This is the 4th studio LP & Death Row Records debut from Inglewood, California emcee/producer D Smoke. The older brother of R&B singer/Top Dawg Entertainment signee SiR, he made his full-length debut in virtually 2 a long time in the past with Producer of the Year & re-emerged in 2019 off his debut EP Inglewood High & the Grammy nominated sophomore effort Black Habits. His final album Wars & Wonders broke down what it was like for him rising up within the City of Champions & has returned virtually 4 years later for Wake Up Supa.
The title monitor with co-production from Terrace Martin drumlessly talks about folks not listening to correction & shining in the case of connection whereas “Na Na Na” that includes LaRussell finds the pair feeling like nobody can inform them shit over an instrumental from each Larrance Dopson of 1500 or Nothin’ & Turbo. “No Passes” works in a heavy pattern courtesy of Mike & Keys to drop some gasoline on these bitch asses main into “Chin Up” speaking about not letting anybody smaller than him outbox him.
“Fire” strikes ahead with a self-produced reflection on selecting a path totally different from the bloods & crips simply earlier than “Biscuits” that includes Nana & WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg asking God for Him to bless their visions & carry them from madness. “Count Cha Blessings” that includes Jane Handcock takes a smoother strategy instrumentally speaking about specializing in the Ws greater than the Ls whereas “Energized” refuses to let anybody steal his vitality & dismiss them within the coldest trend.
Lucky Daye joins Smoke on the soulful “Frequency” speaking about needing love, assist & encouragement together with asking why they hold getting declined while in search of a silver lining whereas “Jackie’s Triumph” strips the drums once more so he can faucet into his storytelling skills lyrically. “Stomp” that includes Miles Minnick continues the sampling to speak about stepping on Satan whereas “Proud of You” produced by DJ Battlecat tells the person it was written in direction of that he’s been watching them & that he’s happy of them.
“Good Morning” nears the conclusion of the LP by stating that he doesn’t suppose something will get the eye of these sleeping on him if Wake Up Supa doesn’t & the ultimate tune “So Good” ends the Rhythm + Flow season 1 winner’s inaugural launch by means of Tha Row with a cool drumless outro speaking about wanting round & refraining each time he looks like complaining as a result of he’s okay so long as he’s nonetheless alive.
If you most well-liked Black Habits over Wars & Wonders by a slight margin like the vast majority of folks, you’re most likely gonna like D Smoke’s extremely anticipated debut underneath Death Row Records as a lot if no more coming precisely 2 years since he grew to become the 4th artist to signal with essentially the most controversial report label in historical past’s present incarnation. Primarily as a result of I really feel just like the acutely aware hip hop & R&B fusions that made him get away a month previous to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic are being purified as he opens a window to his self-aware perspective.
Score: 8/10