From the beautifully arranged and impactful title track to the call to action of “Change the World” featuring Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab, Albuquerque’s Wake Self’s latest album, Malala, retains a musicality unmatched by most modern day emcees and offers up brilliant social commentary often lacking in the current hip-hop landscape.
As the follow-up to 2014’s Good Things Happen to Those Who Wake, it’s clear the 20-something emcee has done some growing up over the past two years. From tackling his own personal demons to having the courage to speak out against social injustices, his voice has become more powerful with every rhyme he spits. Every song on the 15-track album has its own concept, something Wake made sure was clear as you listen to it.
“Each song has its own mood, atmosphere and anatomy,” Wake explained. "The way I feel about life and my experiences, beliefs, perception, and emotion is everything. As humans we are not the boxes and generalizations or short description we are forced to fit in. Everything we are is constantly expanding and deepening. Malala is an illustrated soundtrack to my journey and faith for a brighter future.”
With generous contributions from Miles Bonny, Belgium artist Blu Samu, partner-in-crime Def-i, vocalist Alia Lucero, Dre Z, and of course, Gift of Gab, Malala is exactly what is missing in hip-hop’s often vapid landscape. It’s a testament to Wake’s growth as both an artist and also a human being.
“I am deeply connected to every word, syllable, rhyme patter, feeling, concept, and idea that came through me on this project. I try to make music that can heal, inspire, bring love, awareness, happiness, and clarity. I want people to feel alive, and clear—to not only envision a new world, but to also start materializing it with our actions, and continue cleansing ourselves from the wounds of our past social patterns.” Visit www.wakeself.bandcamp/album/
By Kyle Eustice for RAPstation.com
