Everything is Pusha T, and the second album from the verbally dexterous coke rap veteran is just as the title suggests: dark. But this is one half of the Clipse, and King Push has always been able to talk that shit in colorful ways. Metro Boomin, Timbaland, Kanye West, Q-tip, Boi-1da, Hudson Mohawke, and Baauer contribute forward, uncharacteristic (Push has a knack for picking and MURDERING beats that other rappers would stay away from) productions, and with Diddy executive producing the entire project, Darkest… is a hard, brooding hip-hop record that you can also get down to. Check out “Intro,” “M.F.T.R.,” “Crutches, Crosses, Caskets,” “M.P.A.,” and “Sunshine.” If this is the prelude, we can only imagine how good King Push, slated for release later this year, will be.

• printed picture insert
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Def Jam Recordings 2016

reviewed by the_lighted 04/2016