Buck 65 – Neverlove
3/5
Haligonian alternative hip-hop artist Buck 65 has released his latest work Neverlove, surronding his recent divorce – and don’t worry, it’s nothing like Robin Thicke’s Paula. Instead, the album is well crafted and fuelled by Buck 65’s ever-present creativity and artistic ability.
Transitioning old school hip-hop into a contemporary album, “Gates of Hell” features 65’s original MC technique and retro-style sampling and scratching. “Je T’Aime Mon Amour” is the second song from Neverlove, and carries a stronger feeling of passion without losing sight of raw hip-hop.
“Love Will F*** You Up” is essentially made up of two pieces: a basic, stripped-down 808 beat, and lyrics, making it near impossible to miss what Buck 65 is saying – “You better be careful / Love will fuck you up”.
Gloomy and reflective, “Baby Blanket” takes rapping to its bare minimum with a spoken-word poem, and is the darkest song from the album.
Showcasing his DJ skills, “Super Pretty Naughty” is comic relief in the middle of a moody album, representing the “therapeutic” side of rebounding in the world of dating. It also sounds like something you would hear at The Toothy Moose (Halifax inside joke), with a club-mix beat and seductive female vocals.
The second half of the album returns to the unstable and sensitivity that was portrayed in the first half. However, the album ends with the broken-hearted ballad “Superhero in My Heart” featuring Buck 65 on the piano, calmly releasing his feelings through song.
Stream the entire album via Exclaim.ca.
