On Monday, April 29, the wait will finally be over. Boston-based rapper Caliph will be performing at Church of Boston to celebrate the release of his latest record, Heart in Mind. The disc, which he has been promoting relentlessly for months with the help of the Good Karma crew, is sure to impress even the most casual of hip-hop fans. In an age of increasing social media presence and frequently leaked records, I am impressed at how well Caliph has been able to control this album. He has managed to only release artwork for the album and two singles, "Go (The Baddest)" and "Dear Lord", without allowing any further information to reach the public.
"Go (The Baddest)" is a very well-produced single, and if this track is any indication of the quality of the rest of the album, I’m sure it will not disappoint. The song has a little more of a "club" feel than some of his previous work, which matches well with his incredibly tight flow. His rhymes and cadences are executed perfectly–something you rarely hear from non-major-label hip hop artists.
"Dear Lord" has much more of a smooth hip-hop feel–a style over which Caliph seems to have great command. This track has faint hints of Lupe Fiasco–just a really relaxed vibe, with well-written, powerful lyrics and a great hook. – Dan McMahon