Doodlebug & 80 Empire – “A Galactic Love Supreme” review

Doodlebug is a 58 year old MC from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania notable for being 1/3 of the Digable Planets. Following their disbandment, he would branch out in favor of a solo career beginning with his 2011 debut Futuristic Sci-Fi as well as The Expendables & more recently The Calidelphian roughly a decade after Futuristic Sci-Fi dropped. West coast duo 80 Empire are officially joining him for a new collaborative LP & have signed a deal with Fat Beats Records to help put it out into the universe.

After the “Galactic Intro”, the first song “Outtaspace Connection” is a funky romance tune throwing it back to Zapp during the hook talking about the laws of attraction whereas “Breathe” slickly talks about his passion for drums coming from his uncle having a drum set at his grandmother’s house growing up. “Mother Earth is Dying” jazzily discusses our planet slowly deteriorating leading into “Spread Love (Communicate)” talks about positivity & communication.

Shabazz Palaces joins Doodlebug for “Deliveries” letting it be known what they stay constantly running & getting paid off of these days while “Amore” soulfully gets back on the themes of romance. “Time Keeps Slipping” featuring Nejma Nefertiti finds the pair talking about life flying by the way does just before “Intergalactic Love Supreme” featuring YaH-Ra spaciously speaks on love once again.

“I Am” featuring Emma Lee M.C. & Skrewtape unites the trio they can demand that you obey the empire, but then “Nothing Lasts Forever” featuring Bone Crusher & KXNG CROOKED officially concludes A Galactic Love Supreme with all 3 of them cooking up what could possibly be my favorite collaboration reminding us all that there isn’t a single thing out there that’ll last until eternity.

Sir Analog & Duke of Digital both really nailed it helping Doodlebug make a provocative body of musical escapism with every song revealing itself to be a different painting making the canvas at its core hip hop although it’s meticulously textured with so many other influences from jazz to soul music. Reminiscent of a time when music’s sole obligation was to make you feel good & think critically, they portray a healthy marriage of analog & digital or nostalgia meeting contemporary.

Score: 3.5/5

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joMi – “S.U.M. (Someone Understand Me) 1” review

Oakland, California emcee joMi returning a year & a half after Too Close so he can release his 3rd full-length studio LP. Introducing himself in the underground off his 2018 debut Samo followed by the 2022 sophomore effort Media Noche, he actually came onto my radar around the time Too Close dropped since he signed to Soulspazm Records around that same time & finding out 80 Empire fully producing S.U.M. (Someone Understand Me) 1 had me more intrigued since I’ve been following some of the artists they’ve worked with for quite some time.

The title track sets a somber tone to get us started equating alcoholism with the devil whereas “Run” featuring Demrick depicts the desperate urge to escape reality over a cloudy boom bap instrumental. “Mirror 2 Times” works in a guitar solo he can reflect on the painful process of self-confrontation prior to “j.o.M.i (journey of My imagination)” telling everyone the meaning of his stage name bringing an atmospheric flare to the table.

“We Didn’t Notice TBH” goes full-blown trap to talk about feeling good leading into “Down If U Are” featuring G. Cardona & Ginger Nkosi highlighting the critical moment of self-questioning during joMi’s descent into drug experimentation. “Holy Water” hooks up acoustics & claps talking about alcohol being heaven sent, but then “Chico” featuring Baby Gas returns to the boom bap reflecting on the long way they came.

Starting the final leg of the LP, the song “Bottles on the Top Shelf” goes for a nocturnal trap vibe saying that the liquor & shrooms on the top shelf since they pair well while “144K” featuring Dizzy Wright brings a chilled out approach to the table asking if you want this drank & weed. The penultimate track “No Mind” featuring ¡MAYDAY! keeps it trap advising to ignore them & finally, “Used to Love” ends the album calling out a poison disguised as a remedy.

Other than that, S.U.M. (Someone Understand Me) 1happens to be a powerful concept album that explores joMi’s own battles with alcoholism & addiction. He takes listeners on an emotional journey through the highs & lows of substance abuse, delving deeper into darkness offering a raw & immersive look into the emotional turmoil of addiction with better picked guests & improved production.

Score: 4/5

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