ALBUM REVIEW: Moss “It’s Like I’m Famous”

“Yo man, you have to listen to this album.” I found myself saying this a lot this week. It wasn’t about the new J. Cole that dropped not too long ago. It was about a relativley unkown Colorado artist by the name of Moss. This album dropped on the 14th of October, and I have played it everyday, all the way through, leading up to this review.

I am a music lover, and I am proud to say that I am very selective in what I listen to. If  I bother for a download of your free mixtape, you’re most likely an artist I have been listening to for a while.  You wouldn’t dare catch me paying for music I didn’t trust to bring me results. By results, I mean, emotion. This is what artists (especially rappers) have forgotten. That key element is what sets the greats apart from the one-hit wonders. I already had high expectations for this album, and boy did it deliver.

Right away, the album lets you know that this has been a journey for Moss. “Marathons” is a beautiful intro. Moss’s vocals come in chanting “I know, one day…”, and almost instantly you’re in his corner. The next track, is my personal favorite on the album, and just so happens to be one of my favorite songs of the year. “Mile High” is a FANTASTIC anthem. It’s impossible not to feel good when you listen to this song. From there the album does a great job pacing you through mid-tempo songs to some club joints. “Way 2 Drunk” should be played in every club in the nation, just to give people an upbeat alternative to all the “shuffle” music taking over.

The most notable thing about Moss is his ability to effortlessly switch between rapping and singing. Its common nowadays, but no one is actually good at it (We’re looking at you Aubrey). This is not the case with Moss. He’s so good at both, that this seems like a collaboration album between a singer and a rapper. His rapping is great for the type of artist he is. Passion, metaphors, flow, all the elements are there. Would he be as good without the singing? Who knows. Time will tell if he ever tries to do that.

The album flows beautifully, and towards the end, you realize, this is not just an album. It’s Moss’s story. It’s so effortlessly told, that you don’t even realize that’s what it is. “On My Own” does the best job at giving you an idea of exactly what he went through. To hear that he struggled, is bittersweet. On one hand I feel like he shouldn’t have, because he’s so good. On the other hand, I don’t know if we would have gotten this amazing piece of work if  he hadn’t.

I’m like a stripper. Stay with me here guys. I said that to say, I don’t really take my work home. It’s very rare that an artist impresses me enough to go from being a “work” listen, to someone that I am a fan of. Moss has given me a new album to bang, not just a couple of good covers. There aren’t many doing it as big as this guy, and other artists should take note. He has a great team of writers and producers, and they are all letting other rappers know they have to step their game up. Even if Moss doesn’t get “famous”, he’s already a celebrity in the eyes of our staff. Cue the lights. This guy just made one hell of an entrance.

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