Pretty sure this has to be the 17th studio LP from Toronto, Ontario, Canada emcee/producer Raz Fresco. I’ve been familiar with the guy since my high school years at this point whether it be some of his features or his own extensive discography including the Magneto Was Right mixtape series, the Futurewave-produced Gorgeous Polo Sportsmen album, the Nicholas Craven-produced Boulangerie album, the Cake beat tapes, the Gia…À La Carte collab EP with Estee Nack or more recently the Cookin’ Soul produced Bakin’ Soul, the Daniel Son collab effort Northside & the DJ Muggs-produced The Eternal Now. Merely 9 months later, Futurewave’s coming back for the return of the Stadium Lo Champions.
After the intro, the first song “Mind Light” is a boom bap intro with a calming vocal sample talking about everyone seeing him shine both day & night whereas “Ok Let’s Go” finds him ready to get the show going. “Tesla Tower Power” strips the drums talking about being cold-hearted since they’re Canadian while “Steve Austin” featuring Daniel Son homages the WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion.
“Lauren Story” tells everyone to gather around he can vividly paint the image of a woman he met a week ago named Lauren over some vibraphones leading into “Cyanide” returning to the boom bap cautioning everyone to fasten their seats & steer away living your days fast. “Earth Spin” featuring Gritfall & Sonnyjim finds the trio addressing the people who feel as if the world revolves solely around them prior to “Olympic Flame” talking about working for either Satan or God.
Moving on from there, “What’s the Word?” those for a jazzier boom bap vibe instrumentally asking what’s good with the people he’s around just before “Alpaca” featuring al.divino & Estee Nack sees all 3 of them talking about certain individuals needing to get back out their & making the money they’re owed. “Honestly” expresses his desire for the whole world over a jazz rap beat prior to “Mortal Kombat” featuring The 6th Letter referencing the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned fighting game franchise that the WBD CEO David Zaslav is considering selling.
“In My Lifetime” reaches the final moments of Stadium Lo Champions in some lo-fi boom bap shit suggesting the things Raz has seen during his life will take everyone out their right minds & ahead of the “Lo Champion” outro, the final song “Sam Never Was My Uncle” concludes the album with 1 more drumless track pretty much talking about the United States of America’s current position it’s been taking for nearly 3 months already.
This summer will mark 2 years since Raz began churning out amongst the most important material of his 15 year career, taking it further by returning with Futurewave to display the growth within their chemistry together halfway through the current decade. The latter’s production is mainly built around boom bap, drumless, jazz rap & lo-fi hip hop as we’re treated to an evolution Gorgeous Polo Sportsmen they once were to becoming Stadium Lo Champions.
Score: 9/10
