This is the 5th full length LP from Detroit emcee/producer Astray. Making a name for himself at the turn of the current millennium with a self-titled debut, he's followed it up with Hungry as Who is coming with me? & my personal favorite Daydreaming in a green light. From there, local veteran Eminem signed him to Shady Records' Interscope Records to a publishing deal until his official departure earlier in the year. Whitney Peyton started her own indie label Alpha Howse after leaving Suburban Noize Records a while ago and after making him one of the first 2 signings, Astray is as happy as anyone. He made it alive.
“Avalanche” is a boom bap opener that advises you to put your eyes where they can see to put on a show for you, while the title track has a more somber tone that works in more beats and snares expressing its gratitude which is still here today. “1 Eye Open” gives off a depressing boom-bap vibe organically talking about one eye being closed and the other open before “Kimbo Slice” likens himself to the late MMA figure and King of the Web Brawlers himself.
Meanwhile on “Pack of Wolves” we have the entire Alpha Howse roster coming together for a raw posse cut showing what they can do just before “Cut Throat” returns to boom bap to talk about being here with a vengeance. “Breaking the Law” with Willy Northpole and the Bag of Tricks Cat cloudy trap experiments looking to commit some crimes leading up to “Art of War” hooks the kicks and traps bringing it hardcore. “Lift the Sorrow” featuring Blumoon ends the album speaking from the heart about gun violence.
Being someone who has been following Astray since the Shady publishing deal, it makes me happy to see Whitney expanding her new indie label and He made it alive certainly makes the case that the Alpha Howse label is going from strength to strength beyond looking forward to Willy Northpole's upcoming Alpha Howse debut Broadway Theatre next month. The production is mostly boom bap, and the Detroit emcee expresses his gratitude that he's still here today.
Rating: 8/10
