#57 - AKAI SOLO & Navy Blue - True Sky REVIEW

(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro) AKAI SOLO and Navy Blue joined forces to create the highly-anticipated True Sky, a record that is surely to scratch your lyrical itch. AKAI explores themes of knowledge of self, spirituality, liberation from oppressive structures, and liberation from the ways modern society controls people mentally... which serves as the lens that AKAI uses to make observations about those around him, and society as a whole. AKAI has an intelligent mind clearly, but most importantly knows how to get his point across in highly original ways that makes what he's saying that much more impactful. He knows how to balance poetic word choices, with tangible clearly articulated ideas that make his lyrics digestible, even if the subject matter is heavy. Navy laces AKAI with sample-based instrumentals that are exquisitely jazzy, glitchy, heavily incorporating horns, saxophone, which all make this album feel very grand. That being said, what True Sky really crystallized for me in Navy's production, is the mechanical nature of it all. The drum patterns and choice of percussion are arguably the most interesting aspects of Navy’s production for me. The mix of the modern hi hats and 808s, alongside super strange rhythms make for a very interesting combination. This Navy Blue mix of sound gives these often repetitive looped samples of string and brass a certain knock and head-nodding rhythm, due to these intricate drums that are on just about every single track. RMPP Preferred Cut: "No Doubt (feat. Navy Blue)" Stream/Buy True Sky here: https://akaisolo.bandcamp.com/album/true-sky  -- For artist development/writing services, DM me @rohview on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected] Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.carrd.co/