Sour Soul is sublime. Rather than standing around starstruck, BBNG have more than proven their worth as Ghostface’s backing band.
Ghostface and a gallery of cohorts (DOOM on Ray Gun, Danny Brown on Six Degrees, former Slum Village rhymer Elhzi on the excellent Gunshowers) demonstrate storytelling gumption and craftsmanship. More GoodGoodNot Bad than the name suggests.
The trio create nuanced, immersive contexts for the rapper's narratives: occasionally dialed in, at times surprising.
On the impressive Sour Soul, the Canadian trio ... bangs out rich blaxploitation-invoking live instrumentals, providing a perfect canvas for the Wu-Tang Clan vet's vivid rhymes about dodging police, jewelry and, oddly enough, yoga.
The high level of production and the perfectly chosen features on Sour Soul are the high points of the LP. Ghost may not be on top of his game here, but the the Wu-Tang MC definitely provides some highlight moments of his own on the project.
This three-piece know their art inside out, and it’s the balance of the unpredicted with the familiarity of hip-hop's finest that renders Sour Soul just so sweet.
Sour Soul is an evening album, like all good jazz albums should be. The kind you turn on over lamplight or bump on your headphones.
For some critics, Ghostface might be waning. With Sour Soul at least he’s proven it’s fitting to catch him glimpses.
In James Bond terms, Sour Soul is the almost addendum-ish Quantum of Solace as it offers adventurous fans the same opportunities for a quick fix while sacrificing a bit of weight.
Sour Soul is a quiet storm, a Sunday night moment to relax. Even when Ghostface Killah is flexing his muscles, he’s doing it within an inherently mellow, unimportant context.
MAJOR HOT TAKE: This is Ghostface Killah's 2nd best album, right behind "Supreme Clientele". BADBADNOTGOOD's incredible jazz instrumentals gives this such a different vibe from almost any other Wu-Tang album. This is Ghost 20+ years into his career and still rapping his ass off, along with amazing features from Elzhi, Danny Brown and MF DOOM. No skips to be found here folks, if you're a fan of jazz rap or Wu-Tang in general, this is a must-listen.
FAVORITE TRACKS: ALL OF THEM
LEAST ... read more
Sour Soul is a great jazz rap album that shows great jazz fusion from fantastic production by BADBADNOTGOOD also from my first listen Ghostface Killah does a great job on the mic.
Ghostface winna. "Sour Soul" is a colab album I didn't expect. It's fun for sure, but idk it just doesn't feel fully fleshed out. Ghostface is good on the record, not great, but still decent. What really makes "Sour Soul" a win for me is BADBADNOTGOOD. They bring their a-game when it comes to the instrumentals, and bring the project to the next level. There are no stand out tracks, each one ranges from a 7 to a 6. "Sour Soul" is a pretty good project, just wish it ... read more
when rappers and bands come together something like this happens and thats always a good thing to witness
I luv badbadnotgood instrumentals, they’re so groovy and dope, just needed some more actual soul here, longer songs would be good …
1 | Mono 0:58 | 74 |
2 | Sour Soul 2:45 | 88 |
3 | Six Degrees 3:40 feat. Danny Brown | 81 |
4 | Gunshowers 3:03 feat. Elzhi | 83 |
5 | Stark's Reality 2:12 | 76 |
6 | Tone's Rap 2:58 | 79 |
7 | Mind Playing Tricks 2:37 | 86 |
8 | Street Knowledge 3:24 feat. Tree | 77 |
9 | Ray Gun 3:07 feat. MF DOOM | 90 |
10 | Nuggets of Wisdom 2:11 | 81 |
11 | Food 3:23 | 85 |
12 | Experience 2:37 | 75 |
#13 | / | Blare |
#32 | / | Drowned in Sound |
#33 | / | Gigwise |
#35 | / | Piccadilly Records |
#45 | / | FasterLouder |
#63 | / | Uncut |