Detroit is the place to be in rap right now. From flows to pace, the D is birthing a great deal of what’s hot, and amongst the city’s most impressive young talents is Lyrical Lemonade favorite Baby Smoove. Today, in his most artful release to date, Smoove is back with his new project, Purple Heart.
Being that the cover art photoshops Smoove’s face onto Prince’s body, Purple Heart sets itself aside from Smoove’s past releases right off the bat. It’s more emotional, more well-rounded, and per usual, braggadocious as can be, painting a notably full picture of the Detroit native in regards to money, loyalty, love, and so much more.
With that said, as we’ve mentioned in the past, Smoove’s greatest two skills are that of his quotable lyrics and nonchalant flows. When mixed together, these two aspects create a deadly concoction, and have certainly become leading factors in Smoove’ rise to prominence as of late. But none of this can be done without the right production to match, and on Purple Heart, it seems as though Smoove has mastered his ear for beats, as he rattles off rhymes all the way from the soulful tint of “Tings” to the Elton John-esque magic of “Buy It All.”
In addition, considering the heavy presence of piano all over this project, Smoove receives the room to get noticeably honest in his emotions on this one, belting out story after story of his trials and tribulations in the world of love. Sure, it’s refreshing to hear Smoove leave things in such a genuine spot, but possibly the best part of this love-minded lyricism is the fact that he places it right next to flexes of biblical proportion. In such a way, Smoove plays both sides of the coin, making sure to keep things authentic without losing track of his undeniable charm as a rapper.
That said, Smoove has continued to refine his style, and by the looks of it, he’s on his way to notoriety far beyond the borders of Detroit. Don’t just take my word for it, though — stream Purple Heart below!
Early Favorites: “Buy It All”, “Top Speed”, “Pinky Promise Pt 2”