In an over-saturated hip-hop landscape, listeners are never short for choice when it comes to new music. With a plethora of records hitting ears each week, creativity in hip-hop has never been more important.
Arriving on the scene with his debut LP, “I’m Not Perfect,” Hamza Abo$$ is an artist that is still to be given the recognition he is so undoubtedly due. With features from names such as Mick Jenkins, Lord Apex and Fly Anakin, this release draws from an admirably diverse panel of underground and mainstream talents.
The employment of progressive production and nuanced lyricism, finished with an overall refreshing composition to follow, is exactly what makes a hip-hop record stand out in today’s saturated market. “I’m Not Perfect” achieves this unabashedly; the production on the record is as complex as it is simple—closely-cut synths and tight melodies, accompanied by a classic boom-bap sound that is littered with nostalgic vocal samples and chops.
Oftentimes, albums can fall short if their production ingenuity isn’t matched with the necessary lyricism and storytelling to follow, but Hamza Abo$$’s rapping on this record avoids this mismatch triumphantly. Abo$$ is exploring some of his deepest insecurities on “I’m Not Perfect,” openly piecing apart the many facets of his personality that make him imperfect: “I was bound to accept I’m better alone given I tend to burn every fucking bridge that I make”, he claims, with a humble self-admissive tone; further developing this records already very emotional delivery.
What really makes this album so tasteful is the strong element of hope conveyed throughout its ten-track run. The classic vocal samples, flange guitar chords, and authentic drum loops collate to perfectly accommodate for Abo$$’s emotionally heartfelt and self-analytical writing. This is typified on the track “Trust Issues”, a track with a unique, lonely beauty that almost adopts a ballad-like format. Hamza reminiscently sings on this cut whilst rapping about his troubles with love, relationships, and society.
“I’m Not Perfect” is a seminal debut album from a Seattle rapper who has a ferociously bright and fruitful future ahead of him. The release remains reminiscent of deceased favorites of mine; early Mac Miller and Capital Steez are amongst the first of many whom I could begin to compare to Hamza Abo$$’s style. With the likes of Mick Jenkins involved on the project, it is clear that the wider industry recognizes Abo$$ as someone to take note of. What’s more, in the wake of a difficult year for all involved in music, sometimes a release that encourages a sense of nostalgia in us can be the perfect antidote to our imperfect world.
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/hamza_aboss
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/hamza_aboss
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv_zxdy8-6Q1ES7M2wnZCuQ
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dgd8JciYaRctAk89PxZkJ
