This is the 3rd full length LP from Glastonbury, Somerset, UK emcee BVA. Coming in as a member of The Four Owls, he's also given us a few albums and EPs of his own over the course of this past decade with 2021's sophomore effort Lex Neville & his first EP BVA MC stands out as much as possible from his few solo efforts. However, after learning that Leaf Dog was in full production The Dam Builder after the fall When the sleeping giants wake up A month ago, I went into this expecting to surpass everything BVA had done before.
After the intro, first song “Charge It to the Game” officially kicks off the album with a soulful boom bap instrumental that speaks to being heartless in the face but also the calmest in his lane, while “New Days” featuring Verb T goes the jazzier route explaining that it's never the same. “Out Here” featuring Benny the Butcher & Leaf Dog returns to boom bap so they can talk about growing up outside, leading Leaf to stick to the mic for “8 Bit Tales” telling dusty weird stories like Too $hort.
“Desire” brings a whimsical boom bap vibe to the beats talking about a fire even when it's cold before Leaf Dog return to the booth once again for the instrumental “Take It Easy” simulating the instrumental beat like wake & bake. “Nice n Crispy” work in more kicks, snares and orchestra elements to say something like this is what makes them say these days are some of the best just before “1 in the Ashtray” talks about getting stoned during day more or less. as soon as he wakes up.
Meanwhile, on “Flying Daggers,” we have BVA producing more classic boom bap flavor that refuses to let anyone burst their bubble, while the official “Dreamer” talks about how it doesn't cost a damn to be cool and the people keep their heads up. the clouds than in their vices. “Lost” has a funky boom-bam sheen that organically explains that each of us is lost looking for a way out, while “Over the Edge” takes a second test to check what it knows in its head for more kicks and snares.
“Couple Clues” lavishly observes the humor in these kids who say they were special and reality cuts them like sharp metal as they grow up, while the organized “Curse of the Liquor” insightfully breaks down the downsides of alcoholism. “Still Rowing” speaks soulfully about the respect you're owed, while “Mightier Than the Sword” mixed a sample of mockery with kicks and snares likening itself to a beast in its lair that calls the feeling home sweet home.
Ramson Badbonez joins BVA on “Hiding in Plain Sight,” continuing to sample soul music, warning against trusting the government, lawmakers, or pharmaceuticals, while Leaf Dog's “The Medecine” brings back the strings that they throw kicks and traps at them explaining that it was never about anything else. And before the outro, the final song “Always Something” featuring Leaf Dog concludes the LP blasting the bad stuff like nothing over the instrumentals.
His last two albums have been a bit overloaded with guests, but BVA is really kicking it up a notch The Dam Builder thus meeting my expectations BVA (Be Very Aware) & Lex Neville in becoming my new favorite solo effort in his discography. Leaf Dog's production combines the raw drum patterns of the traditional boom bam sound with samples along with strings and instruments, so BVA delivers some of his most focused performances.
Rating: 8/10
