Every now and then, there will be a culmination of artists and styles that will result in a listening experience unlike any other. “From the Private Collection of Saba and No ID” is one of those albums. Created by Chicago-based rappers and producers, the album is a combination of the East Coast rap style with Lo-fi hip hop production. Similar to the likes of Nujabes’ “Metaphorical Music,” the album mixes high-quality production with complimentary lyrics. It is undoubtedly an album worth talking about.
The Body of the Album
The production of the album at times leans more on traditional instrumentals much like the aforementioned Nujabes album. The opener “Every Painting Has a Price” utilizes the piano as the track’s instrumental base. Some digital fills are used to make the song sound more complete, but the focus is still on the piano. “Crash” makes use of a slow percussion beat, and evolves into a classic R&B type beat. “Westside Bound Pt. 4” has layers to it, given the percussion, trumpets, and choir samples used. “Acts 1.5” as a track sounds like something you would find on a De La Soul project. “a FEW songs” closes the album with the return of a piano track, ending with a mellow beat.
“This album has a very chill vibe to it, “said Cyrus Lariz, a rap fan at ERHS. “It’s something that I can throw into my rotation for daily listening.”
The lyrical quality of the album is also worth discussing. Being a Lo-fi album, the lyrics of these kinds of albums typically are more thoughtful and resonant with audiences. The theme of this particular album seems to be Saba and No ID speaking on their growth and lives as artists. “Every Painting Has a Price” is based around the idea of being committed to your artistry despite the changes that go on throughout your life. “Woes of The World” is about struggling with emotions while being under the spotlight. “Big Picture” uses photography terms as a double entendre for life, violence, and success. It is in my opinion, one of the best written songs on the album.
Conclusion
“The album is one of the better rap releases so far this year,” said Lariz. “I’ll probably listen to this through the summer.”
“From the Private Collection” is a great Lo-fi hip hop album, as well as simply being a great album in general. Hip hop is often generalized to all fall under one style, one sound. Albums like this show the depths and the creativity that exist in just this one genre. “From the Private Collection” is a good listen for anyone looking to expand their taste in music and artists.
