Crown of Thorns is the debut album from rapper Rakaa Iriscience who is a member of hip-hop group Dilated Peoples. Produced by Dilated Peoples's Evidence and DJ Babu with guest production by The Alchemist, El-P, !llmind, Exile, Sid Roams, King Jahzzy, and Eric Bobo & DJ Rhettmatic, Crown of Thorns is the sonic prism that has absorbed the myriad cultures taken in by the travelling emcee and reflected them back in the form of a groundbreaking debut.

The album features a stripped down aesthetic that carries through the duration of the debut, a refreshing minimalism that manifests itself as a unique soundscape. Rakaa’s newfound unlimited lyrical license allows him to fully expand on his heavily conscious ideas about socio-political issues, relationships, family and culture. It’s not an overstatement to say that Rakaa’s whole life has, consciously or not, gone into the production of this album.

While there are no poor tracks here, 'Observatory' was my favourite on the album. Not only is it catchy and sticks in your head, but it has a serious message at its core.

9

Nick Smithson