Review: "Completion" Compilation Album by A.L. Laureate
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As the speaker illustrates on the intro to “Completion”, the latest album from Miami-based rapper A.L. Laureate, “many pursuits will be finished and some will not. Either can be okay, as long as I can continually and regularly ask myself…..am I doing this for me or for some other purpose?” This project is essentially a compilation of previously unreleased tracks recorded long before, during and after the recording of his third album “Intrepid Perspective”, scheduled for release later this year. Admittedly, I should’ve checked out his previous projects in preparation for “Completion”, but thankfully this album gave me just enough insight into Laureate’s style and sound, and entertained the hell out of me in the process!
A.L’s love and admiration for ‘traditional’, pre-trap hip hop shines throughout the album’s 15-song tracklist, from his calculated - and rather poetic – wordplay to choices of thumping, head-nodding production. He even collaborates with renowned hip hop legends like D.J. Premier whose boom-bap instrumental he has fun with on the humorous “Dirty Underwear”, Detroit’s own Mr. Porter who provides the beat for the dramatic album opener “F.I.G.H.T. (Find Integrity Given Hard Times)” and Wu-affiliate Solomon Childs who delivers an excellent verse on the moody track “Within a Day” (one of the album’s highlights).
Each song is handled by a different producer, which does lessen the cohesion of the album with regards to production. Fortunately, this is a minor, albeit noticeable, flaw on “Completion”. Some producers provide musical backdrops for some of the album’s standout tracks and appear vocally on others – like the aforementioned “Within a Day” produced by Jof (whose unique flow on “Cents of Tranquility” manages to blend near- perfectly over its jazzy instrumental) and the chipmunk-soul-esque “Somebody Tell Me” produced by Cayoz (who appears on four tracks).
But the shining star in “Completion” is its host, as A.L. brings a heightened level of passion and focus that can only come from someone who loves his craft and truly wants to be a hip-hop torchbearer. This is significantly evident on the second half of the album, which starts with an emotionally moving tribute to his late brother Earl Patrick McNease (a.k.a. Praverb the Wyse), proceeds with one great song after another (like the Praverb-featured “Reason I Rise (Brainstormers Remix)”, my top favourite track on the album) and ends with the powerful “Equal Freedom” (whose hook alone is an instant earworm).
As a compilation and an intro to A.L.’s music, this album really worked for me! I’m looking forward to hearing a majority of the themes presented on this album (especially that of the legacy of his late brother he carries on through his music, which is a perfect answer to the question posed in the intro) explored further.
“Completion” has a little something for everyone, but overall, it’s music with punch, power and purpose, and more than enough to keep fans new and old satisfied until “Intrepid Perspective” comes out!