Although this is a small EP, I was a little let down.
Although I don’t know much about Smoke DZA, I know how complex and abstract Flying Lotus can get. Then to add onto that, standout features from Conway The Machine & the legendary Black Thought.

Despite all that, this project feels rather safe and unengaging, without much character to it.

This may be a little scatterbrained, so beware.
So for starters, the vibe of this album is more relaxed, & refreshing, compared to the attention-grabbing-show-stopper Cosmogramma and the climatic, dark You’re Dead!
This feels like breathing room from the aforementioned projects which, can certainly be intense at times.

Finding out the concept around the end and seeing it loop back around was honestly beautiful and not really a feeling I could describe.

But with that, comes my gripes ... read more

Despite being only 18 minutes long, Flying Lotus crafts a project where each song feels completely different from each next or previous one. Kinda sounds like a video game.

I knew the second I saw this on Spotify that it was likely bogus, but this it’s even worse listening to it.

In his long awaited blaze of glory, Cole doesn’t necessarily reinvent himself, but rather takes the best parts of himself and sharpens them to their peak. Although there are some weaker spots on here (mainly disc 39), most of the album is fantastic and an amazing send off.

For as long as I live I don’t think I’ll find another album like this. I’m not really the best with words so I’ll just leave it at that.

There’s something so chaotic, dark, yet beautifully arranged about this album that just makes you feel alive. I’ve honestly only recently discovered Flying Lotus from the Black Balloons Reprise, so this is my first album from him, and this is legendary.

Also, the whiplash from the last Jazz album I’ve listened to (and the first), A Love Supreme and this can probably kill someone.

Despite how amazing it sounds, I feel like this a project that I don’t really understand as well as other people do. Whether or not that means I don’t understand all the intricacies behind it, or maybe the emotions, I’m not sure. So I can’t really justify giving it a rating.

Update: after listening to this more, my sentiment still remains mostly the same, though I feel somewhat comfortable rating it now.

Beautiful, should’ve been longer.

Everything from the production to IDK’s style of rapping feels so strange yet works amazingly. IDK’s lyrics are grim, honest, & clever, and the production is great and always aligns perfectly to create the tone and mood of the song (wether that is the eerie darkness of DEViL, playfulness of CLOVER, aggressive darkness of C.O.P, & etc.)

Thank you @Delfiano for the recc!

This is so far the second Aler Himself project I’ve listened to, with the first being his 2024 release, Anything Helps No Drugs.

So the shift into this EP, which has more lighthearted, sweet vibes & moments was unexpected, but welcome.

Off of my first/second listen, I think this is a fantastic album. The production & vibes here are top tier & Rocky excels at taking different routes and trying new things.

Nothing necessarily special here. A mix of songs ranging from mostly okay songs to a few great songs. The way the majority of songs here are designed just make them fade in the background for me.

Beautiful, clean production and the rapping from the features on here consistently kill it.

Thanks @thestroksaremy for the rec!

Honestly I haven’t the slightest clue what I’ve just now listened to but I think it’s amazing.

The production is a nice mix of soul and jazz (similar to last year’s Egotrip) and for his debut, Amar has solid flows and good delivery. Overall nice album.

This project straight up feels like childhood nostalgia. The instrumentation is beautiful, making the album have a very warm, sweet feeling.

First album of 2026!
The instrumentation all across the album is gorgeous, the only problem is that most songs end up being just long enough for you to like them but not long enough for you to love them.

Favorite songs: Esperanza, Regina, & Drunken Song

The verses are well written, introspective, and mature, & the production sounds wholesome & sweet (especially exhaust).

Honestly a big improvement from the previous HHE in all ways. The verses are sharper, the production is better and more diverse, and some of the features here absolutely kill it.