In the Grey 2, 2020’s FLATBU$H ¥EN with Leon Fanourakis, and 2020’s Almost Home).

The Content – AKTHESAVIOR opens his latest Almost Home record with an infectiously soulful backdrop juxtaposed by fierce verses from Joseph in “In My Dreams.” Kenneth Cash’s silky, polished vocals mesh well with AKTHESAVIOR’s rap/vocal combinations on “Be Back Soon.” AK delivers back-to-back sentimental tracks on the more subdued “F**k -12” and the agro-emotional “R.I.P Smoke” dedicated to the late Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke.

“Vitamin C” showcases the best bars from AKTHESAVIOR and an in-your-face verse from his feature—Brooklyn’s up-and-coming BILLY B. The quick hitting “Giani” serves as a dreamy interlude to the otherworldly production from Chuck Strangers & Erick the Architect and verses from Issa Gold on “Ups & Downs.” “Master Roshi” rivals “Vitamin C” and its exhibition of fine spitting from the Brooklyn rapper, yet BILLY B’s feature places the predecessor slightly ahead.

Woodie Smalls and Krystall Poppin provide pleasant sonic changes of pace on their respective features “Stardumb” and “Flava.” The bouncy “The One” displays AKTHESAVIOR’s quickest bars on the album. AK slows the pace considerably on the whispery “Reincarnated” backed with a pulsating beat. “Bruce Leeroy” continues the previous pacing in the track inspired by the cult classic film The Last Dragon set in NYC as does the concluding “Dinner For One” track.

The Skinny – When compared to April 2020’s frenetic FLATBU$H ¥EN with Leon Fanourakis, Almost Home is an about-face as AKTHESAVIOR delivers a tightly composed record. The alternation between heavy hitters like “R.I.P. Smoke” and soulful tracks like “Bruce Leeroy” do not detract but add to the balance of the sound. Moreover, the complimentary list of NYC-based features on Almost Home gives AKTHESAVIOR license to exquisitely paint the diverse sonic portrait of Brooklyn.

The Rating – 7.6/10

Almost Home