It’s been a minute since I last reviewed Kendall Spencer and his intense two-part series of albums talking about his work tragedy and how it affected his life. Definitely the toughest listen I’ve had in hip-hop so far.
But with a new album in the works, this new single is out, and it seems this time around he’s in a better headspace, more confident, and more ready to kill it.
This beat has a nice, larger-than-life feel to it with theatrical horns playing in the background across this traditional/boom-bap beat.
Across this instrumental, Kendrick talks about his conflicts but also his perseverance and toughness to overcome everything he needs to for his family’s sake.
I love how his lyrical topics go from criticism of others’ work to his revelation of hardships from rent increase to stress to being strong for his family. I love this because it’s authentic; these are less lyrics and more thoughts he’s suffering at the time and letting them spill onto the page.
This is why Kendall is one of the standout artists; he’s truthful in every bar he spits with his brutal honesty and his revealing stories and experiences he’s exposing himself for everyone to see, and there’s a strength in that level of display that I can’t help but respect it!
This is one hell of a single, and it’s only got me more hyped for the album!
https://strongarmkendall.bandcamp.com/album/forged-by-the-fire-35-pack
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 