This is the 3rd full length studio LP from Buffalo Emcee/Producer Che Noir. Discovering her after 38 Spesh signed Che to TCF Music Group and fully produced her first 3 EPs, her debut full production by Apollo Brown As God willed and then the 4th EP of her own production After 12 during the 2nd half of 2020 where its potential began to blossom exponentially. He has since followed it up with the sophomore effort Food for thought as well as The last remnantsproduced by Big Ghost Ltd Noir or Never & more recently The Chocolate Color. Almost 9 months to the day, The Lotus Child finally arrived.
“Shadow Puppet” is a soulful, jazzy self-produced opener that talks about being unable to appreciate the sun until it's in the shadow, while “Black Girl” featuring Rapsody goes the boom bap route allowing them to elevate African-American women as a whole their. “Sister Act” maintains a dusty edge to the beat by being taught lessons by a student of the game just before “Guns & Roses” with 38 Spesh keeps the sampling in tact by rubbing clean money in the faces of challengers.
Kicking off the other half, 'Jody Landon' brings an angelic boom-bam aura to the beat that speaks of the light that guides us all, while 'Wis Love' shifts in a cloudier direction paying tribute to her husband. “Choices” has to be one of the most passionate moments on the entire EP, reflecting on his days sleeping in cars feeling hopeless, but then Statik Selektah mixes gospel & boom bap on closer “Angels” remembering brother and cousin of which they were both murdered.
It was smart for Che to wait until the time was optimal to deliver something that would focus on her growth and craft, which The Lotus Child it very much manages to be 3 years in the making. Easily the most I've enjoyed anything from her since then Noir or Never. Her lyrical prowess, storytelling skills and prowess as a producer are fully realized as she raises the stakes and drops some of the most meaningful tracks of her entire career along the way.
Rating: 9/10