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Album reviews Music

Rich Kidd – In My Opinion

RICH KIDD plays Wrongbar tonight (Thursday, April 25). See listing. Rating: NNNN


Producer/MC Rich Kidd has released six volumes of We On Some Rich Kidd Shit, plus a Juno-nominated collaboration with Vancouver’s Sonreal. But album-masquerading-as-mixtape In My Opinion is a coming-out party for the leader of Toronto rap’s vanguard.

IMO is a 19-track solo effort with seldom a guest verse, and that’s a good thing. Lyrically, Rich is socially conscious on The City, introspective on I’d Be Lying, cheekily brash on Early. Political and pop culture references hit their mark, and the robust production keeps up. Tracks vary from banging to groovy, each begging you to see it performed live. All but one is self-produced L.A.’s Dj Dahi steps in for I’d Be Lying, lending a synthy twinkling that Kendrick Lamar fans will recognize from the Dahi-produced Money Trees.

But the album is strongest when Rich does Rich, like on Brick, where he rhymes about Toronto weather with playful, varied delivery over pattering, ominous drums and triumphant piano. Canadian winter never sounded so hot.

Top track: Brick

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