A memorable album that melds dynamic beats with gripping lyrical explorations of confronting life’s challenges, Gametime is a hip-hop success from Brandon Mitchell. Whether it’s the orchestral brass and swaggering energy of the title track or the hazy, jazz-tinged nostalgia of “Sugar,” the album’s production envelops in its tonal variety — complementing a thematic emphasis on personal character parallels between life and sports.
The opening title track captivates with melodically infectious and thematically resonating qualities — capturing an album that features perspective from one whose character is drawn from wins and losses within life. “It’s gametime,” a confident, debonair vocal declaration lets out amidst a brass-forward invigoration. “I have aspirations, don’t need validations,” the flow continues with precision, as sporadic backing vocal elements bolster the melodic prowess. The track title is apt, with the beat invoking a pre-game ceremony in its orchestral swell and the lyricism exuding a willingness to take on life’s challenges and come out on top, setting up oneself and one’s family for great success.
The ensuing “Dirty Dishes” maneuvers with a more emotive introspection, both in its retrospective lyrical drive and starry-eyed beat. Glistening piano and spacey strings move into a flourishing burst, where the string arrangements expand seamlessly. “Sugar” continues the atmospheric delight, imparting a hazy mellowness with jazzy keys pairing into a lovely “sugar on my mind” replay-inducing repetition; the aesthetic touts a spacey nostalgia that conjures shades of Digable Planets. Elsewhere, the smoothly intoxicating “Highest Wave 2” is fondly reminiscent of Frank Ocean in its late-night movements. The lyrics exude a laid-back charm — “I ain’t trippin’, I ain’t stressin'” — that embraces inner-serenity and confidence over anger and impulses; it plays as a meditative point of solace amidst other tracks’ depictions of confronting the daily grind and competition.
Another highlight, “No Gloves” weaves moody piano and an “in the ring with no gloves” rumination on personal perseverance in the face of tumult. The ghostly underlying vocal elements emit a haunting chilliness as the twinkling piano work construct a riveting rainy-day soundscape within lyrical visions of fighting through negative energy and other obstacles. The album spans from moody movers like these to more soulful doses of yearning, like on “Untitled Love,” where heartrending strings and tender guitars complement “when I first met you” lyrical perspectives between a standout hook via Irv Da PHENOM. Another memorable vocal entry comes from Nia Cheri on “Walking Bucket,” where her soulful additions pair with a beat and main vocal drive reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar in its hypnotic piano-ready atmospherics. Gametime is a consistently enveloping hip-hop success from Brandon Mitchell.
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