Salus Herb "Lo Fi's & New Hi's" | Rap Nerd Reviews

Derek Moore
4 days ago
4 min read

If you’ve ever crossed paths with Salus Herb at a music event in Austin, you already know his energy is calm, genuine, and focused. Until now, I hadn’t taken a deep dive into his music, but after giving this new album a full listen, I can say with confidence: I’m glad I did. It’s ten tracks of chill, reflective hip hop that stays true to Salus’s vibe, elevated by the contributions of his crew Ideal Collective—a group made up of Salus himself, Darxx, Cap Lewis, and Rowski. Originally Salus and Darxx are a duo known as Humble Prophets, while Rowski and Cap Lewis originate from their imprint B.P.C. (black peace core). All together they form their own megatron.

Now, let me say this: the project is dope. It’s sonically cohesive, short and digestible, which makes it an easy replay. While Salus is clearly the lead artist, the album feels like a collaborative group effort. That’s not a bad thing, but I personally would’ve liked to hear more of Salus solo. If this was meant to be an Ideal Collective project, I think it should’ve been labeled that way. Still, fans of lifestyle rap will buy into the world they’re creating. With the right marketing, this team could definitely make waves beyond Austin.

Let’s discuss the album track for track.

Track 1 – “Frontlines” (ft. Ypheonxix)

The album opens with dreamy, floaty boom bap vibes, something I’d almost label “cloud-hop.” Salus frames the journey toward chasing your dreams as a battlefield. Ypheonxix’s feature adds a dope flow and solid energy, and the quote “today’s a new day to go seize your fate” sets the motivational tone off right.

Track 2 – “Midnight” (ft. Rowski)

Rowski kicks it off on a smooth, classy beat layered with a soulful vocal sample. His verse is solid, and Salus follows up strong! especially with those final bars that hit hard at the very end of the song. The chemistry here is natural.

Track 3 – “Humble Elegance” (ft. Cap Lewis) The beat is jazzy , almost Mobb Deep-esque beat. Cap Lewis shines here with sharp, introspective bars:

“Praying for a miracle, but I know efforts can be minuscule, so I just sit back and sense the damage I've done, it's plentiful. Y'all don't take accountability and it shows”Salus Herb balances the track out with bars about aligning chakras and staying in a meditative state to manifest his path. Dope contrast of street and spirit.

Track 4 – “Babe Ruth” (ft. Darxx & Rowski) a standout part of the track:

“Take the road that’s traveled less than often / Making global moves even though I rest in Austin.”He’s got presence and poise here, and the flow is tight all around.

Track 5 – “Komodo Dragon” (ft. Darxx & Rowski)I reviewed this one already on Rap Nerd Reviews (video). The Wu-Tang-style beat is refreshing, and the hook sticks. Salus blends spirituality into his bars, Rowski brings that high-energy charisma, and Darxx drops punchlines that hit. This one’s a banger.

Track 6 – “Bar Breaker” (ft. Cap Lewis & Rowski)Easily one of the hardest beats on the album—it knocks. Salus kicks it off with intensity, and everyone brings a different flavor that blends perfectly. Rowski’s line “Baby girl I’m player, Bill Bellamy” had me rewinding. High replay value.

Track 7 – “Cool Cat Raps 3”A quick 1:30 solo joint from Salus that feels personal and open. The beat is soulful and uplifting, and the claps give it a gospel edge. This is Salus at his most transparent, and it’s a standout moment of vulnerability on the album.

Track 8 – “Gameplay” (ft. Darxx)Smooth and motivational. Darxx glides on the beat with confident delivery and clever bars like:

“If life is just a game, I come correct when I play.”Salus matches the energy with affirmations and peace:“If life’s a game, I never came to play.”Back-to-back bars that work beautifully. Their chemistry is undeniable.

Track 9 – “Morning Mantras Freestyle”Just over a minute, but packed with depth. Jazzy boom bap meets poetic lyricism.

“There’s no high horse in this obstacle course / Where everyone’s trying to shoot bowling balls from half court.”Bars like that show Salus’s introspective edge and clever writing.

Track 10 – “Closure (Rolling Stones)” (ft. Rowski & Cap Lewis)The closing track is soulful and reflective. Cap gets personal right away, and Salus delivers another effortlessly honest verse. Rowski wraps things up with a slow, powerful delivery that borders on spoken word. A strong closer that lingers.

Final Thoughts:This album is a vibe. Super cohesive, chill, and filled with intention. While I would’ve liked more solo cuts from Salus Herb to really hear his full range, the group chemistry is undeniable. Ideal Collective represents a refreshing lane of conscious, lifestyle-based rap that doesn’t try to be anything but authentic. With stronger branding and more visuals, these guys could really build something special. Don’t sleep on this crew at all!