Emphasizing poignant deliveries on lush, astral-ascendant beats, Maxo crafts an incredibly solid record in LIL BIG MAN. An affiliate of Earl Sweatshirt, Pink Siifu, and the sound of members of the New York rap collective sLUms, Maxo has proven himself a force to reckon with in his recent appearances (most notably for me on Pink Siifu’s track “Call tha Bro (Tapped In),” which featured an incredibly smooth and confident verse from Maxo).
Opener “Time” entertains a contemplative lyrical set, similar to Tyler, The Creator’s 2017 song “Foreword.” Questioning whether his friends and family will remain the same after he sees success, Maxo presents a struggle that is all too familiar to those that achieve fame and acclaim. The production on the track gradually sets off on a runway straight to the stars, doing an excellent job in creating the setting for the remainder of the project. Maxo reflects on his aspirations and hard work in the next track “Strongside.” Although this track could have been expanded upon a bit more, it does prove to be one of the better songs throughout. The following track “Kinfolk” includes one of my favorite beats on the album, with an incredibly addictive drum set and pattern. It makes for an irresistible head nod, with a flow from Maxo that indicates nothing else would have made for a better fit. The song transitions seamlessly into “No Love,” a soul-sample infused track with production that might fit in well on some Knxwledge beat tape. It becomes a bit difficult here to distinguish between Maxo and the featured Lojii; though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a better tactic might be necessary to help Lojii stand out in order to gain a greater following. “In My Penny’s” is another remarkably solid track which details the struggles of growing up without money, having to avoid pitfalls seen in heavily black-populated poverted areas of America. The second half of the track dips into molasses completely, with pitched down vocals and a haunting, slow sample. The album reaches a climax with “Headphones,” a song that would be inspirational even without Maxo’s reflective verse. The title serves as a command - one that I was appreciative to have fulfilled - to the listener in order to enjoy the track in all its intended beauty. “605” is an interesting concept for a track: a scat-rapped verse serving as a voicemail, with the digits 605 potentially being an area code. A reference is also made to the 65 freeway in California. The track listing soon calms down with “Crown Heights” and “Quiktoldme,” which feature the most tame of performances from Maxo as well as snoozy production. Though Maxo does show some weakness in terms of lyrical complexity, this is something that I’m sure will improve with time. I feel that what is lacking in this aspect is somewhat made up for in tone and delivery as well. The negative photo of the “lil big man” on the moon serves as a great representation both for Maxo and the sound of the project overall. On LIL BIG MAN, Maxo gives the listener a reason to hope for a lucrative future for the rapper. Be sure to check out highlights "Headphones," "Kinfolk," and "Time."
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorEnrique Cardenas III Archives
November 2021
Categories
All
|