Release Date: 24 July 2020
Song Count: 11
Rating: 4.8/10
Description:
From Chicago-based upstarting artist Sonny, also known as HateSonny online, GOLDEN CHILD is an underground rap album from two years into the man's career, introducing a newer, more experimental touch to his soundscapes compared to his preceding work. Whether this alternative path has landed at a satisfactory destination or led the quality of the music astray, however, is another question - one of subjectivity.
The tracks feature a set of smooth and low-energy rap flows atop cleanly produced beats and samples that make an attempt at hooking one into the music, though rarely end up succeeding in that goal. Most of these songs, while not necessarily unqualitative, are clouded by a sense of idleness to them; they don't make much of an effort to stand out or switch anything up with the rapping or musical energy they provide, causing them to blend within each other.
Of course, exceptions to the pattern do exist within the album as well - songs that rise above the rest and soar in dousing the fire with their greatly executed mixture of effortlessly "cool" rap verses and fun instrumentals - highlight tracks include "GO WHERE I GO", "ST. MARK", "DAMAGE CONTROL", and - the personal favourite of mine - "MOONCHILD".
An album backed with talent and potential, in spite of its drawbacks keeping me from experiencing further enjoyment beyond what it could have been - yet a potentially worthwile listen for bigger fans of this subset of the hip-hop genre than I.