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Reviews
In 2009 I discovered Fresno, CA rapper
Fashawn and his incredible indie debut
Boy Meets World. The
Exile-produced album was one of the year’s strongest, and like so many great hip hop albums, it was a stunning life-up-until-now story. Ever since, dropped Fashawn has faced the
Nas-like challenge of matching his debut whilst trying to tell the slightly less interesting story of his life as it is
now. Unlike Nas, the West Coaster has shown a remarkable degree of consistency with his post-
Boy Meets World releases.
Recent projects such as
Higher Learning 2 and
This Generation, his collaboration with
Murs, are testimony to his role in a New West movement that’s actually a lot wider (and older) than many people think - and proof that it’s not merely a New Los Angeles wave. At the same time, the good music hasn't changed the fact that he has some work to do to be considered a household name outside California.
Champagne & Styrofoam Cups is an important step in his transition from the Cali underground of the past to the brave New World.
In 2007, West Coast emcee Blu and producer Exile created what many consider to be a new-age classic Hip-Hop album in the form of Below The Heavens. Positioning a then newbie Blu and an already experienced Exile into the underground limelight as a pairing destined for greatness, since that release the two have gone to release solo projects and after years of longing, finally reunite to give fans what they’ve been waiting five years for with their latest installment.