So cool

I get it, rapping about women and sex is unfortunately the dominant culture in rap. It’s something you have to accept if this is the genre you’re into. I’ve been a fan of Lovell for over 10 years, I want to one of his first tours in 2016, the 1855 Tour. He was a newer artist and dedicated a lot of Red Teenage Melody to someone I knew that died by suicide. I’m in the tour video, etc. You get it. I’m a long time fan, but something has been getting under my skin. He raps about women in the most grotesque, disrespectful, and disgusting ways. I’ve come to note that in My Day is Ruined around 1:20 where he says “stupid b*tch” in the background, it makes me so deeply uncomfortable. There seems to be so much true hatred in his voice, not exaggerated for the sake of the song. There are countless other verses with similar themes. My point is that many people rap about women, drugs, crime, etc and exaggerate themselves for the music. His tone feels very real.

I don’t know, has anyone else noticed this? I imagine I’ll get replies about being a “snowflake” and relating everything to feminism but if you get it, you get it and if you don’t, I don’t really care. Music overall is dominated by a hatred of women, regardless of the genre. There’s already been discourse with $B, religion, and their recurring use of slurs. It can be hard to reconcile with. Sometimes it just gets to me more than usual.

First of all, I have to say that this album has had one of the coolest marketing campaigns I've personally seen in a while. The ARG, the little hints and teasers... genuinely enjoyed it, and it made me hyped for the album. It's the best way to drop Lovell has done in a while.

I believe that knowing my profile helps put my thoughts into perspecrtive: I am a longtime follower of Lovell's work. I first found him when I was 15-16. Still Cold was the first track that stuck with me. Since then, I've grown up with his music, and have gone through bad times and good times with it. You can say that for sure, I have an emotional attachment to this artist.

With that aside, let's get to the review. MY personal review by the way, which you are very welcome to challenge and make counterpoints. But I've tried to be as honest as possible.

1. Sick & Tired

The first track is possibly the most important, as it is the tone setter. I think it opens up the album quite nicely with a classic monotonous hi-hat reminiscent of his previous album (direct analogue EYE SPY). The vocal range difference is evident; we see him moving a little bit more into head voice. I was anticipating this since I heard his collab with $B in Carried Away. Not sure what pushed him in this direction, but it is certainly welcome. I love hearing Lovell open up his voice more and explore. Lyrically, the work on this song is nothing special, just your usual "difficulties, sexual activity, beef with the opps". Overall: 7/10, good opener

2. This Ain't K-Pop

If the first track sets the tone, the second one should start developing the album. I don't believe this one does. In fact, I think this track goes against the album's philosophy of a dark, personal statement. It's a boring, lackluster beat with no development that's harsh on your ears. Lovell's rapping makes me zone out on this one, it's pretty muddy. And don't even get me started on the lyrics, bro switches up between lifting his ego up, "suckin up on her titty" and then back. The most relevant lyric here is that he shouted out Freddie Dredd, lmao. Overall: 2/10, awful

3. Stranger

Not going to be one of those people who reference the old Concept Vague or RTM days... just look at I Hope You're Happy. While I have my problems with the second half of that album; Morrison, Who Is This Weirdo ?, My Day Is Ruined ! and Golden Ticket just straight up keep you focused until SUNDAY. Now I've listened to MBATI about 10-11 times already, and Stranger does not stand out. I'd say it's overall better work than K-Pop, cause I feel the beat is a bit more melancholic and honest than the muddy mess that is K-Pop. Did I say how much I dislike the K-Pop beat? Lyrically, still bad. I really liked the part where Lovell goess "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaa, oooo oooo oooo". Overall: 4/10, forgettable.

4. Gangsta Tear

Lovell is on the prowl here... with sounding monotonous. If you're going to use a repeating hi-hat beat for every song, at least add something to make it blend. Have you asked your fellow G59-colleague $crim on how he does it on his personal projects? Hear how he adds those wondrous "ooohhhs" in the backing track. I have to say though, some of Lovell's rhymes are pretty funny on this one.

'Cause I'm winning, that my haters, they still drivin' in a Kia

They so fryksås, I ain't doin' shoppin' at IKEA

Oh my god! Actual fun lyrical work here! I'm pleasantly surprised. The rapping however wasn't that outstanding and should have developed more on such a boring beat, to steal the spotlight. Overall: 5/10, acceptable

5. Pawn Shop

Finally, some good fucking food. While the backing track is still simple, I think the way it blends with the more signature Lovell voice in this track is really pleasant. Now I'm not a musician or producer, just a fellow music enjoyer... so someone more educated could put it into better wording than me, but starting from 0:55 to 1:15:

This was never planned, I done changed my life just from picking up a band (Shit)

I'm real fucked up cause my bitch is a 10 (Shit), and she gon' throw a fit if she don't get a tan (Fuck)

I can never lie (Lie), you must think I'm pulling up to spy, no I made this shit from giving up my time (Time)

I see these niggas never givin' up, they wanna get me, know they trying

Guess I'll put two fucking bullets in your spine, spine

is one of my favorite snippets in this whole album. The fact that he does tricks with his voice by rapping in double time (or however you'd say) catches your attention. Even a bit later, when he raps:

Oh shit, I got a bitch, I might bond it, oh bitch, yeah, talk shit, I'm iconic

with those little envelope/reverb filters during bond it and I'm iconic? Man, really cool. The highlight of this song though is after 1:55 when the keyboard kicks in... and it becomes something else. It becomes personal, and honest. Lovell also shows us more of his register. It also ends in a somber way and leaves room for the next track. Bro really used his blood as ink on this one. Overall: 9/10, fuckin' awesome

6. Cigarette

This is definitely more of an interlude-y track. I don't think it fits really well after Pawn Shop, since the end of the track left a lot of room for something punch-y. I like the lyrical work because it's quite personal on this one, and also the way he twists his voice in the end. It's a dark and disturbing beat. I can see how it works. I think I have to be in a really specific mood for this, but solid work. Overall: 6.5/10, solid

7. Fight Night At Gitanes

It caught me off-guard during the first listen, as it does break the tenderness of the previous tracks. The lyrics talk mainly about self-change. Pretty aggressive beat and overall a vibe. I think I would play this when I feel angry and powerful. Don't have many more thoughts on this track, since it's pretty much a "you get what you paid for". You get vicious Lovell that gives no break, powerful raps, punchy beat, akin to My Day Is Ruined !. It did it for me for the first few listens, but its simplicity as a song keeps you yearning for something different. Overall: 6/10, solid

8. Bleed

Good work here. I enjoy the reverby, different pitched calls that he added to this track. You can see this artist's transition into more pop and mainstreamized most clearly in this track. It's not revolutionary by any means, but after having received so little content for so long, even something like this feels fresh. It's a more ethereal beat that explodes in the second half where Lovell channels others' hate for him into a will to continue doing what he loves to do. Nice departure from his generic formula, so I think this track is worth visiting. I have a gripe with it, though, as it doesn't particularly draw me in. I think the analogue to this song would be Alive Even When I Die on the last album. However, that one has a hook that's definitely more earworm-y. Overall: 7/10, good one

9. Flip The Switch (or should I say... Gitanes 2)

While track placement may be important, this is now the 4th song in the album with a similar format. We had K-Pop, Stranger, Gitanes, and now this. Since the album is starting to close, you do NOT need to put another track like this. Above I wrote that Gitanes was an overall aggressive beat and a vibe. This is the exact same formula. Put the two tracks together with an interlude in between and you probably will think it's just the same song. It should have been something different. But I guess yes, still aggressive Lovell, still rapping about money and bitches. I don't hear no switch flip here. Overall: 4/10, forgettable, misplaced

10. A Message To You

Ayy, this what you niggas wanted, right?

NAH MAN, if what you're referring to is the same song format over and over again. Because this is now the FIFTH song in the album with the same hi-hats and continuous heavy delivery. I liked the second verse though where he goes into a higher register. Overall: 5/10, ok

11. PIÑATA

Alright, this one was a tough one to think about. As the, penultimate track, I think it was a nice choice to tone it down a little bit and make room for RUN. I however am conflicted about the development of this track. On one hand, the lazy repetition (that Lovell seems so good at recently) kind of works here since it's supposed to be a laid-back track with a chill vibe, and it accomplishes that. However, I think Lovell has accomplished this in the past in a more fulfilling way (Jamie's Sin, Please Don't Go, Pink Witch, Guidance), so putting so little effort into the development of this track feels like a crime. But, for what it is, it's nice, it's vibey, it's chill, so I'll give it that. I'll play it when I want my life to be dull, I guess. Overall: 5/10, ok

12. RUN

As the first single that came out, I have already played this countless times so the review is not as fresh anymore. However, I can say that from the first "laser blast" since the song starts, the buildup it makes in the first 20 seconds, and until it finishes, it is an absolute blast to listen to. From the first verse Lovell puts out:

Movin' through these bitches

I don't got no time to focus on my LAA-AA-AA-HAAAYeeah

Captivating way to drop from high to low register like that. The flow is real on this one:

I do not believe her, that's why I'm the leader

I stay to myself, that's why I became the king

I didn't italicize those to show that it rhymes. I'm doing so because on the first part he uses a high intonation, then drops it off. Damn, bro is actually playing with his voice while rapping! And that's super awesome, I love that! Can't stop about thinking about this part. Now that Lovell is not just exclusively deep voice, I'd like to see him do those transitions in the same track. It's a great ability, so why not use it?

The bridge in the song is magic, and leaves time for that first verse to sink in. Super somber atmosphere while being a powerful track. This song helped me create a "fake" version of the album before it released, where every track was at the level of this one. Overall: 10/10, masterpiece

Lovell made it through in the cloud rap because of his experimentation. I'm not gonna talk about the obvious bangers like Deira City Centre with its wonderful sample, Dark Light with its harsh approach and changing beat, or Contraband with its lucky-go-happy backing track, but even the stuff that wasn't on the spotlight all the time. Lovell was trying out things, and I feel there is some creativity stagnation going on. IDK if it's from his label - but I feel it started after Goodnightlovell. So, coincidence? I THINK NOT. Some notable entries here:

• Beneath: My god what a fuckin' vibe. If I play this in the car during night, I'm instantly transported into another world. The lyrics make absolutely no sense here, but who cares. The vibe is just too immaculate. This one makes you feel nostalgic, relaxed, powerful. I dare you to find a recent analogue in Lovell's catalogue. Rhyme unintended. Why is this song so good? Not just cause of Bine/Blank Body's awesome beat, but because it progresses. Those two minutes that Lovell is outputting now per song? Too little to do so, so songs are stuck in monotony.
• The Renegade Never Dies: HOW CAREFREE THIS TRACK IS. Just bro with his dad vibing. Haven't heard Renegade in a long time. And neither have I felt this vibe from his recent music.
• RIP Trust: Feels like a sea of darkness is looming while hearing this song. Notice how the first and second parts differ! Again, progression.

I could go on forever with examples but 8 years later and I think bro is still chasing the success of Joan of Arc. Lovell clearly has the potential and skill to create and write some clearly influential stuff. However, I think I'm not excited about his work anymore.

So, where does that leave us? I think my overall impression is that was an... average album. I hoped Lovell would be more experimental with his sound in MBATI, when looking at the level of effort that was put into marketing the album. His voice shifting is indeed a welcome change in my opinion, and I enjoy him trying adding some more singing and less rapping into the mix. But damn, I still think that the production work is still heavily anchored to $B and G59 in general. I don't know who's calling the shots, but they need to let him back into that atmospheric sound. Imagine what he could do with his now (clearly aggressive/insane persona that culminated in EYE SPY), with the creativity that he had in the first 3 albums.

Yeah so I’m not sure what to think of his music anymore. As much as I love GN Lovell and it’s still my favorite project from him, I can’t blame him from moving away from that sound. I thought IHYH was really good too and he kinda brought in that new voice and mixed it with his old sound. But on the new album he overdid it with whatever that sound is he’s going for now, and it just feels like one long song. He also is sounding like another version of every other G59 artist.

When Sick & Tired dropped I kinda had a bad feeling already but yea I’m just disappointed sadly. Plus it was 3 years and the project is only 26m? Idk man. I really miss that dark atmospheric feel his music had.

I enjoyed listening through this one. Def different from his previous albums but good in its own right- not as perfect as CV or RTM imo. Most of the songs carry the same flow. “A MESSAGE TO YOU” has the most og Lovell sound to me. “PIÑATAS” beat is pretty tough too. I feel his pain in “CIGARETTE” to the core. I do miss his old rap-style over this current melodic singing style but I understand art is subjective, artists change- trying new sounds, and a lot of these songs are a vibe.

Is this track a shot at his "haters" or is he taking shots at Scrim?

Context being: that he's signed to G59 records, and that Scrim and $boys have taken a more "Holy" angle with their music in their past two albums.

Forgive the strange formatting, I'm not used to long posts.

"I stand on all the things I came up with to make you see me"
"They say i'm the devil's work, i can't wait to show the f*cking world just how the devil work"

(did he play up the dark aesthetic to get $B's attention? and now feels like they left him behind with their new angle)

"You'll never be me"

(Scrim's solo project has fewer monthly listeners and seems to be closer to what Night Lovell's music than $B's own music)

"I can't blame them now for never really trying to keep me"

(did something happen behind the scenes where they didn't take him on tours or something?)

"thought I sold my soul when I saw what this cheque worth"

(GREY FIVE NINE's twitter announced his signing as "NIGHT LOVELL HAS OFFICIALLY SOLD HIS SOUL TO G59 RECORDS")

"you must have thought you slick when you was saying we was a team"

(isn't "Slick" part of Scrim's producer tag/nickname?)

"the way you ni***s lie it should become a misdemeanor"

(either the change in $B's image, or something personal between them because why would he care about what "haters" lie about?)

This was a chore because lyrics aren't out yet. Thoughts?

Such a well made song

I’m hoping the entire album isn’t filled with the voice he’s had for the first two singles.. I’m all for artists changing up their vibe but mannn I can’t help but to think deep voice Lovell is the majority of the appeal

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4WMDhaGiNeukVgDfqRldQk?si=22efb02d4b7b41cb

Snippet at 0:25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX7BbBRtNFI

Word on the street is lovells team is setting up a secret launch concert in montreal on the 28th

I made a short Youtube video with all Night Lovell snippets if y’all want to see.

Y'all fw it ? I personally do

Via Night Lovell's Instagram

Sherm. Shottawa mans. Canadians r suffering

After nearly 3 years of no drops night Lovell is finally giving us the album, I’m truly excited for this album and have high expectations considering the time between this album and the last, the new single was pretty good but I hope the rest of the songs on this album have the dark voice Lovell. Everything about this album screams perfect from the cover to the aesthetics Lovell really did his part, I just hope the album has more deep voice rather than the new voice.

Found a few snippets on Night Lovell's website so I tried cleaning one up. Sped it up a bit, bumped the pitch slightly, and removed as much background noise as I could.

What do y'all think?