Ghanian rapper, Lyrical Joe, lives up to his name with his 11-minute and 27-second single “5th August 7.” In the seventh edition of his 5th August series, Lyrical Joe lets it be known with his witty wordplay and appropriately aggressive tone that he is among the best when it comes to lyricism, rap flow, and dynamism. Lyrical Joe walks the listeners through the story of his journey from the first release of August 5th to the growth he has made as an artist now on his seventh release. Unafraid to cement his place at the top, Lyrical Joe emphasizes how he knows the path he walks is destined for greatness and nothing less. In more ways than one, Lyrical Joe pays homage to the traditional nature of Hip-Hop with his smooth flow over a drum-filled beat, keen attention to storytelling, and endless analogies. Lines such as, “I’m slapping your favorite in the face,” “I built an altar for my ego,” and “I always got a hard drive for this and I can’t be crashed” might rub some as unnecessarily braggadocious, but in the spirit of promoting one’s own self-worth and finally being able to attain a sliver of success from hungrily going after one’s dreams, Lyrical Joe’s lyrics are more fitting than ever. To end his lengthy but engaging single, Lyrical Joe takes a surprising turn with a swift beat change that is met with a new flow and cadence. This shift in tone not only embodies the transition Hip-Hop has taken over the years, but it allows Lyrical Joe to give a platform to his roots in Ghana. Not afraid to share where he comes from, Lyrical Joe embraces his African heritage all while giving warning to everyone else that he is on the verge of greatness; cementing 5th August 7 as a perfect example of unparalleled individuality.
Listen to 5th August 7: https://youtu.be/3bAngzhEL5o?si=_4wv6IrFMkPNBJKg