This is the full-length studio debut album from Niagara Falls, New York emcee Brother Nature. Releasing his debut single “Electric Apples (Driftin’) in 2022, the east coast lyricist identified for having an old style model of hip hop with trendy twist would quickly comply with that up with a debut EP of his personal Up from the Mire & later No Fear produced by 99stealth. However, each of these EPs had been merely the calm earlier than the storm that’s Solar Maximum produced by KimonoFox.
After the “Kimonos(W)rapz” intro, the primary track “Rebirth” begins by hooking up some synthesizers & hi-hats speaking about pulling as much as the perform to kick it whereas “I’m Through” jazzily dismisses any & all nonsense. “Brand New Day” provides off a sunny increase bap flare welcoming their opponents to the battleground simply earlier than “Great Lakes” that includes RBX finds the trio flooding the intakes of dope music.
“Willow Tree” psychedelically talks about being unable to go to sleep at night time due to the state of the world whereas “A Better Life” that includes A.R.I. meshes some g-funk synthesizers & hi-hats collectively to hunt for improved methods of residing. “Be Like That” cumbersomely displays on a breakup that he by no means noticed coming whereas “Wavy Path” that includes G Premacy talks about preferring to meditate than fly away with anybody reliable.
As for “Higher Self”, now we have Brother Nature over a extra lo-fi beat to debate killing off the ego as a wag of changing into an elevated model of oneself whereas the 3-minute “Dance Song” provides everyone one thing to vibe out to. After a fast skit, “Sunshine” that includes Rory Redmon & Sccit finds the trio suggesting to come back chill with them over a Mobb instrumental whereas “Who We Be” that includes Sccit closes the LP ensuring y’all don’t overlook them.
Not one to draw back from admitting I wasn’t actually too acquainted with Brother Nature’s musical output till earlier this summer time, however Solar Maximum is the best instance of the New York artist’s mission to bridge hip hop tradition’s previous with it’s current. KimonoFox’ manufacturing right here is considerably extra psychedelic than a few of Brother Nature’s early EPs & the latter serves up what I think about to be amongst probably the most passionate verses of his whole profession.
Score: 8/10