The Slum Village lineage as well as 2011’s Elmatic, an Illmatic tribute, established Elzhi as a force behind the mic, and it all seemed well when he successfully raised $37,000 in 2013 through Kickstarter to fund his next project. Three years went by, no album, and his backers started getting antsy, some even threatening him w/ a class action lawsuit. The Detroit wordsmith cited depression—caused by past-due bills, alcoholism, legal issues, unresolved childhood troubles—as the reason for the delay, and he finally breaks through the dark shroud to deliver an introspective, cerebral sophomore effort. The beats reflect the vulnerable, somber-but-hopeful tone of the lyrics, with producers like 14KT laying down head-nodders. Check out “The Healing Process,” “Medicine Man,” Two 16’s,” “Egocentric,” and “February.”

• music label: Glow365 2016

reviewed by donut savage 07/2016