To be a successful rapper, or anything else for that matter, it all begins with a dream. No one on the outside will see the vision as clearly as you, so it can often times feel like a lonely road. Life will always put obstacles in the way, but the only way to overcome them is to take on a positive perspective in spite of the negativity. Albert Lea, MN music artist DaboFlai describes this very well on his latest album "Nightmares Through Rose Colored Glasses". The project has the perfect title and artwork to describe the importance of keeping a positive perspective even when the rest of the world seems to be crumbling around you. With 13 tracks and a total run time of just over 32 minutes, this easily digestible body of work is a must listen for anyone with big dreams and aspirations.
"63 performances for the same 20 people makes me appreciate the times under the steeple."
DaboFlai -"Get Off The Internet"
DaboFlai "Nightmares Through Rose Colored Glasses" | Rap Nerd Review
DaboFlai has a great voice, and he raps in a way that's easy to understand for the listener while still spitting complex bars. His confidence and energy on all of the tracks shines through and forces the listener to pay attention. Track 1, "When The Comet Comes", sets the tone for the album sonically. The beat on track 1 and a few others like "Frostbite!" have alternative rock elements, making it instantly sound different from most modern day repetitive mainstream rap. He mentions this on "Passport" where he says, "Y'all make the same trap songs repetitive and wonder why the crowd moved on to better shit". His aggressive flow on this makes this easily my favorite song on the album. Some of the other stand out tracks on the project include the catchy tune "Lil Debbie", "Get Off The Internet", "Don't Look Down", and "Don't you worry". Although DaboFlai mentions repetitive trap songs, he still shows us that if he wants to he can get on those beats and crush it too. "Sellin Soda" has an infectious trap beat and a dope project pat sample.
" Fantasies and nightmares on a pendulum swing/ home court advantage and I got my head in the game"
DaboFlai - "Feeling Good"
Overall the album was pretty good. The only critique I have is that some of the songs were way too short and could have used another verse. Also most of the tracks have the same structure of 16 bar verse, hook, 16 bar verse, hook. Other than that the message of the album is powerful and very relatable. The overall sound is original and it truly feels like a breath of fresh air. The content is positive, uplifting, and inspirational. Whether or not that was the intent is unknown, but I'm quite sure people will motivated by the music. I hope DaboFlai reaches the heights he aims for, and I highly recommend you all go check out this project!
Check out DaboFlai on Instagram:
Rap Nerd Rating (4 out of 5)
Review written by Derek "Rap Nerd" Moore
Rap Nerd LLC