Album of the Month: July 2020

Albums released in July were intriguing,  with posthumous albums from rappers Pop Smoke and Juice Wrld, a surprise album from Taylor Swift, and a farewell album from rapper Logic. While each of these albums had admirable qualities and songs, July saw the release of one of this year’s best rap records. The long-awaited reunion of legendary underground rapper Blu, and equally acclaimed producer Exile, has resulted in a massive and meticulously crafted project. Miles shows the true skill that these hip-hop veterans possess. 

This 95-minute and 20-track behemoth of an album feels both grand and meticulous. Exile’s jazzy and soulful production is endlessly impressive as he bounces samples off of each other with ease. Songs like “When the Gods Meet” are prime examples of this, as the samples bounce and wave across the crunchy beat. Equally as impressive, Blu’s voice is able to perfectly flow like butter through this complex and off-kilter beat. This song and many others display the natural chemistry that these two artists have together. This skill and chemistry makes this monstrous album feel breezy and worthy of multiple listens. 

While many songs on Miles tackle big issues such as racism, poverty, and cultural identity, Blu balances these issues with personal insight and struggle. Whether dreaming for world peace on “Dear Lord” or complaining about bills on “The Feeling”, Blu makes large issues highly personal and relatable for all.   

The Verdict: For its down to earth yet meaningful lyrics, killer soul and jazz production, and the two artists’ natural chemistry, Miles is July 2020’s Album of the Month.