Evidence - Unlearning Volume 1 (new album) discussion thread

[dubsmith_nz]

@TheDarceKnight I just saw "Layover" drops on vinyl this Sunday

 

[Corndog]

@TheDarceKnight I just saw "Layover" drops on vinyl this Sunday

Layover is criminally underrated. Ev took a big step up with that project

 

[areohbee824]

Amazing album man. Randomly heard "Where We Going From Here..." in a older car I'm driving for work on a radio station that I stumbled on and had to revisit this album

 

[Sane]

Unlearning is a great track

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Coming up on two years. Been bumping this a lot this week.

I'm happy Ev is doing his production thing so heavy, but man I'd really love a follow up to this. I know he's got a lot to say. This album is aging well.

@areohbee824 about what you said below. Agreed. That's in my top 3 tracks on here. Sebb's an elite producer. Check out this album Sebb is fully producing on June 24th by Def Soulja called Moonlight Marauder.

Amazing album man. Randomly heard "Where We Going From Here..." in a older car I'm driving for work on a radio station that I stumbled on and had to revisit this album

 

[LevelUp]

 

[Karank0]

As we approach winter, its the perfect time to bump some EV.

Been revisting this album and it still holds up. Some of Ev's most mature and and powerfull rapping. Its crazy how much he has progressed from the dilated days (was bumping alot of dilated a few weeks ago and the comparison feels fresh in my mind )

Could have done without some of the features (Boldy's verse, the guy singing on "Wont give up the danger") and some of these beats are not what I like to hear him on ("Start the day" & "Sharks smell blood" especially) but man, the highs on this are some of Ev's best work! A focused Ev is


I wrote this on an Amsterdam canal
I rode a wave and left the ocean dry without a towel
Ghetto b*stard, ain't no father to this style
Father figure, fight the devil like the Golden Child
They told me, "Ev, you gon' smell your roses"
I told them, "We don't smell the flowers, we just hold our noses"
Walking freely, I don't go where I'm supposed to
I got my friends, got my enemies, but foes are closer
No energy, no maintenance
Some are in between, I call those ones acquaintances
In life there's some things you can't get over quietly
Making shyt that's notable, but not for notoriety
My hunger never left, my ribs are touching my chest
I'm at my best, dictionary definition of fresh
A picture of E, place in pole position is me
Hit the throttle then decide where I'm intended to be
So what the fukk?

 

[Karank0]

Oh and Pardon me hits diffrently in this gloomy weather

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.

Was going to mention that Ev is my favourite "Mood Muzik" rapper, his has an ability to express dark/gloomy emotions in his music without sounding corny or emo is why I always revisit his music

Perfect music to bump while walking in the park at night on a winter night

And yes, I too caught how he went out of his was to make the album not sound depressing. Placing "All of that said" right after "Pardon me", "Moving on up" after "Won't give up the danger" and "Pray with an A" after "All money", all more happy songs after slow/sad type of songs was great sequencing and something I only noticed this time

Hope your Mom is doing well and my prayers for her

 

[TheDarceKnight]

As we approach winter, its the perfect time to bump some EV.

Been revisting this album and it still holds up. Some of Ev's most mature and and powerfull rapping. Its crazy how much he has progressed from the dilated days (was bumping alot of dilated a few weeks ago and the comparison feels fresh in my mind )

Could have done without some of the features (Boldy's verse, the guy singing on "Wont give up the danger") and some of these beats are not what I like to hear him on ("Start the day" & "Sharks smell blood" especially) but man, the highs on this are some of Ev's best work! A focused Ev is


I wrote this on an Amsterdam canal
I rode a wave and left the ocean dry without a towel
Ghetto b*stard, ain't no father to this style
Father figure, fight the devil like the Golden Child
They told me, "Ev, you gon' smell your roses"
I told them, "We don't smell the flowers, we just hold our noses"
Walking freely, I don't go where I'm supposed to
I got my friends, got my enemies, but foes are closer
No energy, no maintenance
Some are in between, I call those ones acquaintances
In life there's some things you can't get over quietly
Making shyt that's notable, but not for notoriety
My hunger never left, my ribs are touching my chest
I'm at my best, dictionary definition of fresh
A picture of E, place in pole position is me
Hit the throttle then decide where I'm intended to be
So what the fukk?

Sharks Smell Blood grew on me a lot. Reminds me of something Sean Price would've rhymed on circa Monkey Barz

Unlearning is super dope. I gotta fire it up again

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Oh and Pardon me hits diffrently in this gloomy weather


Was going to mention that Ev is my favourite "Mood Muzik" rapper, his has an ability to express dark/gloomy emotions in his music without sounding corny or emo is why I always revisit his music

Perfect music to bump while walking in the park at night on a winter night

And yes, I too caught how he went out of his was to make the album not sound depressing. Placing "All of that said" right after "Pardon me", "Moving on up" after "Won't give up the danger" and "Pray with an A" after "All money", all more happy songs after slow/sad type of songs was great sequencing and something I only noticed this time

Hope your Mom is doing well and my prayers for her

Aw man, thanks so much for the kind words. My mom is surprisingly hanging in there and doing pretty well. Went from thinking she for sure wouldn't even see 2023, to her driving around and being active this season, and doing a lot more stuff on her own. She definitely bought at least another year or two. Medicine has come a long ways. There's been a lot of rough moments, but a lot of really great ones too. Thanks for sending some prayers

 

[Karank0]

Aw man, thanks so much for the kind words. My mom is surprisingly hanging in there and doing pretty well. Went from thinking she for sure wouldn't even see 2023, to her driving around and being active this season, and doing a lot more stuff on her own. She definitely bought at least another year or two. Medicine has come a long ways. There's been a lot of rough moments, but a lot of really great ones too. Thanks for sending some prayers

Thats good to hear man