2019 was really Slowthai's year. He broke into the mainstream with his debut record, which was then nominated for the Mercury Prize; dropped co-labs all over the place and toured with the American super-group Brockhampton. And it's really not hard to see why he has made such a splash, as he is such an attention-grabbing character with an incredible presence on the stage and on these tracks.
Slowthai instantly grabs you with his very unique rapping style. It's not the most technical or flashy, but Tyron brings a punkish, DIY attitude to it which sets him apart from any other rapper I've heard. He has weird vocal inflections, and a rough aggressive tone throughout the majority of the record, although there are a few softer moments in the tracklist.
It's hard not to be sucked in by the lyrical content either. Slowthai raps about growing up in on council estate with his single mother, and some tragic childhood trauma, including the death of his younger brother and Tyrone's poor relationship with his step-father. The tracks are also stuffed full of commentary on class inequality and politics, as well as references to British pop-culture and stereotypes.
The opening track is the title track, which serves as a tone setter for the rest of the record. Slowthai lists off social injustices and ends with brash pot-shots at the Royal Family. Following this is the Mura Masa assisted Doorman, a manic, dance-able banger about going out and the related alcohol and drug abuse. It has a certain post-punk/dance punk quality to it, despite having electronic instrumentation. It is the cream of the crop of the album's tracks, I've been listening to it for months and it never gets old. Gorgeous is more organic, built around a loop of a little piano riff, with additional strings and manipulated vocals in the background. Tyrone raps more nostalgically about his youth here, despite the challenges he faced during it.
Some of the more grime-styled tracks in the middle of the record don't do much for me, I just struggle to connect of become invested in those types of instrumentals. Slowthai and his features (Jaykae and Skepta) still perform well on top. The record picks up again towards the end though, starting with Peace Of Mind. Slowthai is particularly driven and swaggering on this one, with the hook "I feel peace of mind when I'm dreaming of a life I ain't living". You really feel the anguish and anger in his voice here. Missing has a weird, creepy, warped synth-line. Similar effects smother Slowthai's voice, creating a dark, dangerous atmosphere to the track. Northampton's Child closes the record much as Nothing Great About Britain opens it, however with a more autobiographic slant about has family life growing up. It's incredibly touching, especially considering Tyrone's adoration of his mum despite everything they went through.
The lyrical side of this record is top-notch, and it is worth listening just for that. The instrumentals don't always hit the mark for me, and the ones that I do vibe with aren't exactly the most complex or intriguing. This makes the album feel slightly lopsided, but again, the lyrics carry it for the most part.
Top Tracks: Doorman, Gorgeous, Peace Of Mind, Missing, Northampton's Child
7/10
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