Aminé is a 26-year-old rapper from Portland, Oregon. He broke out in 2017 with the smash hit “Caroline”, which was followed up by his debut album “Good For You”. Last time we heard him was on 2018s “ONEPOINTFIVE”, which was a solid release but nothing memorable. He has just released his brand new album “Limbo“, which has gotten many fans excited due to singles like “Compensating” with Young Thug. With his dedicated fans and hip hop heads watching his every move, will Aminé be able to create a phenomenal body of work?
Aminé shows that he is a jack of all trades on the record. “Burden” does a phenomenal job at welcoming us to the universe the Oregon mc has created as he raps about an array of topics ranging from his struggles with women all the way to his issues with social injustice. Tracks like “Woodlawn” and “Compensating” display the rappers chill side as he curates smooth bangers. “Roots” was a definite standout as Amine tears up the microphone with Dreamville prodigy JID and the vocals from Charlie Wilson feel transcending. Even the interlude “Kobe” was a vital talking piece as in less than 60 seconds, Aminé talks about the effects that the tragic passing of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant had on him. “Can’t Decide” may be my favorite track on the entire record as the memorizing hook and harmonious tone used by Aminé was a surprising and delightful change of pace. On the second half of the record, we start to see Amine’s aggression rise on “Shimmy” and “Pressure In My Palms” which is further fueled by show-stealing verses from Slowthai and long beaches own, Vince Staples. On the album’s final leg, we see deeper cuts like “Mamma” and “Becky” which both focus on Aminé’s struggle with himself. “Fetus” with Injury Reserve is another gem as the experimental masterminds push this once grounded mc farther than we have ever seen. “My Reality” summarizes everything we have previously heard as “Limbo” closes out with a fulfilling finale. All in all, Aminé proves that he is one of the most versatile and skilled artists in the game on this record.
Behind the boards, the diverse and intuitive soundscape of “Limbo” makes it feel like a roller coaster when listening. From the intro “Burden”, Aminé shows he is not scared to tap into experimental sounds as he raps over a minimalistic beat that consists of a warped vocal sample. “Can’t Decide” was one of my favorite instrumentals as its bouncing drums and Caribbean strings make it feel like a tropical banger. “Shimmy” was another cut that caught my eye as it samples the classic Ol’ Dirty Bastard track “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”. “Pressure In My Palms” and “Fetus” both do an excellent job of presenting experimental hip hop in a mainstream light. Despite diving into new waters, we still see some standard trap beats on “Woodlawn”, “Compensating” and “Riri”. Overall, not many records offer the quality and diversity in sounds that “Limbo” does.
In conclusion, “Limbo” is one of the best records of the year, and it is Aminé’s magnum opus. There are not many albums that can embody so many vocal and production styles and manage to stay consistent and cohesive at the same time. I recommend this album to all types of hip hop fans as it truly encompasses everything which makes the genre so renowned.
Rating: 8.5/10
