It’s hard to talk about an artist you’ve just heard for the first time because you can’t go as in depth as you pleased. This is the same thing I feel while listening to this album. It is a very mature album for one to debut with in 2019. The project sort of sounds like it should have come out in between 2010 and 2014 when it was all about experimental rap. I am in no way saying that it’s that type of album but it’s definitely not rap, it’s far from that. It’s one of the most soulful Hip Hop albums I’ve heard in a minute instead. It is a relaxed project that takes you on a journey kind of like Kendrick did in 2012. The album does it less with words though and more so with the complete vibe of the project, you could even mistake it for an R&B album. With that let’s get into the artist themselves who made it.
Canada has become a powerhouse in the most recent years when it comes to music. Being a person who lived there for 5 years, I’m able to say I’m both amazed and ecstatic for the growth. It seem like just yesterday the wave started but it’s been a decade in the making. Canada, particularly Toronto, has come so far in such a short time. It went from no rappers to Drake, Tory, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber and more. Now we can see if TOBi has what it takes to join the ranks and make a name for himself.
TOBi went from living in a 2 bedroom apart with 5 other people to being a musician on the rise. This is a tremendous feet and he must be commended for it. He has one project so far and that is “FYI”. TOBi dropped this in 2016 and it’s safe to say he already has found his lane and such short time. Some rappers you can hear the progression and how it takes a couple projects to get it right. After listening to both you can clearly tell he knows what he wants, what kind of music he wants to make, and now he is trying to master it. “FYI”
is a short project but gives us an insight to his talent and what content he is going to continue to produce for the future and the future is here and it’s safe to say we shouldn’t be disappointed one bit.
ALBUM REVIEW
Even the way that the cover is set up right above we see that the meanings are more complex and he has a direction he was going with for this entire project. Above it says Searching, Conflict, Solution, this could be a look at where he is in his career or what he’s dealing with. It could also be for the audience instead and how when you’re searching for something there will be conflict you must deal with but in the end a solution will be made. Whether you like the solution is another question but it will happen if you like it or not.
Within the first notes and the sound of his voice you know what kind of album it’s going to be automatically. Then if you’re still not sure the drums and violins should help. While we are infatuated with how well everything meshes we should still be paying to the lyrics. Track 1 confirms that he and his brothers did share a mattress in his apartment and hard times where upon them. The title of the song is “Growth” and he is able to speak on part of his past that help him develop into the person he is today. This whole album flows so smoothly as he transitions into the next song and it sounds so effortless. Track 2 is probably the best track on the song but it starts off with entendres and their not so over your head but they’re clever. TOBi is talking about his city and how his peers act in it. Boys going after girls with no respect, the blood on the street, and the way there seems to be no hope or growth going on at all. He also tells the story of his mother struggling and working two jobs to feed the family, which is known all too well in Hip Hop. The high pitch voice in the record also adds to it and doesn’t take away from the song, it gives it a more soulful feel, even more than it does already. Track 3 is a little bit faster paced and has some sort of synthesizer in it. TOBi talks about dealing with life and people and how it can be overwhelming. He holds back tears but places it in his music. He details how easy it is to be stuck in whatever you’re into in the moment. Sometimes it could be hard to see anything else when you’re focused. Track 4 is the same beat as the previous one without the drums on it and a bit looser. The notes on the violins and other instruments are drawn out. It’s safe to say that TOBi was not wealthy growing out. He had bummy clothes, his mother work the grave shift, and his mother bought him shoes when she didn’t have the money. He wrote all of this in his journal right by his nightstand. Those pages in his journal know him better than anyone else.
Track 5 is “Feel” and TOBi talks about being drunk and he is speaking about love this time. He’s had a few to drink and that makes him want to know if the love is real and he asks that question at 3am after drunk texting. We’ve all been here before. Rather than happiness he feels something is missing but he doesn’t have it and is trying to attain it any way possible. Track 6 TOBi talks about how he is stuck but he will one day spread his wings and be free. He references his mother as well as she cannot be held back either. He’s second guessing himself but wants to be strong and knows he is. He believes in himself but at the same time struggles with feeling like he is caged. Track 7 TOBi once again brings his love life into the picture as he spits game on “Sweet Poison”. He’s telling the person he’s feeling that she has nothing to worry about at all and he will be the one to make her happy in the future with no worries. Track 8 details the trouble between parents and children. He is out having fun with his friends while his mom is at home waiting for him and getting mad that he hasn’t responded to anything she has sent him at all. I can say this definitely has happened in almost everyone’s life. Track 9 is his rebuttal. It is titled “24”, as this is probably when the situation in the previous track occurred. He wants his freedom. TOBi goes into detail about him having to tuck in his shirt and present himself a certain way. Although the police has been in the news for killing young black teens recently TOBi is assuring everyone including his mother that he is fine. Track 10 In the track before this he mentions freedom and how it’s important. On “Werking” he mentions how it’s not free and we’re all just working. But he speaks about it in general, he speaks about work in the sense of a job, relationship and more. It all takes a toll on us and how life it not free whatsoever.
On the whole album TOBi mentions his relationship with the police and how he is living his life the way he wants but is still wary. One of the lines in Track 11 is “You can face time if you ain’t watch who you talkin to” which is a fire bar but scary at the same time. Because there’s 2 parts to this track the second is called “Serenity” and is the most soothing song on the whole album. Track 12 sounds like a rejection song. It seems like TOBi is over the person because as he would say, she “Shot Me Down”. His love interest keeps playing with his emotions and he is not going to deal with it anymore. This could possibly be the solution he mentioned in the album cover. Track 13 the final track, TOBi says he’s played the fool and has been tricked all along. Ultimately he has been contemplating what to do and has finally decided that it was not worth it. He is going to go back to the one place he is familiar with and that is HOME!
SCORE
STANDOUT TRACKS
- “GROWTH”
- ★ “CITY OF BLUES”
- “STILL SEARCHING”
- “CONFLICT, STILL”
- “WERKING”
RATING — 8.7/10
This whole project is powerful and an amazing second body of work from TOBi in such a short period of time. Within three years he’;s able to produce an album like this and that is impressive. Hopefully he continues on this path and I can see him having a classic album down the road.
