CANDID: ALBUM REVIEW
Growing from a garden in a small cozy single-story in Philadelphia, Ivy Sole plants seeds derived from jazz, rap, and the spirit of their elders that bear wisdom on how to love and more importantly, how to survive. In their third full-length album, Philly-based rapper Ivy Sole explores the realm of identity and self-worth while demonstrating a tender and kind sense of love for one's self and one's community.
Ivy Sole has always kept things lowkey, but everything is out on the table from start to finish on Candid. From their debut album Eden in 2016 to now, Sole has stayed consistent, producing laid back boom-bap bars over soul music samples. Candid plays around with the formula, seeing the rapper explore more of their facets, with Sole having a hand in producing and singing a lot on this album. In the four years between this album and their last, Sole released the E.P SOUTHPAW, a heavy and stern look into the lives and dangers surrounding Black and queer folks in the south. Much of the spirit of SOUTHPAW makes its rounds in Candid, as Sole is assertive with their wordplay and is out to make a point. That being said, the album is very personal and soft, with songs demonstrating such a distinct tenderness.
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There’s so much love involved in this project. From the 2000’s hip-hop culture referenced in the “Call Me” music video to them becoming actual friends and companions with every guest featured, Sole demonstrates this sense of community. The poetry present explore themes of finding the means to survive, identity and love. Songs like “Reincarnate” & “What You Deserve” offer a peek into the rapper’s personal dealing with family, with two touching on the topic through very different perspectives.
”Reincarnate” offers a view into the rapper’s personal and family life and love for spirituality and how the two influence spiritual tendencies. The lyrics say all here: “I’m the third born and first to survive.” “Little sister a Pisces she taught me how to survive.” There’s this strong narrative that you need family to survive — metaphorically and physically. Sole explores their support system and where they get strength from, a topic many can relate to. On the contrary of exploring your support system, one has to think about what they can give back. “What you Deserve” touches on the absence of a parental figure and how that lack of a role model affected Sole’s ability to love others. “What you Deserve” indicates that you need to provide for yourself what you were in need of. Some of the strongest themes present back to back.
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Ivy Sole is a magician, metamorphosing a song into something completely brand new.
The perfect example of this is the final single for the project: “Bamboo”. This song is nearly completely sung but is probably one of the most beautiful cuts on the album. This song really represents all the strengths and talents that have culminated in this moment in Sole’s creative career. “Bamboo” repeats three verses, but each section rides the wave of emotion that the instrumental carries, akin to the ocean swaying on a beach.
The final verse finds Sole reminiscing on this love that was never made to last, fleeting through the tiny cherishable moments, and the horns carry the final verses through the listening experience, making the listener feel this beautiful, yet tragic relief that’s been building up. “I miss you not for your efforts, I miss you more past this bedroom. My name sounds heavenly when you whisper, But say it when they ask you girl, It makes all the difference. Me and the truth see we've been closing the distance, You might hear yours too, if you listen. I miss it and I miss ya. I miss ya.”
The production on this project is really what makes it so special for me. Something that’s made every single leading up to this album stand out is Sole’s ability to craft songs. Not rap songs that follow a repetitive beat, but genuine hip hop music that crescendos its sound in a narrative which each song sees fit, capturing a raw emotion that Sole’s poetry perfectly weaves.
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There are some technical issues, with the main one being present in the song “Chico”. This song goes hard. Like, Sole goes off with a flow that grabs you by the waist and then immediately tosses you into a mosh pit. The mixing is off with the vocals being so quiet through headphones and played out loud.
The one negative takeaway of the album is the lack of a concrete concept. There are major themes present, but the flow and placement of the songs do not have much critical conception nor central arc that keeps the album moving in one direction. Thematically, it works, but musically it doesn’t flow very well. This is demonstrated in the transition from “Call Me”, a song more R&B infused rap, into “Dangerous”, a song that is way more moody and atmospheric. “Bamboo” is this beautiful mosaic that mimics an ocean wave, bringing the emotion of Sole’s singing to a cathartic end and is immediately followed by the bold and brash “Chico”. It just feels very out of place, especially when no other song afterward follows this heavy tone.
Songs break away from the album’s lush, soft nature to ensure listeners that Sole is not one to fuck with. Songs like “Easy To Kill” and “Chico” have Sole putting their foot in the door. Though she has a soft delivery and calm tone, Sole is abrasive with some songs, demonstrating ferocity and a clear intention to demonstrate that they light the mic on fire.
There’s something remarkably tender and vulnerable about this project. From the instrumentation in the production to the relatability of the words that Sole pours straight from the heart. There’s a beauty here that we as an audience are lucky to be a part of. It’s an honor to be offered an eyeglass into the soul of Sole and their journey exploring loving themselves in a world that enforces the opposite. This album is warm to the ears and deserves the mightiest of praise.