8/10
This latest full-length from Toronto-based three-piece BadBadNotGood does seem like the inevitable outcome of their career so far. After three studio albums of orchestrally-led arrangements with jazz influences, the trio have also been known to work with a number of rappers in the past, including Tyler The Creator and Frank Ocean. But this full collaboration with Wu Tang stalwart Ghostface Killah not only showcases the versatility of the band but also that of the MC at the helm.
Taking a blues influence within their music has given their style the perfect backdrop for Ghostface to do what he does best and gives the album an engaging yet nostalgic feel. While at times it seems they are pandering to the expectations that hip-hop fans would be expecting from this record, their general sound is something that is almost alien in the rap world as they use their minimal style to create soulful music with just a subtle dash of retro production to give the album a more rustic feel.
It is certainly something that even non-rap fans could appreciate. The music itself is given as much presence as Ghostface and allows the rapper to become just another layer in their rich tapestry of sound.