Wakai's New Album 'To a Dark Boy' is a Testament to Promising Longevity In Hip-Hop
The Wakai hype is real. The Baton Rouge artist let us in for a glimpse of diverse talents over the past months, but now we get a chance to travel through his world of rare sounds and noble visions. Wakai does not only possess great skill, but the sound he's developed is leagues ahead of today's par. Blending traditional mannerisms with a highly innovative set of articulation, this creative brings back some hard-to-capture "classic" moments in his music. Now returning for his highly-anticipated project, Wakai lets us know he's here to stay on his new album, To a Dark Boy.
To a Dark Boy weighs in as a complete offering from the Wakai, demonstrating aspects of both quality and consistency in his bag of sound. The first track, "Survivors Guilt," is an opening that positions a tone for the rest of the runtime, framing an exclusive tale of surviving lost feelings in pursuing success. "Closed Feelings" is a self-discovering venture across hazy rhodes, tranquil vocalization, and minimalistic drums. Track four, "1102," offers an incredible display of lyricism and expression, a point in the album where Wakai starts to mold into his self-image and the artist he desires to become. "Silhouette" recognizes an unfair system and the lack of promises life holds in collaboration with MARCO PLUS, where both directly address listeners with dense thoughts occupying their minds. "Evening Sun" shows another side of Wakai, where the creative tells a story of love with a flow he's polishing as his own with Noa Jamir and Nochvll. "Testify" comes in last but not least as it holds all the qualities of a standout track. Wakai offers a poem regarding mental health, social issues, rejection, and addiction over a silky smooth aura of pads, vocal samples, and drums. The chorus is a dazzling duet with Satya, where Wakai claims "some people can't be saved."
Production is handled by Wakai, Kirti Pandey, wavworld, Jarret Gustafson, and Versus Beats, all lending a sonic authenticity that melds with the emotions and storytelling.
If you're a fan of hip-hop's roots, this project is an evolution of everything you're craving. Don't sleep on one of the best projects of 2022 so far, and stream To a Dark Boy below.