Neak released his new album “KWESBAAR” last month (April 23) and I was saddled with the responsibility of posting it on the blog, but unfortunately that didn’t happen – not until now at least. I was a little under the weather and couldn’t do much of anything except sleep. I apologize for the delay. Neak has been down with Creative for a minute and we’d continue to support his music however we can.
I stayed in bed for a few days (Longer than I’d have liked TBH), which gave me ample time to listen to the project in detail, something I probably wouldn’t have been privileged to do if I wasn’t red-nosed … so i guess it’s not all bad. Right?
The Chicago based MC puts it all on the table on his new thought-invoking album KWESBAAR. On the 13-track project which interpolates different sound elements including Jazz, Soul and funk, Neak raps about some of his life aspirations, and opens up about his insecurities. He also celebrates black culture on Do It For Love feat Rita J, and takes us to the battlefield on War feat Rashid Hadee.
The rapper/producer does a decent job in explaining his personal mantra on the album’s opening track Elevation Everything. “do it for believers no reaching to get a co-sign, do it cause I love it y’all can dickride…immortalized for truest lines,” he raps on the self produced track.
Lost Fathers is probably the most emotional cut on the LP. Neak heals the soul with reflective rhyme schemes and talks about the difficulties of being a good father. “I seen how women could hold back a child, kill his soul, make a father runaway,” he raps. “Tell a child he don’t won’t… to be involved when really its unresolved love.” The heartfelt track closes with a lengthy poem from Spoken word artist Prentice Powell.
This isn’t a review so I’m not going to dabble too much. I’m just going to let you listen for yourself and soak it in the way i did.
Out now everywhere, KWESBAAR features contributions form LC, Rita J., Rashid Hadee, Erthe St. James, Peter Jericho, and more. Stream it below via bandacmp or grab it on Apple Music and Spotify.
