Here's to Tabi Bonney, representative of the DMV, for his fourth album, first on Dame Dash's BluRoc records. It is called The Summer Years, produced by Ski Beatz; and while the title is misleading, for we all realize fall is upon us, we can relish in the fact it isn’t cold just yet, and blast with the top down on this seasonal cusp.
This is a rundown of the highlights of what you are hearing if you have or are listening to Tabi Bonney’s album The Summer Years on this, another fine release day, 9/27/11.
The album starts off with a retro soul feel of "On Jupiter" brought on by a sample from Tabi's father Itadi, native of Togo, West Africa. Not long in the DC bred rapper expresses his extra-terrestial being. In "Parachute," Tabi expresses a requited love that he can’t go on with for many reasons, one being she’s too good for him. But alas, she can’t bear to be without him. “I hope you packed your parachute, you’re falling for me…”
A highlight of the album comes from the Bossa Nova production of “Frontin'.” Here Tabi shines juxtaposed with a hot beat, sans melody, and some M.I.A. bird rolling sound effects, talking about people frontin about their own status, and girls on their farce lust for Tabi. Lyric empty, but the point didn’t need verbosity.
Highlight number two was hearing Nicole Wray’s twice on the album (didn’t we miss “If I Was Your Girlfriend?”). The sounds of the two work well together. The raspy, high-frequency voice of Nicole on “Feelin More” was refreshing, and Tabi backs her up on feeling more good stuff, and Tabi being shitted on, then shitting on the game. Nicole’s second appearance from the album comes from “Winners Parade,” which advises that we can’t win every battle. Standing in front of a serious of claps and children’s chants, Tabi talks about haters and farce friends, and losers. “I’m making moves with Damon Dash and now yall wanna hang out/We’ll yeah right/You gonna wait forever for that invite.”
Last but not least the closer, in “Chasing,” akin to Albert Brumley’s “I’ll Fly Away” and Kanye West’s “Spaceship,” Tabi is chasing stars and dreams. “I’m chasing mine, see you when I get there,” Matt Beilies sweetly sings over simple piano progressions and bass. The ending looks up, just as in all great tales, especailly if Tabi has anything to say about it. "The fairy tales of us living well came true," he writes on his twitter bio, which could also stand to say, "The end is just the beginning."
--GB (TR)
