After dropping the heist-themed video for his single “FAST” late last year, SoloSam returns to our page today with his new project, “ITIS”. Entirely self-produced, the Chicago rapper delivers his most polished, cohesive work to date on these seven tracks.
Sam packs his lyrics in steady, concentrated flows, wasting no time for weak bars or watered down thoughts. Instead, the Chicago native moves with intention, often using his own hustle and ambition as lyrical fuel. On the standout track “Dogs Go 2 Heaven” he raps, “that boy gon’ blow from the same city that Ye did; I be talking that crazy shit—that same shit that Ye did”, prophesying his come-up while paying homage to his city. It’s cunning lines like these that make up the project’s most memorable moments, showcasing Sam’s raw rap abilities with nothing but unbridled 808s as the backdrop—not to mention his baritone conviction makes everything sound 10 times harder. Sam also ventures into the deeply introspective on cuts like “Self Inflicting”. As he lets down the walls of his psyche, he admits to the pressure he puts on himself to constantly be in control of his surroundings; he walks a line between confessional and motivational, allowing himself to be flawed for all to see. SoloSam puts his soul into his work and that ingenuity has materialized in a project that asserts he’s a force to be reckoned with in Chicago’s rap scene. Hear for yourself and stream “ITIS” below: