Music Review: "B.A.B.N" by Duval's Own Mr. Al Pete
A different type of breed indeed, Mr. Al Pete blesses us with another one. Another hit, another piece of him, and another necessity that we didn’t know we need. Highly respected in his hometown, the envy to fuck niggas everywhere, the salt and pepper eye candy is hardworking and for the people. His latest album B.A.B.N is a testament to consistency. This album is a quick listen, full of gems, amazing features, more importantly, conscientious lyrics that are beneficial and alluring in its approach. Produced by Freddy Bricks, B.A.B.N is one you can play all the way through, no skips, no fillers. Below is a list of my favorites.
Situations make you shut up and listen! A very intentional feature paired with intentional lyrics. Al Pete and Lrk Chronicle paint a clear picture of the Black experience. In a world where external forces are structurally and soundly set up to not only hold us back but to put us under, we survive by thriving to making our moments count. “A better nigga I will be”.
Magic is Al Pete’s exemplary flow in manifestation. Hella melodic, hella Jacksonville, and his points of view leaves you in a direct line to his heart.
B.A.B.N...should be every Black person’s mantra. A beautiful intro leads into a beautiful story and I love a good story! He opens up about a past relationship, being young, gifted, ill-equipped, and unaligned. A very relatable notion that emphasizes his journey to betterness. In order to be better, Al Pete highlights the fact that it takes conscious effort. Fuck the bumps in the road, because real ones know that they come and go. Where does your discernment lie? How strong is your no? How clear is your vision? When you grow into these questions and allow your answers to fluctuate and evolve with time then you allow your worth to take precedence. I advise all niggas to meditate on this joint and enjoy their road to betterness.
Make it Better, has a classic Freddy Bricks intro, full of love and nostalgia. The hypnotic beat puts you in a trance. Bricks bring vulnerability to the forefront as the song opens up. Known for his honest and well-rounded storytelling, Bricks’ lyrics cut through and you’re immediately sharing a memory with him (like damn, I’m eating captain crunch too). Personally a fan of his singing, he harmonizes comfortably with GericaSings. Then the man of the hour jumps in, full gas outlined in sentimentality. Mr. Al Pete prefaces his verse with helpful tips on how to get in his back seat. Uncle Al ends the song with glimpses into his purpose not only curating but curing the future. If you’ve never heard Al Pete sing then you still won’t on this record, however, his harmony and vision leave you feeling secure and hopeful. Do yourself a favor put this on repeat.
Please check him out on IG: @mralpete