Released in late 2021, Lil Ugly Mane’s Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern runs like nothing else the revered hip-hop artist has ever created. The album contains no real sections of rapping and simply features Travis Miller, showing off the best of his other musical abilities. The entire album is layered through rich soundscapes that masterfully infuse Ugly Mane’s voice and charisma with the abstract beats he is creating.
While his singing vocals are not always the most pleasing to take in, they serve their purpose well, tying the album together through their depressive coating and messaging. There are themes such as failure and loss of relationships that are mentioned throughout the project, but there is really not enough topical exploration for these ideas to take off from the ground. While a flaw on the outside, this definitely seemed to be a premeditated choice by Lil Ugly Mane as he uses his vocals as another crucial layer in the production as opposed to using them more upfront. The project also counters the ideas Lil Ugly Mane presents with samples and production sections that add a dark but comedic spin to his ideas.
Through all of these songs that contain such unique production and little emphasis on rapping, Lil Ugly Mane shows just how far hip hop’s creative boundaries have been pushed. While the songs feel like mere sketches due to how brief they are in terms of their writing, Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern is a super unique listening experience that any fan of experimental music will find entertainment in.
Top 5 Songs:
- Cursor
- Bold Futile Flavor
- Styrofoam
- Beach Harness
- Vpn
Key Strengths:
- Humorous Feel
- Amazing production
- Consistent atmosphere
- Sonic creativity
Rating: 7.6/10
