Trabolee - All Roads Lead Home (2015)
INTRO
This is Trabolee's debut solo album, dropped back in 2015.
I had stumbled upon this album cover several times before actually hearing the music. When I finally had the chance to, I knew exactly what to brace myself for. It had to be a deep composition and the lyricism had to be top notch, because I'm familiar with TRA's lyrical skills and recognize him as one of Kenya's finest rhyme spitters.
On the cover is an African child sitting alone on a lawn that resembles a planetarium with a starry night sky right ahead of him/her. The foreground is vaguely split into a dark right half and a bright left half. These two meet and combine in a yin and yang symbol above the child's head. I therefore imagine I'll meet a young person forced to learn right and wrong, and decide between the two extremes without the guidance of any grown-up.
Press Play.
I FORGAVE YOU
This is the first track that doubles up as the intro. By handling the issue in an understanding manner, Tra introduces an uncommon perspective to the common subject matter of poor paternal parenting.
On a minimalistic Buff beat, he details how challenging his childhood was without a father to face for reference when he needed guidance. He does all this without cursing the father out or being hateful or angry. He only reflects and recollects. This is new to me. I'm used to angry rappers calling their fathers nasty names for having been deadbeat.
He then gets the rest of the stress off his chest in a poetic skit.
Finally, there is an outro that samples an Alan Watts speech about eternal existence and highlights a person's fate after death. This speech begins a motive of regeneration/ rebirth which is revisited later on in the album.
Concept: 4.5 Originality: 4/5 Lyrics: 4.4 Delivery: 5/5 Production: 4.9
OVERALL: 4.56
STANDOUT LINES:
I don't hate you, I just wish it was different
I wish I could face you and not hit the reefer for reference
EVEN THE ROYAL RUMBLE (+ QINA) This is an upbeat track where Trabolee and Qina flex their lyrical muscle. Trabolee's whole first verse culminates in the same end rhyme. On it, he dethrones dons and leaves them deformed, without domes. Qina's verse begins with wordplay on food and ends with him being anointed a famous preacher using transformer oil. A couple of humorous ad-libs by Khamachu are another plus. He stresses the need for keeping lyrics in touch with the reality in the streets and declares himself the King. Well, more power to you, Khamachu!
Concept: 4/5 Originality: 5/5 Lyrics: 4.6 Delivery: 4.5 Production: 4.8
OVERALL: 4.58
STANDOUT LINE: Mastered her curve and I bend her like Beckham
TRAPP3D There is a noticeable decrease in vigour, tempo and a general step down in lyrical aggression.
I wasn't sure I loved to hear TRA sing the hook. Maybe it's because he rode the sound of the beat. As much as I don't expect him to be a master crooner, this attempt provoked a bit of a cringe.
Concept: 3.5 Originality: 4.2 Lyrics: 4/5 Delivery: 3.6 Production: 4.2
OVERALL: 3.90
STANDOUT LINE:
If you embrace the roughness it's a smooth game
DIE FOR YOUR ANSWERS Ironically, our master of rhyme exploration refuses to die looking for your answers. He uses a lot of common phrases, his lyrical darts are all over the place and there is no sense of direction, but there is a sign of hope as he quips: '...every split second will be eternalized in due time.' Remarkably, he sings a better hook on this song.
The beat is fresh and provides a much needed mood boost from the previous mournful 'Trapp3d'.
Concept: 4/5 Originality: 3.5 Lyrics: 4/5 Delivery: 4.3 Production: 4.9
OVERALL: 4.14
STANDOUT LINE:
Don't nail me to your question mark, I won't die for your answers
TOWARDS THE SUBLIME (+ GENETIC DISORDER) This track possesses a beautiful aura as the two MC's travel together to reach a higher level of consciousness. It is rife with spiritual references and has a victorious tinge to it that makes it almost timeless. Almost!
Trabolee puts down a signature deep verse and Gene packs some of the best Sheng rhymes I've heard in a while. I think every MC needs to hit the studio while 'high on datura'. LOL.
Concept: 4.6 Originality: 5/5 Lyrics: 4.8 Delivery: 5/5 Production: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.88
STANDOUT LINES:
Tulikuwa hapa kabla hata continents kugawanyika
Wanaleta gimmicks for the better civics, tunaleta physics na metaphysics
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE Welcome to bland reflections. Trabolee even states it as he begins that he is "Lost in oblivion..."
The radar is spinning, looking for something.
There's no single theme in this song, but it builds up the overall storyline: Finding a way home.
Concept: 4.4 Originality: 4.9 Lyrics: 4.3 Delivery: 4.7 Production: 4.9
OVERALL: 4.64
STANDOUT LINES:
She told me she loves 'Orange is the New Black'
I told her I dropped out of college to pursue rap
EGO DEATH / BEFORE YOU DIE This song in two words: Lyrical hypnosis.
As the rest of the rappers floss, Trabolee commits his second unconventional act on the album - killing his ego. (The first was refraining from cursing out his Dad) This is the perfect example of a song that is both mild and wild.
Concept: 5/5 Originality: 4.8 Lyrics: 4.7 Delivery: 4.9 Production: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.88
STANDOUT LINES:
See, the ego is a ghost that won't accept it's dead
But the soul is a bird that always controls its cage,
So I heighten my senses with the sensimilla
RAWTRABO REPRISE (+ ROMI SWAHILI) Now, this is one of the best songs on the album and my personal favorite. It entails refreshing guitar samples and immersive background vocals.
With arguably the most thorough wordplay on the album and untouchable flows from both MC's, this is one of the songs you'd play 20 times and still uncover meanings you hadn't figured out before. While Trabolee's flow is superb and confident, Romi spits his bars in rhythmic pulses. He then finishes off the track with brilliant spoken word lines. You have to love his originality, the mental pictures he creates and his slight native cadence. This is a certified classic.
Concept: 4.9 Originality: 5/5 Lyrics: 5/5 Delivery: 4.9 Production: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.96
STANDOUT LINES: Hii ni ya wale hawajakula ugali leo
Ulimi kwa gullet in, rap Galileo
And I'm just a mixture
Kama ku-blend Van Damme na Van Gogh
Ju mi hutumia kicks ku-paint hizi pictures
All along Mama aliketi kando aki-knit na crotchet
Aki-match socks
Na-wish ninge-save hizi moments kwa pocket
FRANK (+ RAY JUMA) This is the tip of Trabolee's pen at it's finest. He opens up about his shortcomings as an artist and gives an insight into his solo thoughts. Relish the result you get when you combine Trabolee's niceness with Ray Juma's soothing vocals and a guitar sample that just won't quit.
Concept: 4.4 Originality: 4.6 Lyrics: 4.5 Delivery: 5/5 Production: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.70
STANDOUT LINE:
Nipate nikepea msee wa mjengo constructive criticism
STILL A SLAVE The experimental rock in this track is not for die-hard boombappers. But don't press skip just yet. Not until you've heard the message in the second verse. In the middle of a metal charged setting, Trabolee satirically mocks those stuck in the ordinariness of the so-called normal life: "You are who you are, believe in what you prefer."
Concept: 4/5 Originality: 4.2 Lyrics: 4.5 Delivery: 4.9 Production: 4.8
OVERALL: 4.48
STANDOUT LINES:
You're still a slave, don't relax, still crack the whip Pay your tax, go to church, don't stand for shit
THE BEAUTY OF LIFE (+ BUA)
Sadly, the only female feature on the track is pretty predictable. I expected to hear sensuality and damn right I got it.
Fortunately though, Tra and Bua (a.k.a Teach) both swim for the shores through the entrancing Playmakr beat. The level of spiritual emotion on both sides of the bond is better than I expected.
Concept: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Lyrics: 4.2
Delivery: 3.9
Production: 4.4
OVERALL: 3.90
STANDOUT LINES:
Plus I’m getting fond of you, let’s bond with every molecule
Your soul echoes the music of the universe lighting up the caves in my heart
PLAY EM LOUD (+ KING SHUKID)
King Shukid calls in for a quick demolition of this fruity joint and Trabolee lends him the podium for the length of his verse. This is basically a celebratory point of the tracklist, with both MC's looking back at their successes so far. Tra talks about going from being a fan to having his own fan base. Shukid, on his part, enjoys the reception of his music by fans of all ages but still demands more devotion to the game from what he calls 'the lames'.
Concept: 4.1
Originality: 4/5
Lyrics: 4.5
Delivery: 4.9
Production: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.50
STANDOUT LINES:
Go from being a face in the crowd to having the crowd in my face
I stay strapped, puff twice, pass it, head out to ID37, make a classic
SCRATCHING THE SURFACE
Another reflective track? Yes!
After the Jill Scott sample, Trabolee goes right in. This particular track sounds more like a laid back freestyle, where attention switches from his immediate environment to holes in his soul to the use or misuse of the genre.
The essence of this song is in playing it many times. It builds on the theme of regeneration and the main storyline; he is still lost but can now identify items around him. He is starting to find his way around.
Concept: 4.5
Originality: 4.9
Lyrics: 4.5
Delivery: 4.8
Production: 4.5
OVERALL: 4.64
STANDOUT LINES:
I can smell your colours, I can see your scent I said I’ll holla but what I meant is, I just need to vent Lately I’ve been on a different pattern and it seems beneath I’m bent Overslept in my dreams and woke up earlier than usual
LUSH
Y'all know exactly who's on the sample - f**king JAY Z!
Trabolee's journey gains momentum as he instructs his listeners to take a stand. With less concern about how they appear to other people, to decide, take action and free themselves.
Concept: 4.5
Originality: 5/5
Lyrics: 4.8
Delivery: 4.3
Production: 4.7
OVERALL: 4.66
STANDOUT LINE:
Hottest in the galaxy, put me in space and watch me pasteurize the Milky Way
CLAP
This is that pack-up-your-stuff-and-leave song. At least the deejay is still playing something!
The party is over, mission accomplished. The call we all wanted to hear is made in the intro: "I'm finally home, man" and he is courteous enough to celebrate with everyone who made his album a success.
Concept: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Lyrics: 3.6
Delivery: 3.6
Production: 4.2
OVERALL: 4.08
STANDOUT LINES:
And his family has certain expectations Haja-make it kamili, bado ye ni underground sensation Truth Reigns Above But Only Love Exists Eternally, unbound potential
THE WRAP UP
Well, this is a phenomenal album, the content source and lyricism is consistent.
The feature game is also top level. All the featured artists blended in with the theme at whatever point of the storyline they were introduced at. Each one of them made a remarkable appearance both lyrically and delivery-wise.
All the producers did a marvelous job, too. The production is very clean and the mastering by Johasi can't go without notice. This is currently one of my most frequently played albums. Trabolee also held it down across all 15 tracks and I'm personally proud that KE is blessed with such thorough artists. ∎
OVERALL RATING
Study "All Roads Lead Home" on Genius
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