[2019 DAY 6] Saba

Genre: Hip-hop
For fans of: Smino, Noname, Chance the Rapper
Major Discography: Bucket List Project, Care for Me
Mixtapes and EPs: Get Comfortable, Comfort Zone, SpareChange!

Unfortunately I haven’t gotten the chance to listen to Saba’s earlier stuff like I had wanted to before doing this write-up, but regardless, Saba is easily one of my favorite new-generation rappers. Hailing from Chicago (my preferred location for interesting hip-hop), Saba has been on the rise ever since appearing alongside Chance the Rapper in the songs “Everybody’s Something” from the mixtape Acid Rap, and "Angels" from Colouring Book. Since then he has released two full-length projects: Bucket List Project and Care For Me, the latter of which is certainly in contention for my personal AOTY.

What sets Saba apart from many of his contemporaries is his overall technical ability: flow, delivery, wordplay, and lyricism all combine to form an artist that’s a head above the rest. His flow is somehow both rapid-fire and laid back at the same time; the ease with which he delivers his stories is testament to his skill. He bounces around from flow to flow within individual tongue-twisting verses while still maintaining coherency and (often deep) meaning. He manages to be a rapper’s rapper without going into rappity-rap territory – Saba has something to say. Oh, and he produces most of his work as well.

2018’s Care for Me is an intricate work of storytelling that I highly suggest people take the time to really listen to. This critically-acclaimed album largely revolves around the murder of his cousin John Walt, and Saba’s emotions as he processes his cousin’s death. Here’s a sample of Saba’s descriptive lyrics from PROM/KING (the album’ penultimate opus), which features uncredited vocals from John Walt:



Saba has a story to tell, and he tells it well. Far from being a dark and gloomy rapper (themes on Care for Me nonwithstanding), Saba fits in well with the smooth and poetic sounds of fellow Chicagoans Noname and Smino, and he guests on their tracks often.

This should be an energetic and entertaining set, and I encourage you all to check it out.