Truemendous – “Great. On Purpose” review

This is the sophomore effort from Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom emcee Truemendous. Introducing herself in 2015 off her debut EP Whoremonal Moodswings, she continued to build momentum with the trilogy P.S. This Is Your Mother Calling began & bridged by P.S. This is Your Father Calling. The final chapter P.S. This is Your Aunty Calling eventually caught the attention of High Focus Records, who dropped her 5th EP Huh? right when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Coming off her debut album The Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson, the First Lady of High Focus looks to set the record straight of being Great. On Purpose.

“Womp (Uhuh)” begins in the form of this synth-funk/boom bap crossover talking about how working smarter does always go hand-in-hand with working harder whereas the 2nd single “Really Wanna Love” produced by Ghosttown takes up 105 seconds melodically yearning to have someone she can shower with affection. The 4th single “Yourself of the World?” featuring Skinnyman goes back to a boom bap vibe thanks to Illinformed talking about doing this music shit to instill their loved ones until the 5th & final single “In the World of of the World?” ponders if this was really her passion over a Telemachus beat.

Vaddy joins True on the dancehall-flavored “Curve” talking about doing better than ain’t being shit & her phone continuing to ring when it comes down to the money just before “Stooshe Then, Stooshe Now” picks things up with a hypnotizing celebration of womanhood. “Chatty Patty” ends the 1st half sampling an organ courtesy of Pitch 92 throwing some kicks & snares in the fold additionally calling out the people who go running their mouths regarding her while the lead single “Talkk” featuring MysDiggi gets the 3rd quarter started clarifying that neither one of them are looking to make small talk.

“Neither” combines electronic music & trap for a decent song pushing the 2nd leg of Great. On Purpose forward using it’s title to answer multiple questions like whether was born gifted or cursed & rather than getting hurt or learning a life lesson while “Flip a Coin” gives off a smoother approach talking about her having the ability to improve or worsen the lives of others. “Dark Shades” instrumentally radiates a summery atmosphere speaking of crying underneath the kind of glasses she’s rockin’ to avoid being seen in tears while “Beyoncé / Tortoise & The Hare” featuring Princessdkrazy comes together for a 7 minute 2-parter.

The song “Old Ting, New Ting” psychedelically addresses a toxic individual in her life who’s well aware of the poisonous energy he has to offer thanking him for all the moment he’s been able to share with her while the 3rd single “Still Don’t Wanna” maintains a respectable pace conveying themes of love, life & lust whilst returning to a bit of a nostalgically vintage boom bap sound. “I Feel Good (So Good)” concludes by sonically taking some cues from the realms of Latin music talking about how she’s doing better after taking some time to get herself together.

Huh? almost 3 years earlier remains the greatest musical statement in Truemendous’ career & although I enjoyed The Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson more than others did since there was some divisive feedback surrounding that previous full-length, Great. On Purpose could be the weakest project she’s done since the Hove, East Sussex imprint brought her on board. I can appreciate her taking a more ambitious approach compared to its predecessors, but the production during the 2nd act of it mostly doesn’t hit the same way Telemachus’ or Pitch 92’s did right when initially pressing play.

Score: 3/5

Truemendous – “The Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson” review

Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom emcee Truemendous making her full-length studio debut. Introducing herself in 2015 off her debut EP Whoremonal Moodswings, she continued to build momentum with the trilogy P.S. This Is Your Mother Calling began & bridged by P.S. This is Your Father Calling. The final chapter P.S. This is Your Aunty Calling eventually caught the attention of High Focus Records, who dropped her 5th EP Huh? right when the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, she’s ready to take the next step in her evolution & is ready to start the 2nd quarter of the year dissecting The Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson a couple months succeeding Jamie Hayter becoming a 2-time RPW British Women’s Champion.

“Cause a Scene” comes out the gate with an aggressive boom bap intro talking about her being on the verge of drumming up a disturbance within the UK hip hop scene whereas “Probably Right (Too)” pens a cavernous open letter that Telemachus cooked up to her lover suggesting his parents are right in regards of her being too good for him. “Y” featuring Kofi Stone goes for a jazzy boom bap vibe thanks to Illinformed tackling themes of heartbreak while “Worst Child” asks if one loves themselves over a rich yet dusty beat.

As for “Selfish Behavior”, we have Truemendous spending 9 minutes fusing boom bap as well as neo-soul & a hint of trap telling her partner that she’s coming with whenever he decides to leave her just before “You Don’t Wanna” gives off a cloudier trap vibe instrumentally courtesy of Wundrop so she can give some shine to the unique flow that got her a label deal 13 months earlier for 100 seconds. “You Don’t Like Me Because” takes the jazzy boom bap route with the help of Dirty Dike for a message directed at all the people who doubted her while “Free Food” moodily talks about only being somewhere she didn’t want to be because of the complimentary nourishments.

“Crying of Laughter” begins the 2nd half with an atmospheric trap beat explaining that she’s only shedding tears of amusement because she wants to cry over the very person she has in mind while she was writing this while “Spirit & Breanna” celebrates the impression of her having no competition whatsoever. “Mood Ring” incorporates some synthesizers to talk doing people wrong or right depending on how she’s feeling while the J Dilla-inspired “Browkeee” celebrates entrepreneurship.

The sequel to “Tick the Box” jumps over a quirky beat so she can keep moving intrusively while “Emmett Till” featuring Masta Ace returns to the boom bap to talk about the system being rigged in their favor. “Viral” featuring Obi Rundo gets back on the eerie trap tip dismantling the crowd who downplays their work ethics but once “Petty You, Petty Me” cohesively talks about the concept of pettiness itself, it only makes sense for “Yvonne’s Daughter” to finish the LP with an endearing tribute to her mother.

Inspired by Lauryn Hill’s only solo effort The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Truemendous’ own debut album under High Focus Records offers the underground at large a complete representation of who she is by capturing every dimension of her musically. The songwriting’s a lot more fiercely heavier than both of her earlier projects were with the production honing in on the eclectic crossovers between boom bap, neo-soul, jazz rap & trap that were heard over a year ago.

Score: 3.5/5

Truemendous – “Huh?” review

Here we have the 5th EP from Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom emcee Truemendous. Introducing herself in 2015 off her debut EP Whoremonal Moodswings, she continued to build momentum with the trilogy P.S. This Is Your Mother Calling began & bridged by P.S. This is Your Father Calling. The final chapter P.S. This is Your Aunty Calling eventually caught the attention of High Focus Records, who signed Truemendous & looks to introduce herself as part of the roster in the form of Huh? a month after Gisele Shaw became the new RPW British Women’s Champion.

“That Don’t Mean” starts us off showcasing unique flows over a Pitch 92 beat speaking of being self-aware of an imminent breakup & that taking breaks is ok whereas “Meerkatz” takes the cloudy trap route instrumentally asking how one’s broke when they’re always at work. “O.T.Y.L. (Only Time You Love), Pt. 2” produced by Illinformed is a boom bap sequel to a 2016 loosie that greatly improves everything regarding the original version prior to “Sweetheart” talking about giving a fuck less regarding anyone else’s superstitions.

Continuing the final leg of Huh?, the song “Sumtymes” goes for a west coast vibe to the beat speaking of everything being too much yet she manages to cope with it prior to Telemachus getting behind the boards 1 last time during the woodwind-heavy “Out My Face” telling a group of people she dislikes to back away from her quickly as they can. “Hmmm” closes up shop with some synthesizers questioning those acting out of pocket behaviorally & not saying shit as often as she once did.

Preluding her forthcoming debut album The Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson, the High Focus Records debut of Truemendous confidently marks the finest example of the very same storytelling expertise or varied range & unrivalled flow that helped give her the honor of being the label’s First Lady in the midst of the whole entire world shutting stopping as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Production’s a big upgrade compared to her earlier stuff & she really saved her strongest performances for this special occasion.

Score: 4/5