Joel, aka MaG, serves up a fresh slice of humble pie with “Songs for Charles” which he describes as an “open letter to his pops.” The introspective and plangent vibe prevalent throughout the album conjures the anxiety associated with confronting the expectations of one’s parents. His flow, somehow simultaneously effortless and thoughtful, leans into his dusty beats as if to procure some lost volume, as if the answer is in there. He sounds like Kanye mixed with Mos, or maybe Kanye back when he used to rap with Mos. Or maybe he’s just his own wizard practicing hip hop with respect for it like the alchemy it is. As he vamps on the jazzy “Better late than never,” “I would rather die than let go of one of my dreams.” It’s precision wordplay; Charles would be proud.
