San Francisco-born, Los Angeles resident and Rapper, Author and Poet George Watsky releases his fourth studio album “X Infinity”, executive produced by Russell Simmons, on August 19th. The album, which comes arrives after Watsky released his debut essay collection How To Ruin Everything, was recorded at Seahorse Studios in Los Angeles, Grand St. Recording in Brooklyn and Aqua Vibea in Hadley, Massachussets by Andrew Oedel. Produced by longtime collaborator Kush Mody, the album also features production from Anderson .Paak, and a few guest appearences by Tony Award winning Hamilton star Daveed Diggs as well as Julia Nunes, on one of the singles ‘Stick To Your Guns’, which explores issues revolving around gun violence.

Known for “emotionally raw, subversively comedic, lyrically gymnastic or narrative-based” music owing to his early career as a poet, Watsky demonstrates his focus on the words in this new project, for those familiar with his music and for those who may be new to him.

Watsky drops tracks such as ‘Tiny Glowing Screens Pt. 3’ and ‘Talking To Myself’ which force us to look at our own existence, such as the former, in which Watsky encourages us to go beyond expectations, leaving you with the belief that nothing can limit him, or even us, that we are everything multiplied by infinity, hence the album title X Infinity. Watsky drops incredible metaphors on this rock-influenced beat.

‘Talking To Myself’ and ‘Little Slice’ are just two tracks which showcase Watsky’s speedy rap ability, with both displaying his double time flow. ‘Little Slice’ is a metaphor for Watsky wanting his piece of the pie, the good life and all that comes with it and paradise. This track features singer Danny Skyhigh on the chilled Jazz-influenced Hip Hop song. ‘Springtime In New York’ continues the Jazz vibes with some chilled lounge production.

‘Pink Lemonade’ is a bass-booming, bouncy, futuristic synth-laden banger from Watsky featuring a soulful vocalist on the hook. This song’s title refers to the fact that we only want something if it’s real, lemons are yellow and pink lemonade is . . . pink, is it real? Watsky’s delivery and adlibs are somewhat humorous on this track in particular. ‘Don’t Be Nice’ features lyrics from Watsky as he goes out of his way with some clever lyrics to annoy certain people. His flow is off the hook too as he hits you with some comical bars.

‘Stick To Your Guns’ is one of Watsky’s singles, or at least videos from the album, and is thought-provoking and rhythmic at the same time. This song tackles the gun violence which is rife in the US currently, as he rhymes from the perspective of a suspect, the media and a political figure’s hypocrisy, voicing his opinions on the subject.

‘Conversations’ deals with the passing of time, as Watsky rhymes about incarnation, questioning what happens in life after death. ‘Theories’ explores Watsky’s relationship with his father, from a failed suicide attempt to turning his life around to the point where things are looking up. ‘Knots’ is one of the more poetry-driven, so to speak, tracks which focuses on spoken word from Watsky. The poet uses juxtaposition which seems to build the idea of contradiction and confliction.

It is apparent that, by Watsky having a poetic background, his poetry skills transfer easily to Hip Hop which is of course a form poetry, just to a beat. But, where he stands out, Watsky differs from many of the mainstream Hip Hop artists with his conscious lyricism and subject matter, thought-provoking and powerful. Watsky also has the technique, flow and delivery down to a tee, and his fast-flowing ability is superb, when you consider how he isn’t just rhyming nonsense. For me, this is genuinely one of the best Hip Hop albums I’ve heard in 2016 so far, one that stirs emotions and is thought-provoking, whilst at the same time is rhythmic and head-nodding.

George Watsky UK Tour (Dates Confirmed):

September
26th – Library, Birmingham
27th – Glasgow, King Tuts
28th – Manchester Academy
29th – Islington Assembly Hall
30th – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

Follow Watsky:
https://twitter.com/gwatsky
https://www.facebook.com/gwatsky
https://www.youtube.com/user/gwatsky
https://www.instagram.com/gwatsky/
http://gwatsky.bandcamp.com/
http://georgewatsky.com/

Label: Steel Wool Entertainment
Release: 08/19/2016
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/x-infinity/id1132708671

photograph Gaby Esensten Photography
http://www.gabyesenstenphotography.com/

 

 
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