Evidence - Unlearning Volume 1 (new album) discussion thread

[Pinyapplesuckas]

Like a spin on the questionable idea that artists need to experience tragedy in order to make magic. You get a glimpse of that on By My Side Too, but Evidence didn’t do a whole album of that. I won’t say it’s easy to translate the raw emotions of loss into song, but it seems more common or expected to respond that way and the interludes here speak to innovation. As a writer, he said the hardest thing to do is to pretend you’re happy when you’re not, so those breaking points inevitably show up in small doses. But overall, he remains witty in the face of his demons and if not quite happy, he stands up stronger. Just seems like the path less traveled to explore the pain and the perseverance in the same breath, in addition to all the other micro changes in this new chapter of his life.

he has a great ability to paint a dark picture without sounding grim or depressing. it's a level of melancholy that exists in it's own space because he still sounds very much boom bap

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Like a spin on the questionable idea that artists need to experience tragedy in order to make magic. You get a glimpse of that on By My Side Too, but Evidence didn’t do a whole album of that. I won’t say it’s easy to translate the raw emotions of loss into song, but it seems more common or expected to respond that way and the interludes here speak to innovation. As a writer, he said the hardest thing to do is to pretend you’re happy when you’re not, so those breaking points inevitably show up in small doses. But overall, he remains witty in the face of his demons and if not quite happy, he stands up stronger. Just seems like the path less traveled to explore the pain and the perseverance in the same breath, in addition to all the other micro changes in this new chapter of his life.

he has a great ability to paint a dark picture without sounding grim or depressing. it's a level of melancholy that exists in it's own space because he still sounds very much boom bap

It's definitely a huge part of the appeal for me. Tagging @subletteafterdark and @areohbee824 and @dubsmith_nz

He's so good at this actually, that sometimes I find myself wishing he'd lean a further into it here or there. I don't want him to make Mood Muzik style albums, and I like his take that he doesn't want to use pain or tragedy as a crutch, or make a career off of exploiting his own misfortunes. But I heard him explicitly say that Cats & Dogs was originally much darker, and that he went out of his way to make Unlearning Volume 1 not a depressing listen.

After a couple months to sit with it, the only gripes I have with this album are I wish he'd maybe had just 1-2 more songs on it (like the leftover title track.) It feels a little short. I wish he'd kept the full version of Audience, maybe not beat switch on Danger, And I think Start the Day is a notch below most of the other songs. But still one of my favorite albums this year.

But yeah. Ev has a lot of almost "optimistic stoicism" type of philosophy expressed through his raps. And it sounds super corny, but I actually find it kind of inspiring.

 

[dubsmith_nz]

It's definitely a huge part of the appeal for me. Tagging @subletteafterdark and @areohbee824 and @dubsmith_nz

He's so good at this actually, that sometimes I find myself wishing he'd lean a further into it here or there. I don't want him to make Mood Muzik style albums, and I like his take that he doesn't want to use pain or tragedy as a crutch, or make a career off of exploiting his own misfortunes. But I heard him explicitly say that Cats & Dogs was originally much darker, and that he went out of his way to make Unlearning Volume 1 not a depressing listen.

After a couple months to sit with it, the only gripes I have with this album are I wish he'd maybe had just 1-2 more songs on it (like the leftover title track.) It feels a little short. I wish he'd kept the full version of Audience, maybe not beat switch on Danger, And I think Start the Day is a notch below most of the other songs. But still one of my favorite albums this year.

But yeah. Ev has a lot of almost "optimistic stoicism" type of philosophy expressed through his raps. And it sounds super corny, but I actually find it kind of inspiring.

I think that optimism has a lot to do with Ev now being a solo Dad. When you're a parent and your backs against the wall you have to stand tall for your kids benefit.

It's like you almost don't have time or allow yourself to grieve because you need to stay positive for your kids.

Ev touches on this a few times during the album and its cool to see his thought process. The whole "I’m Mr. Mom to anybody who’s been keeping up" speaks to that.

 

[Karank0]

Finally got around to listening to this. Although EV is one of my favorite artists ever, I just couldnt get into it when it dropped, it was summer and the album felt too dark for me to be bumping when it was so sunny and nice outside

Dope project, although a little short

My favorite tracks and the ones that stuck out most for me are:

All of that said
Lost in time
Where do we go from here

Love the way it ends an an optimistic note on "Where do we go from here", my favorite song on the album easily

Still digesting everything he is saying on it, but he is clearly spitting and Im loving the stream of conscious over stripped down beats style of the album

 

[TheDarceKnight]

 

[Karank0]

Easily my AOTY

EV did the damn thing on it, lots of relatable and clever bars throughout

Anonymous when I feel my ominous ways

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Finally got around to listening to this. Although EV is one of my favorite artists ever, I just couldnt get into it when it dropped, it was summer and the album felt too dark for me to be bumping when it was so sunny and nice outside

Dope project, although a little short

My favorite tracks and the ones that stuck out most for me are:

All of that said
Lost in time
Where do we go from here

Love the way it ends an an optimistic note on "Where do we go from here", my favorite song on the album easily

Still digesting everything he is saying on it, but he is clearly spitting and Im loving the stream of conscious over stripped down beats style of the album

The album dropping June/July definitely had an effect on my enjoyment of it. I'm liking it more now that it's the fall. It was bright and sunny outside when I first listened to it and I agree that it didn't feel right.

I agree that it's a little bit short. Also, I think the first couple songs are the weakest ones on the album, and it takes a little bit to pick up steam.

Where We Going is my favorite song on there too. Interesting enough, he said that's the only song on the album that was made pre-Covid and outside of the rest. Which kind of surprises me because of the "been a hell of a year" bar, but on the other hand it sounds the most like the Weather series to me. And as much as I dig the Unlearning concept, I do like the Weather style a bit more.

But I'm also in for the ride. Ev's earned my attention dollars.

 

[Karank0]

The album dropping June/July definitely had an effect on my enjoyment of it. I'm liking it more now that it's the fall. It was bright and sunny outside when I first listened to it and I agree that it didn't feel right.

I agree that it's a little bit short. Also, I think the first couple songs are the weakest ones on the album, and it takes a little bit to pick up steam.

Where We Going is my favorite song on there too. Interesting enough, he said that's the only song on the album that was made pre-Covid and outside of the rest. Which kind of surprises me because of the "been a hell of a year" bar, but on the other hand it sounds the most like the Weather series to me. And as much as I dig the Unlearning concept, I do like the Weather style a bit more.

But I'm also in for the ride. Ev's earned my attention dollars.

Agree that it starts of slow and takes a while to gain steam, often find myself starting the album at "All of that said" and let it ride from there (although I still kind of hate boldys verse on it - it was cool the first few times but feels very out of place and dont see it aging too well)

What do you think of "Pray with an A"? thats the song that probably grew on me the most. That beat/sample is dope as fukk and EV's got some really nice bars throughout. Navy blue pleasantly surprised me too and I really dug his verse. Its probably my favourite song on the album now.

One thing I realised about EV and why I like him is because he just raps about his life, but in very creative ways. Thats his "shtick" and its dope. His wordplay has upped a level, and he is in many ways, a more interesting MC on here.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Agree that it starts of slow and takes a while to gain steam, often find myself starting the album at "All of that said" and let it ride from there (although I still kind of hate boldys verse on it - it was cool the first few times but feels very out of place and dont see it aging too well)

What do you think of "Pray with an A"? thats the song that probably grew on me the most. That beat/sample is dope as fukk and EV's got some really nice bars throughout. Navy blue pleasantly surprised me too and I really dug his verse. Its probably my favourite song on the album now.

One thing I realised about EV and why I like him is because he just raps about his life, but in very creative ways. Thats his "shtick" and its dope. His wordplay has upped a level, and he is in many ways, a more interesting MC on here.

I like Pray With An A a lot. It's one of my favorite joints on here with a feature. I like Navy Blue, and I like Fly Anakin, but on Pray and Delay The Issue I still found myself wanting either a 2nd verse from Ev or longer Ev verses. I almost wish Navy Blue had been the feature on Delay instead of Anakin, actually. I think Pardon Me is my favorite song after lost in time and where we going

The opposite happened to me with All Of That Said and Boldy's verse. I didn't like it much at first, and then since Bo Jackson dropped, I've started liking it more. I definitely wish it were more on topic and less of a regular Boldy verse, but I still think his voice and cadence on that particular beat meshes nicely.

A couple random thoughts. I'm surprised an Ev and Alc joint is one of my least favorites on here. Sharks Smell Blood reminds me of something Sean price would've killed on Monkey Barz. Talking to the Audience was a full song and I wish they'd kept it. Lost In Time really makes me want an Ev and Nottz EP.

Also, did you hear this joint? It could've fit on Unlearning 1 also.

 

[Karank0]

Nah, Navy blue and Fly Anakin both did their thing on those joints and I like them both as they are

That Planet Asia song is dope

 

[TheDarceKnight]

new Evidence and Craven joint dropping Friday

 

[The Jewnited States]

this is very very good


evidence is easily the most improved rapper ive ever heard. and like others have stated, his ear for beats is incredible. now his writing can match his beats


ill probably go into more depth after i spin this album a few more times

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

new Evidence and Craven joint dropping Friday

Dude cries about someone having the same song title then borrows album art n name. Smh.

I don't like CRAVEN

 

[TheDarceKnight]

 

[TheDarceKnight]

this is very very good


evidence is easily the most improved rapper ive ever heard. and like others have stated, his ear for beats is incredible. now his writing can match his beats


ill probably go into more depth after i spin this album a few more times

Curious about that more in depth take @The Jewnited States but on no rush