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[ALBUM] Hi-Lite Records - Legacy 

6.0 out of 10

The roster of Hi-Lite Records has taken on a new shape since the release of their last, now classic-status compilation album ‘Hi Life’ back in 2013. Skewing much younger and more melodic, ‘Legacy’ serves as a showcase of their new talents and a celebration for 10 years of operation. What’s immediate is that Hi-Lite’s current roster just isn’t as compelling as it used to be; ‘Legacy’ tosses around with a few contemporary sounds and while most of whats attempted is fairly admirable, it’s rarely exceptional. It is fun however to see vets like Paloalto and Huck P try out some new sounds, which they both pull off rather well. Soovi, Owell Mood and Reddy come together on the compilation’s best track, ‘Ain’t Got Time’, a charismatic and catchy pop-R&B cut that is really carried by Soovi’s divine vocal performance. Sway D and Swervy however bring about a bulk of the more questionable moments on the record, with the former often poorly imitating American contemporaries’ flows and styles. Though ‘Legacy’ treks through a pretty wide variety of sounds, it is actually nicely tied together for a pretty uniform experience. Some welcome surprises include alumni features from Evo and G2, who deliver great performances in their additions. ‘Legacy’ may not be the grand decade-long celebration it set out to be, but it’s a fairly competent compilation album that works surprisingly well as a cohesive piece. 

Recommended Tracks: Trynna Be, Bad Bad Bad, Ain’t Got Time, Cool Kids

[ALBUM] Woo - Black Out

7.0 out of 10

Woo Wonjae’s debut full length effort is admirable and serves as an excellent launching pad for AOMG’s most unlikely rapstar. While what’s presented on ‘Black Out’ is mostly impressive, it feels like Wonjae is wearing a sharply tailored and melticulously crafted suit that he hasn’t quite grown in to fit yet. The influences on ‘Black Out’ are obvious, but they’re incorporated succinctly and Wonjae never veers into the territory of sounding like a replication of something done better. Wonjae’s ear for production shows incredible promise on ‘Black Out’, the beats are atmospheric, detailed and serve well to construct the record’s hazy aesthetic. His performances are equally as calculated, however it’s Wonjae’s approach to songs as a whole that show his immaturity as an artist and hold back ‘Black Out’ from being great. The hooks for the most part are rather forgettable or downright clumsy, and some of his takes on song structure leave much to be desired. There are some standout features however, namely Qim Isle and Jvcki Wai on their respective tracks. ‘Black Out’ is a strong debut effort that unearths some of Woo Wonjae’s potential. That said, there is a lot of room for growth for the young rapper.