Killer album from Wiley, it is my favourite release so far this year between this and The XX's album, I See You. Godfather's production stays true to his grime and eski roots while also maintaining a lot of modernity, I love that he made that clear for his final album.
The sound Wiley brought with the feature listing shows that Godfather is really like a finale for him, the grime legend pulls all of the artists he has brought up and remained close with during his career lasting over a decade, such as Skepta, JME, the Newham Gens, Ice Kid, Chip, President T, Frisco, Ghetts, Devlin and more, but best of all, P Money on his remix of P Money is really the cherry on top to bring home that idea. He brings back that eski sound he started his career with that fundamentally founded the entire genre with a modern twist, and hosts these newcomers to blaze over his sound. He is passing the torch to the new generation, this album acting as a transition to the next era. That concept was really powerful and was made me feel bitttersweet as I finished the album. Godfather is quite the fukking title, it perfectly encapsulates his influence and what this project means to the Grime scene going forward.
Meaning aside the verses were top notch, Wiley brought a fitting and intense amount of raw energy and swagger to the instrumentals, I think these are the some of the best of his career, perfecting his craft over his own unique sound. He's had time to marinate his skills but here they come to a roast. The lyrics were really anecdotal and playful, I love that style of lyricism in contrast to the more serious and straight themes in North America. Where he talks about making beats on his laptop and getting shytfaced at raves, it is incredibly unique to the American standards of pulling up with a form of weaponry and committing felonies, doing hard drugs and having intense and vividly described sex. And I enjoy that contrast.
Overall I thoroughly loved this album top to bottom, I hope it reaches wider circles like Konnichiwa did and truly resonate with people that are not too educated on the grime scene. This album should truly be an ambassador to the scene should there be one.
Favourite tracks: Bring Them All / Holy Grime, Pattern Up Properly, Name Brand, Speakerbox, U Were Always Pt. 2., Can't Go Wrong and P Money Remix
I ain't had to download to some cracked shyt in a while
