Guns (studio album) by Quelle Chris

At the end of his new album, Quelle Chris wonders how he will be remembered: "Twenty disks on the counter / Always presented as a new artist every other time" ("Wyrm"). The rapper from Detroit, but now based in Brooklyn, is not basically wrong. Despite a series of frankly successful albums (the excellent "Being You Is Great ..." in 2017, "Everything's Fine" with his fiancée Jean Grae last year), the name Quelle What is still largely unknown, in outside the initiates. Neither really "classic" nor trendy, his approach of the medium rap yet makes sparks again on "Guns". As its title suggests, this new album focuses more specifically on the issue of weapons in the United States. On the damage it causes - "Sunday Mass", for example, listing a series of recent mass killings ("Devin Kelley blasted off in the Baptist church / Motivation unknown, but his shot was straight "). Or about the repercussions they may have on the African-American community, whether it is the target ("Color of the Day"), or whether the violence is against them ("Who's next?" sister, you? / Hey kids, get rid of your guns before it's too late "on "Box of Wheaties"). Without ever falling into the preaching, but sliding on the contrary an ironic humor ("Straight Shot"), on productions as eclectic as exciting, reminiscent of both Wu-Tang and Native Tongues. A frank success, one more. Sincerely, the lyrics and jazz productions of this album are surely some of Chris' best, yes, I think "Guns" is the best album of Quelle Chris.

9/10

Best track: "Straight Shot (feat. Cavalier, Bilal Salaam, Eldar Djangirov & James Acaster)"

From LebowskiRams 04/13/2019 00:07

Pretty good album, but the cover is like an intro to photoshop midterm project