Boogie - Everything's for Sale

Boogie
Everything's for Sale
2019
Spotify

This record is a whole lot different than most of what we are getting in hip hop today. While trap moves into different and more varied musical spaces hip hop seems to be lagging behind. The old stalwarts like Eminem and Ice Cube are releasing toothless out of touch records, while new rappers aren't holding to traditions anymore. It leaves this open space where Hip Hop can be really anything and that is where Boogie comes in. This debut record is raw and bare, with Boogie revealing his insecurities and struggles. His voice feels raw and unique, going back to a time when Hip Hop was about truth telling rather than vibe curation. Hip Hop at it's base has always been about sharing the real struggles of the inner city and about making people groove, not one of the other. As time has gone by and Hip Hop has become the sound in pop music it is becoming less and less music that represents the outcasted and more the sound of the majority. You are seeing it all over, but Boogie bucks that trend. Much of the beats here feel far more natural, real instrumentation and samples that aren't just trap drums and some Gothic theme playing in the background.  He is certinaly not the first to take this confessional stance in his music, but at this moment He is the best. Future tried to bare his soul and expose his demons on his most recent album The Wizrd but it fell flatter than hell whereas when Boogie does it it feels self reflective and honest rather than some kind of self indulgent nonsense.

The thing Boogie does better than any of the other insecurity revealing rappers is that He doesn't paint himself as just a tortured hero. Drake, Future and others like to revel that they are in some way fucked up but then go on to tell you how they are the best and better than anyone could ever be. You realize these songs are just lip service, attempts to connect to people in a way that just doesn't exist. Boogie doesn't allow that to happen. On "Rainy Days" Boogie says: "Word to the feelings I channel I lose 'em as quick as a fuckin' remote (Uh) Don't be callin' me woke (No) I cheat on my queen for a ho" showing He isn't seeking some kind of congratulations for being open, instead He realizes how self destructive it can be. Eminem also features on the track and completely looses the point of the song and instead just does yet another verse calling out haters. His feature list is also as varied and diverse as his music with artists like 6LACK, Snoh Alaegra and the aforementioned Eminem all sharing the stage on this record. There is a ton to like about this record and also the sense that this is just the beginning for Boogie. With only one album now under his belt the sky is the limit, let's see where He takes it.

8.1 out of 10