Album: Lyrics Born - Everywhere At Once

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California rapper and all around entertainer Lyrics Born has always been known for his uplifting party flavoured music, peppered with social commentary. The Japanese-born MC takes his music to funkadelic new levels on Everywhere At Once.

This newly found direction is evident from the opening strains of Don’t Change, where Lyrics is accompanied by some slinky keyboard and hard-hitting drums. Displaying his versatility in spades, he capably switches between his sing-songy cadence and commanding lyricism on the fantastically funky Rules Were Meant To Be Broken.

The blaxploitation-esque flavour on Whispers is a well executed slice of forward thinking Hip Hop. However, that can’t excuse some of the experimentation gone wrong on cuts like the sloppy dancehall/reggaeton styled Top Self (Anything U Want) or the 1980s manifestation of Do U Buy It? The highly entertaining skit Shoe Hoes Anonymous, which finds Lyrics playing multiple roles, has the Bay Area native speaking on his addiction to buying kicks (athletic footwear). This leads listeners into the decidedly retro I’m A Phreak, as he talks about being proud to be unique, setting out to prove that there is nothing wrong with being different.

Longtime fans may feel a little at odds with the predominantly party oriented music, which at times causes the album to go astray. There is only so much playfulness and funked up production you can listen to in one serving before it begins to get tired.

Luckily the proceedings are mostly kept on track and what you are left with is a listening experience that is bright, energizing and entertaining. Running the gamut from dance floor burners to more socially and culturally aware material Lyrics Born proves that he can capably handle being Everywhere At Once. It is now safe to exit the Mothership!

Available through Anti Records/Quannam Projects