Bawo is a rising rapper and singer from London, England whose music is trademarked by his calming vocals on mellow beats as well as catchy choruses. The majority of his music can be great for anxiety or general relaxation, and his lyrics offer food for thought. On Oct. 25, Bawo released “It Means Hope Where I’m From.” The album features 10 tracks and runs under 30 minutes. It also expands upon 2023’s “Legitimate Cause,” all while demonstrating the breadth of Bawo’s vocal prowess.
The opening track, “Gladstone Broke Ltd,” sounds oddly nostalgic with heavenly synths and piano in the background. The bass subtly kicking in is the cherry on top, and the “Dragon Ball Z” flight sound effect is the cherry on top of that other cherry. Bawo’s rapping is consistently great, but his vocals shine more in other songs.
In “Man of the Yeah,” Bawo opens up about the anxiety and fear he sometimes feels, looking to God for comfort. He demonstrates empathy and integrity while others judge him, staring at him and making him wonder “if there’s shit in [his] hair.” The introspective lyrics are accompanied by a violin sample that happens to be a bit of an earworm.
“Magnifique” is a very catchy yet mellow sample drill song that’s fun to listen to. “My therapist said I was gifted” is a great way to normalize talk about mental health and how universal it is. Jordy’s feature verse was also of a great quality. The lyric “I can’t even lie, I tried a nine to five and it felt like a man was shackled” stood out.
“Tricky Stepper” has a very nice-sounding electronic melody that bubbles underneath the beat and occasionally peeps out. At times, it feels like Bawo’s a better singer than a rapper not because his rapping is bad but because his singing is so appealing — such as in this song’s chorus. It’s so human-sounding and a bit flawed, but it’s still endearing and of high quality.
“Cost of Litty” has a great 808 and blasting bass. Bawo rapping “tomfoolery” with “jewelry” is funnier than it should be, but it’s nonetheless a great verse. Bawo sounds more emotional and hungry in his rapping here, which is jarring since he’s usually more monotone but sensitive when he raps.
“Kneecaps” is one of the most energetic Bawo songs to date. The heavy electronic kick drum and the trance-like instrumentation paired with Bawo’s more emotive style of rapping as demonstrated in the song prior. French-speaking rapper Kay The Prodigy delivered a great verse. This isn’t Bawo’s first time working with a French-speaking rapper, however, as Bawo released the single “It’s Okay” with Mac Amish back in 2022. It’s beautiful when rappers of various cultures collaborate and feature on each other’s works, transcending language barriers in the process. Music, and by proxy all art, can unite people and foster connection.
“Belly Like Homer” is a humorous ode to the influence “The Simpsons” has on pop culture. Gaining weight has historically been a symbol of high status and wealth, which is probably why Bawo wants to get that sort of body shape.
“When The End…” functions as an interlude featuring a guitar, programmed drums and vocals that sounds like Tyler, The Creator when he sings in a high-pitched voice like on 2019’s “IGOR.”
“Can’t Be Sad” is for the emos, featuring Bawo pouring his heart into singing about his emotions and love for somebody else over a guitar sample and trap percussion. From the description, it sounds corny, but it’s genuinely endearing and beautiful.
“Hope You’re Listening,” which was featured on “THE COLORS SHOW,” is the final song of the album. The lyric “I’m trying to be like Buddha, but I got ways until I get that belly” is simultaneously admirable and a bit humorous.
Being successful as an artist is difficult, but the internet makes it much easier to create and distribute your art. The internet helps perspectives that would otherwise be silenced or unheard be heard and even echoed. Bawo deserves a bigger audience with his beautiful approach to vocals, and I hope the internet can give him a platform to achieve that. His subdued voice deserves to be amplified.
Rating: 4/5