So I meant to have this up Wednesday but things just didn't stick to schedule this week but oh well I'm on track now. As you know August 11th, this upcoming Tuesday, Shawn Chrystopher will drop A City With No Seasons. The idea, our city has no real season...I mean where else can you have pool parties in December or party on the rooftops in the winter? But besides that idea let's talk about this album and the content. As you know, I went to the listening session and I actually already have the album...so I've had some time to chill with it. So without further adieu...my first album review; Shawn Chrystopher's "A City With No Season".
Let me start by saying this, the album is like a surreal walk through the narrator's life, that narrator is Shawn Chrys. The production sonically pieces the ups and downs together into a cohesive unit. The album is best heard from beginning to end so you can fell the experience of it. The variety of instruments and transitions between songs take you on musical journey. You can ponder not making it in life like on the song "Believer" where Shawn paints a picture of a rapper who fails at his dream and sees his girl beside him as he tells her he'll make it work for them. Anyone who is trying to find their way in life and has taken a significant other on that roller coaster ride can relate to this. As the instrumental plays and you can vibe out and think about the situation, you are interrupted by strings of another kind and Shawn begins his dedication to his mother. A heartfelt ode to his mother's struggle as a single parent and him being able to grow up and take care of her. On the next track Shawn addresses a significant other that's not being fair in the relationship. This track is called Heartbreaker and we can all relate to feeling like this in a relationship as the hook goes: "I F___ up sometimes I admit, when you f___ up you don't say s___!!!" If you've never had that feeling before you're not human. Shawn vents his two verses in an unconventional 8 bars and then the beat pauses and builds up almost like an idea of tension, then a different voice chimes in, this voice being that of Chris Focus. Chris gives his example of a similar situation, says the hook and the beat plays as if to let you or the girl ponder the situation.
The next few songs Shawn goes into metaphorical mode with "Fresh Prince" (you'll have to listen to understand), "[Untitled]" which is a love story but not your usual love story and then "You're Beautiful At Night". Shawn explained that "...Beautiful At..." was inspired by Downtown La and is actually about DTLA. The concept is how the same skyline and section of town that is so eye catching during nightfall is an ugly harsh sight in sunlight. You'll have to listen to the lyrics to put it all together. "Lose Your Mind" and "Cloud 9" are more party type songs but are very dope. The two songs seem to encompass you into a celebratory mood. The production is stellar and gets you hyped and as Shawn raps you can feel the energy. As I told him, I can see folks in a large Vegas club going crazy to it or being a perfect performance song for a large concert venue. Lastly Shawn ends the album with "Letter to An Angel" a dedication to his grandmother...and if you listen to the song (you know the beat and the lyrics) everything is fitting to the title.
Overall this is a dope album...the production is intense where it needs to be and soothing where it needs to be. The album sonically captures emotions musically and then Shawn comes in captures those emotions lyrically. This album, though it's hip hop and the vocals are pretty much rapped, is very much approached musically. It's not about the best beats, or the fiercest rhyme scheme but about putting together a song as a whole and connecting with people. It's the biggest problem with hip hop sometimes; being able to take a chance and show emotions. Shawn Chrystopher steps outside of that box and attacks that taboo head on. This album is all about feelings...it's very much a rollercoaster ride through Shawn's thoughts. Thanks for sharing Shawn.
August 11th make sure to check it out.
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