By Daniel Paiz

After a lengthy hiatus due to a magical NBA season here in Denver, A Week’s Worth Album Review is back in action. This edition focuses on Killer Mike’s first solo album in nearly a decade, simply entitled Michael. The veteran Atlanta rhymer flawlessly puts together a series of anecdotal moments of life. Sonically, a mixture of Gospel singers, smartly selected beats and the occasional church organ churn out what’s been a very slept-on album.

Hip-Hop as a whole this year hasn’t had a good showing, but Michael is likely one of those projects to turn things around as the genre approaches its half-century birthday.

Stand Out Tracks

This is a project that doesn’t have a bad or out of place track that comes to mind. “Scientists & Engineers” and “Run” might be the tracks advertised for this tape, but there are several others that deserve even more notoriety. The track prior to “Scientists & Engineers” is a track everyone should listen to. “Slummer” is one of those reminiscent tracks about young love for Mike, and the trials and tribulations they went through by losing a child as teenagers.

There’s a lot of regret, there’s a lot of trauma, and there are feelings to work through still to this day. It’s a very raw and visceral experience. The second verse talks about how that teenage love is someone else’s baby momma now and she knows they have different paths in front of them. Then the third verse drops. The entire thing is heavy, but these four lines are the big takeaway:

I must own it, I didn’t want it, even now I know I’m flexin’
‘Cause all that raw dog sex and I knew I would get you pregnant
And all this teenage love is really just about posessin’
They call it adolescence ’cause we learnin’ adult lessons

verse 3 on Slummer

Young love teaches tough lessons, lessons that some people are still learning from decades later. There’s recognition of where Mike’s head was, the consequences that he looks past, and he apparently had to learn things the hard way. The end of the verse talks about what happens after these lines, but I’ll leave that to you to listen to on your own. Vulnerability and honest moments like these aren’t as prevalent as they should be in Hip-Hop. If they were, collectively things might be better for the genre and culture.

Moving on from one honest moment to another, the track “Exit 9” leads listeners down a different avenue of regret. This time, it’s the regret of not utilizing time with loved ones no longer here. “Exit 9” has those soul-grabbing Gospel organ keys mixed with those bass/guitar strings, giving this track a very reflective tone. Reminiscing when life was about hustling and remembering those who fell from that life. Blxst’s chorus is perfect for this track, it’s just so good. Even better are these four lines:

I had to be my own boss, not somebody else’s worker
I know the prayer she prayed for me still served as my preserver
I know some of my actions, they was taxin’ and I hurt her (Oh-oh-oh)
But Lord, if she listenin’, please let her know I heard her (Yeah)

verse 2 on Exit 9

The above four lines are so reflective towards the end of this verse; these words truly embody the overall tone of this track. There’s that regret when someone has passed away that one can’t let them know how you feel, and what you learned from them. There’s a feeling that, despite you hoping they know what they meant to you, it’s something none of us will ever know if they understood our feelings during our remaining days on this blue marble. That’s tough, and a heavy thing to carry about. One has to relinquish that in order to keep living, as well as to practice what was learned.

The last track that really stands out for this listener is “Two Days”. Ty Dolla $ign does his thing throughout the track, and Mike delivers some reminders to everyone about getting through adversity. There are a few lines that stick out, but it’s better you uncover what your favorite rhymes are on that one. “Something for Junkies” is in a similar vein as well and merits a couple of listens.

Final Verdict

This album is a compilation of different experiences and stories that Killer Mike has witnessed throughout his life. There are highs, lows, and lessons learned as well. It appears these events shaped Mike, and provided him reminders to continue on. There is also a theme of making sure to not get sidetracked, so that you keep moving forward.

That can be tough due to certain barriers and challenges, but doing so will lead you to similar ends that Mike has had so far. This is a vulnerable album, but one that’s put together sincerely, honestly, and openly by Mike. The journey continues, so be sure to learn from what’s shaped you so far.