The New York hip-hop veterans return with their 10th LP, but first without, yet including the voice of, and a tribute to, founding member Trugoy the Dove, AKA Dave Jolicoeur who passed away in 2023, alongside many hip-hop luminary guests, with trademark playful skits, and all themed around the afterlife. It opens with the rich, deep avuncular voice of actor Giancarlo Esposito introducing all the various performers in the metaphorical cabin as a roll call, including of course the other two (Kelvin ‘Posdnuos’ Mercer and Vincent ‘Maseo’ Mason), plus Black Thought, Common, Nas, Q-Tip, Killer Mike, Pete Rock, Slick Rick, Yukimi (of Little Dragon), Jay Pharoah and more, finishing with a call for Dave of course, who, on a rather more serious note, of course doesn’t answer. It’s a hotch-potch of 20 stop-start tracks, samples, gentle jokes, and voices across a long album, but there are several strong, catchy, clever numbers and meta-songs, including the luxuriant strings and positive talky style of Yuhdontstop, the burst of Natalie Cole’s voice on Will Be, standouts The Package, Patty Cake, and Run It Back (with Nas). The first half of the album is stronger than a second, but this feels like a non-stop party for the sadly departed, a wordy wake of sounds and memories and samples, upbeat and consistent to the playful spirit of the original trio, including, of course, Dave. Out on Mass Appeal Records.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new songs and albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar X, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: