STL GLD- ‘Torch Song’ (Review)
Hip-hop music has long been a channel for social commentary and a means of speaking up against injustice. With police brutality and political misconduct constantly in the headlines as serious areas of concern for American citizens, many rappers are using their platforms to make statements on problems that are impacting their communities.
Not every artist is equipped to speak on these issues in a creatively engaging fashion. But out of the wide range of talented musicians residing in Boston, STL GLD (compromised of emcee Moe Pope and producer The Arcitype) are perhaps the most apt to tackle such sensitive and substantial subject matter. The well-respected duo has received a number of accolades for their musical chemistry and contributing a professional level of quality to everything they touch. However, their latest album Torch Song is not inspired by past honors or accomplishments. With origins birthed from frustration, anger, and inner-conflict, Torch Song is a stirring collection and a necessary response to the problems being faced by minorities here at home and across the entire country.
Every artist who is making music firmly rooted in weighty topics are at risk of sounding ‘preachy’ or overly political. And while Torch Song is a 17-track body of work that is thematically profound, it is organically crafted as a multi-purpose project both meaningful in its content and gripping in its musicality. Moe Pope takes pride in shedding light on the issues at hand and every line is passionately delivered. Captivating intro “Beneath The Skin” starts off with a mesmerizing vocal performance from Hite and Pope proceeds to implement a sense of urgency that fuels the entire album (“I recognize that things are not ok, tomorrow cannot be like yesterday, gotta find a better way”).
As Torch Song moves forward, it doesn’t take long to realize that Pope is taking his outrage stemming from prejudice and conveying it through an artistic lens. STL GLD has a plethora of hard-hitting records in their catalog, but the tracks on this album are elevated thanks to this contextual clarity and relevance. Pope’s seasoned lyricism is a constant and reliable centerpiece, but it’s his varied flows and lively choruses that shine on songs such as “Around Here” (ft. Mecca Cashier) and “I Can’t Breathe” (ft. SPNDA and Hite), the latter of which being a direct reference to Eric Garner’s last words and one of the more moving, atmospherically layered selections on the project.
Another admirable aspect of Pope’s performance on Torch Song resides in his ability to package a mixture of emotional discontent into purposeful records. Songs such as “Good and “Tuff” are rally cries fitting for a soundtrack of rebellion, but Pope breaks down socioeconomic realities with enough precision to inspire action and the desire to absorb knowledge beyond what you’ll hear on CNN or Fox News. Pope’s reflections are consistently charged by the consequences resulting from discrimination and to his credit, he provides other Boston artists with the chance to offer their perspective as Latrell James makes a memorable appearance on “GLD II” while Avenue and Dutch ReBelle effectively share the spotlight on “The Cost”, which also features Monica Raymund.
For all the redeeming qualities of Pope’s performance on Torch Song, the production is equally important as it ensures his significant messages are properly heard. From the live instrumentation to the transitions and fine post-production work, The Arcitype’s attention to detail pays off per usual. One may question how drastically different sonic elements such as the Western standoff mood of “Hold On” (ft. April Stanford and Roy Hutcherson) and horror movie eeriness of “P.T.S.D.” (ft. J Ring) can live on the same album, but The Arcitype makes it work and the diversity proves to be important as a way of avoiding any repetitive downfalls.
Torch Song is filled with important moments that mark how a rapper and producer can come from different backgrounds and create music that depicts the unfortunate aspects of the times we are living in. No song better fulfills STL GLD’s mission statement than the title track outro “Torch Song”. Moe Pope taps into a special zone over the smooth instrumental and finds himself at an introspective pinnacle (“It ain’t all gravy, we ain’t all crazy, they ain’t all evil, honestly man I just love people, what would you do if you found out your life was not equal”), candidly speaking on his journey not just as an artist, but as a black man with great conviction in his beliefs and the strength to overcome racial perils/inner-turmoil in order to set a good example for his family.
It may seem like there is a lot to take in on the album as a whole, but the final 6 minutes of “Torch Song” vividly sums up the big picture and concluding takeaways. There may not be one answer that will solve all of America’s problems, but as long as we put morality first and come together collectively to make the world a better place by standing up for people’s rights, it is a step in the right direction. With Torch Song, STL GLD have done exactly that and by capturing their shared energy and utilizing it as a powerful foundation of creative expression, it results in their most poignant work to date.
