notion

I guess it would be wrong if i didn't tell you all that this is the very best, most complete, EP project I've ever heard.
Notion was apart of a really dope duo with Ill Comoditty called the Reflects and they dropped some classic underground jams that spoke on the frustrations of youth and the rise and fall of relationships. It was there i noticed the duo's knack for being beyond their years in tone, concept, and cadence.

Even though Reflects may be no more, its great to see that Notion's ability to raise to even more levels of complexity and poignancy are veident in this, his first, solo project.

The first track (which i've come to refer to as "This Music") opens with a sweet soul sample by the producer of the whole project, Laidback, which projects a horn blaring soul sound that allows Notion to start speaking on his love of the expression but, his nature to question it and why he does it. This track keeps to the sound that i'm used to from Notion..except the beat which hits vastly different than prior more somber beats he's spoken upon.

Track 2, "Time to Go" Is like a triumphant call to arms with its rocking horn and and heavy drumbreak as he almost commands the listener to get up and move to the music and allow what he speaks to stir you forward into progression. This track steps up a fact that the rest of the EP would point that Notion has really more styles of emoting than about 80% of the rappers out there. He mentions his studying of Commonsense to make his bars better and it causes me to wonder how many other emcees really work on their craft to make sure what they say is making a impact that'll last once the record ends...

Track 3, "Flowers Grow" is an epic in its emotional strain on Notion's verse as he fully brings you into his frustration with himself and the world around yet, even there, he steers you, the listener, toward a place of hope. Laidback's beat is killer as he pulls in a great set of samples (i figured where he got most) that harkens to epic scenes from old black and white crime epics with its amazing strings and orchestra arrangement. This beat augments the heavy emotion of the track and, if the level of how he arranges his vocals on the hook doesn't move you...you have no ability to be touched emotionally AT ALL. This track shows that NOtion can move from a more immediate rap structure to something akin to heavy poetics.

track 4, (I've been calling it "I Got Soul") and its a sarcastic yet biting attack against people's take on what is music that has a point, is original, and can be called as having "soul". The hook, "I've Got soul/ you've got soul/ we've got soul/ we're so original" is hilarious in the very point it makes...even in a sarcastic manner. This track seemed fun and showcased that Notion can show and prove but he can also make it very much have a huge point that you can take to heart.

track 5, (which i haven't figured out the title) has Laidback's beat massively drawing you in before Notion's almost angry vocals hit about becoming stagnant in music. The beat has samples from strings as well as an immensely pleasing sound of marching band horns. Notion attacks his inner struggles here and it makes an impact cause of how he stresses his voice and emotional connectiveness.

track 6, "My Raps" is whimsical and allows Notion to poke fun at himself, rappers in general, and just the ideas of rap. He comes in a manner on this very close to that of track 2 in his delivery but his subjects on here are almost like the usual bravado you hear from rappers but, his innate ability to toss in funny lines about his inner troubles in being a rapper, take the track to a place most emcees would probably back away from. Laidback's beat is great with its rock soul sampling and those guitar's make even me wanna jam out.

track 7, "So In Love (Beautiful contridiction)" Is a throwback to Notion's sound on the Reflects tracks and he speaks on love of the music and life while Laidback arranges a beat that fully emmerses you right there with Notion's emotion. This track stands out from the others as its concept and emotion brings the EP to a sweet close that adds so much hope to you, you may call up your wife, girlfriend or mother and feel like sharing warm feelings. The beat kinda reminded me of something that Big Druuski or Jordan Santana would make and it's lovely almost R&B flavor sets it apart from the rest of the tracks on the EP.

The range of emotion, styles of songs, effectiveness of delivery, and the very open manner of Notion being so bare with his inner self makes this EP come off as complete. Shoot, if you put the album on repeat, the fade in of track one and fade out of 7 is seamless.

I'm proud to have heard this and been renewed in my desire to truly be creative in music and i definately wanna be on line to review his album which he mentions on the outro.

- "the solo artist" Conduct Lionhardt
- Conduct Lionhardt