Album Review
R3X Wonder, Sun Child:
Overall 7.8/10
HomeComing: 7/10
The Young Lord R3X Wonder, starts off this project with a smoothly made beat that leaves plenty of space for that base to hit strong. It has a type of Mac miller feel, (which is a good thing because I really f** with Mac as of late). The beat is primarily an instrumental combination of what sounds like a xylophone mixed with some deep groovy ba**. As for the concept, R3X gives us an intro to his first time coming back to his hometown, "Cali" for the rebirth of his Ego. He has finally reached a stage of enlightenment, breaking through the phases of what our social norm has taught us. This is dope because I can tell already that he is going to show us through this project what it's like to go back into the social norm after one see's the light. Anyone who really knows me knows that I reallyyy f** with this an*logy because it's just like Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
(Let's break the chains 'muh f**s!!)
Rhyme scheme is also dope yo, us prophets are definitely on the rise b**h!!!
His outro to this then transitions us into him touching down and listening to the radio which I would imagine is going to relate to this next cut, "All Talk" which he has a video made for. Let's check it out!
All Talk: 9/10
Let's see.. This track sounds like our dude R3X is really bout to talk his sh**, with an intro pretty much saying, "f** all y'all cliche a** rappers and hoes", go back to the cave b**hes!!! Let it go famo!
Once again.. Fuego beat, (I hella f** with Rex's production.) Yuppp! Here we go with our dude puttin these b**hes and pussies in their place, which tends to be the same place... Hmmm ironic. "b**h a** pussies" taha! FLEX.
Whew! That line, "focused on green like I'm jaded" dope sh** son. Also I hella love the Egyptian type of feel to this beat, it gives us that enlightened type of vibe.
And yup... Let's just say he flexed on 'em and talked his sh**, STRONGLY. Excellent track yo, this really shows R3X's potential/style, also displaying where he wants to take this project. (Bring that light to the dark young lord)
ZON3: 6/10
After that, "All Talk" bangerrrr the young lord R3X is transitioning into a more slowed down cut, which is a flashback to him in the whip with some homies on his way to a party. During this whole song he is in the car and talks on people that use to hate on him and how everyone is switchin up 'n frontin ever since he started choppin up some dope sh** music wise & going through his spiritual evolution of enlightenment. (No surprise there)
Pretty much just some more "Talk that sh**" yadididaaaa.
Now & Later: 7/10
First things first on this track we can tell he is about to switch up his style here, and he doesn't really give a f** what you feel about it. This is dope and poetic as well because at this point in the project he arrives at the party and starts to become co*ky and arrogant, (most likely due to his new heightened level of consciousness all of his old folks he grew up with are about to see) so... Either hate it or love it Yo. This is R3X. Definitely has that ASAP influence to it, but this personally ain't my favorite track. The beat is fire once again, but I just really ain't feelin the whole vibe on the voice effects with this one although there is some highlights to the track right before it switches up at about 2:30 when he speeds it up showin that I'll flow. This may just be one of those tracks that has to grow on you after a few listens. (Keep in mind this is my first listen and I'm kinda just writing my thoughts down as I listen).
Oh sh** oh sh**.. This new beat comin in tho! Yes yes yes It may have just been saved yo. I like this.. He is realizing that enlightenment once again and humbling himself with lines like, "I lost myself, too many distractions, I started drinking, smoking, f**in hoes with little attraction, I started to notice the changes comin.. In similar fashion" ( I relate to that sh** hella yo, dope sh** brother!) This part of the track definitely just changed my mind about that whole track. Well done Famo, catchin me off gaurd there! Bars UP.
Young Sun Child: 8/10
Now now... This track right here yo.. Great transition once again from that fire outro on " Now & Later".. I really f** with this hook, whew boiiiii!!!, "I be that young sun childddddddd" sh** goes young Lord!!!
Okay okay that's really all I have to say about that track because I was just nodding my f**in head the whole goddamn time. (Bows in Respect)
Fractals: 6/10
We can see now that R3X has totally transitioned into being him complete self now.. He talked his sh** and got all that off his chest, so now he is just primarily showing and glowing who he truly is and has become through this path of enlightenment. Once again with that prophet talk and knowledge spit. This honestly sounds like it could be more of a radio hit with the catchy flow I feel like it could really snag onto some of these peasants minds. (Evil laugh)
On the real tho, the first part of this could be a dope party track to have some b**hes dancin to.. Not really to much of a fan of the switch up on the second part,.. Just go with what you already founded!! I feel like the song was interrupted. Okay here comes the hook again, that was kinda confusing fam.
4 Fingerz: 7/10
Ight ight, this track is featuring another one of the LVRK members so, also with that being said this happens to be the only the track on the album with a feature, so I've got some high expectations before I hit play.
Here we go!...
Loving this beat, it's got that spook to it which I'm a hella fan of, it's kinda like some old Egyptian haunted type sh**, I dig it.
Pretty solid track so far, the base hits real nicely, especially for the hook. I'm still trying to figure out what " 4 Fingerz" actually means tho.. Ight here comes Nino this is my first time hearin him..
Love the style he approaches with on this, which fits on point with the beat very well. Bars wise, I was expecting a bit more, especially with it being R3X's only feature on the whole project. But, with that being said I can sort of understand why Nino wouldn't step it up huge due to the fact that R3X is primarily making this projects aim on his own ego and the evolution of his awakening.
Astral Plane: 7/10
Ight yo, with a track name like "Astral Plane" I'm expecting this to really emulates R3X's experience of when he first left the ego and his view point from the outside.
Second verse is the highlight of this cut for me. R3X shines some light on some social issues and social norms we become accustomed too, which he follows perfectly on with the hook about being in the "O-Zone" where he can get that outside perspective. (Detaching from Earth & the norms)
Water: 7/10
Ight Ight... I know that this joint is called ,"Water" but yo.. This sh** is FIRE!! Transition is made tight in the intro with the clip about water and then this beat which is nutsssss drops in hard, like a f**in tsunami. Although, I do find it weird that we're talking about "Lucy" after the "Astral Plane" trip? I feel like this would have been a great track before "Astral Plane", rather than after.
Concept wise, I'm trying to figure out what "Water" has to do with this track.. My a**umption is that some b**h need ls some hydration? Or even Rex might be drowning in his own ego? It's hard to interpret, so with that being said I was going to give this track an 8/10, but now I gotta give it a 7/10 for the concept being unclear.
Ready RRR Not Freestyle: 8/10
Ready or not is a pretty solid track R3X actually leaked before the album dropped. This joint right here pretty much just goes out to emulate and show the type of bars R3X can drop, which are full of knowledge and prophet talk. I really f** with that, and he does an excellent job doing so. Definitely a head knocker right here and dope production as well. Ready or not, that knowledge is comin b**hes!!!
Lucid: 6/10
Another hard beat produced once again by R3X. 2 parts to this song, with the second part comin in a lot more aggressive. A pretty good switch up. It keeps the track in tact with that dopeness of spitting some unity for this knowledge. Something about this track though seemed to be missing to really catch my full satisfaction.
Lost Soul: 7/10
Yoooo, I really really like the introduction to this track. R3X comes in with A Capella poem and creates a very vivid and actual beautiful painted picture with some calm words. Very very dope. Although, I would have loved for it to of been longer.
From what I'm gathering so far, "Lost Soul" is about the greedy part of the ego and it taking over creating a sense of losing and rediscovering. We gotta lose some to gain some right? Lose ourselves to find ourselves.. I f**s with it.
Where W3 At Now: 9/10
So here we are now finally, exactly where R3X is in his spiritual awakening. He is not fully awakened, but is on the journey. (Like most of us who have tapped into the source)
Really dope energy on this track, we can tell that R3X is evolving and really feelin himself on this sh** now. Glowing his abilities on the track. He also talks about not being blinded by the bullsh** that's going to be getting in the ways of his goals, such as a b**h and what not.. At the same time he realizes the more simple and beautiful things though, like the smile of a woman. (Who doesn't love that?) All around great track and great production! This is one of the 3 tracks that Rex doesn't produce and the production comes from his squad partner, Lirker.. Very well done young lords. (Salute)
King David III: 9/10
I've actually been really stoked for this track the whole time since I saw the name. (Given I'm a huge fan of medieval type sh** and the whole King royalty aspects which come with enlightenment)
Here we go!
Okay okay, sounds like the young lord R3X is talkin from the throne! With Enlightenment comes gold and a whole new level of evolution amongst our fellow other social surroundings, so yes indeed he has earned this throne spot. This is his perception after the Awakening. Pretty much all the sh** he is going to achieve and has achieved ever since we awoke from the dream mind state behind the American agenda.
(Once you awake you figure out there is NO fu*kIN LIMITS to this life yo, f** what they say and you've been told.) Rex realized that we are ALL KINGS once we tap into the spirit.
All around real dope f**in track, one of my favorites on this project, no doubt!
Back To The Womb: 10/10
And there we are my friends, we have reached the last piece of this excellent art that our friend R3X has constructed for our ears to be blessed with. And what better f**in way than to end it with one of the illest instrumentals I've heard in a minute!? Like wow! This sh** seriously I could have on repeat while studying and totally be in a spiritual trance. It's a loop of some super wonderful piano that has a slight echo to it giving it that timeless feel which is complimented by some guitar/strings throughout it creating brilliance within each not. It's something a young lord can meditate too no doubt.. Well done times a million Cargo FL.
Sun Child Summary/Personal Relation:
No doubt about it, I give my respect to Rex for doing a beyond excellent job on Sun Child. It has its minor flaws, but almost every project does, and most of these flaws can tend to be preferential changes. Most importantly, the brilliance and strong production overlooks most of this. In summary of the whole project, R3X begins with the song Homecoming, which is him arriving back home in his new enlightened stage of spiritual awareness. He then begins to lose his retract and become co*ky of his new found knowledge, (but don't we all once we see the light for the first time!? Its truly a beautiful phase). This is prevalent in songs such as Now & Later, where he arrives to a party with people he grew up. He also later in this song begins to Humble himself in the second part, realizing he is just becoming the co*ky person he was once again (don't forget that light can be just as blinding as the darkness). I personally really related to this stage of the project. I began going through my phase of enlightenment about 2-3 years ago when I first began humbling myself and admitting my flaws, looking to become stronger where i use to feel so empty. I began learning meditation, enjoying the beauties and blessing around me in life and truly accepting what I had once taken for granted. Its crazy to think though, that once you gain so much insight inside yourself, you can once again become just as blind and arrogant as before, which is what also happened to me as well. For 4 years I've struggled with an addiction to opiates, and here I am.. As I write this summary with, "Back to The Womb" on straight repeat in a rehabilitation facility going through a Detox for my addictions. I realized that everything I had worked so hard for ended up becoming my own arrogance. I became addicted to a darkness i never would have prophesied in my lifetime. Sometimes its all about letting go of what you know and re-learning once again. Anyways.. f**, this summary isn't really about me its about the Young Lord R3X! Who I'd love to thank for inspiring me while I've been here to help/aid me to re-awake once again. After songs like "Lost Soul" with the poem and excellent composition of words, we can see the progress that R3X makes throughout Sun Child. We can actually experience his growth & what he has learned by becoming a child a of the light, which we can all learn from... The awakening of the mind. Thank you once again, Young Lord.. Listening to this was truly a great experience for me! Much Love and Much Respect. Walk with the light....
Young "SUN CHILD"
OVERALL:
7.8/10
(Condolences and Respect to the whole LVRK SQUAD for this dope project)
Blessings,
Lord Sophyst