Rappers blowing up thanks to wildly controversial Instagram videos isn’t new but when was the last time a rapper blew up thanks to a viral rap contest submission video? It was likely Token and his 2015 entry for Kato on The Track’s “No Sucka MCs” contest. The young Massachusetts MC quickly scrapped together his 2016 debut project Eraser Shavings to capitalize on the buzz only to have it quickly fade from mainstream memory.
Sure, his viral moments have torched the interwebs for a short while but it wasn’t until he just dropped his second project Between Somewhere that his name once again resurfaced. This begs the question: can Token only successfully make viral “rappity rap” moments? A lot of signs on Between Somewhere point to yes.
It isn’t hard to hear Token’s fluency in super-duper rap writing. Like on “Treehouse” where he flexes lyrical acrobatics with lines like “Till not in my prime but I beat on my chest like a primate” and “Can’t sit calm like Seinfeld/That boy always moving.” He shows his dazzling ability to rap quickly and precisely but the inability to craft creative song structures is equally apparent.
The 17-track album kicks off with the intro track “Somewhere In Between,” a four-minute onslaught of self-empowerment coated with Eminem’s 8 Mile tactics; owning all his vulnerabilities before anyone can use them against him. He impressively articulates the entirety of his rap career with semi self-deprecating lines like “So no matter how many fuckin’ comments that I read/Tellin’ me how much that I’ve helped them to grow and follow their dreams/I’ma still feel like a coward, the hero just ain’t me.”
Such honesty proves how self-aware he is but smacks listeners in the ears like a ton of indigestible bricks. He doesn’t weave it through metaphors or slick wordplay; he simply shouts it over the middling beat. Take “Rich For You” and “No Service” – both tracks are prime examples of strong storytelling and good rapping “on paper” but once his voice meets the beat the execution feels forced. “And You” breaks the mediocre mold with a pulsating beat courtesy of Nox Beatz (who curates the majority of the beats on the album) and two ferocious verses provided by Bas and IDK. His passionately exasperating raps shine through brightest on adrenaline booster like these though he struggles to find synergy between his lyrics, the beats he’s rapping over and the appropriate tone to that glues them together.
Once the final track wraps, the biggest takeaway is that Token spent a lot of this album pouring his heart out into different buckets of his life. He is undeniably transparent in his narratives of self-doubt, backhanded success, family struggles and of course his inevitable rap prowess. All to the point where listeners will feel like his personal therapist listening to all of his micro and macro reactions to rap life’s qualms. Even his tangled relationship with God and religion pops up on “7th Day.”
This excessive life detailing gets exhausting throughout and the bulk of the album feels like a forced play-date with that classmate you already knew too much about. To his credit, it is literally impossible not to know Token as a man, rapper and overall human after listening to Between Somewhere.
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Couldn’t disagree more. This kid is only 20 and just delivered a fully fleshed out concept album full of dope rhymes about his harsh climb getting to this project and you just shit all over him for it. If this isn’t what we want/expect from our new generation of rappers we are setting a really low standard.
This is like Hopsin lite beer. He has aways to go before we can start talking standards
Amazing album! This article is completely wrong. The more you listen to it the better it gets and is Tokens best work yet. He’s only 20 and will only get better. Unbelievable talent. I hope he always stays true to who he is and doesn’t buy in to any of this wack ass bullshit.
Token is one of the best rappers out there right now. It is worth more than what you guys say. This is what rap is supposed to be. And he’s only 20
This article is completely wrong. Artists like Token are what we need in a rap industry over-saturated with trap rap party songs. His storytelling and choruses are a huge step up from eraser shavings, but he keeps his incredible flows and lyrical ability throughout. Should be at least a 4.5.
I felt what some of the review was saying but when this much heart and soul is put into an album, isn’t that what we want? Not all about the same boring content money cars clothes hoes. This album has more replay value than most of the albums that were released earlier this year and that kid isn’t even a full adult yet. Album showed growth but that he still has more growing to do. All in all great album
Who the fuck wrote this sorry ass review they should be fired
This is one of the best albums I’ve ever heard. It’s art, folks, you dig it, or you move on to the next thing. Fuck everyone else’s opinion. I give it a 5 out of 5. If you don’t, that’s cool.
Lots of 15 year olds in the comments here. Dude is ass, either spitting trash wordplay or lyrical miracles. “Sit calm like Seinfeld”? Lol if you think that’s clever then you need to spend some more time reading dog. So many people think rappers are dope because of their third grade level intellect.
2 Me it’s one of the better albums of the previous year, production is on point lyrically he’s pretty strong. A pretty dope ass album although that LP when I’ve listened 2 it 4 the 1st tyme wasn’t that impressive in My eyes this album had grew on My with a couple more listenings. Yeah that’s it.
This kid is like a mix between Rage against the machine and Em his not bad has plenty of promise!!
no u
Album is fire – Toke is a solid dude with a bright future…
He’s style is so refreshing in the newschool rap, and the lyrics are emotional and deep, and he is only 20. idk how you give his album a 3.3?! 5/5
I’ve been listening to rap since Public Enemy and it is refreshing to see someone so young respect the game. I disagree with the rating but do agree he needs to grow. I’m 43 and I’m still growing/learning. Token is the real deal saw him in Boston and he was great!
I rate it a little higher, definitely have 5 or more banger to it. There where some songs that where hard to listen to but I agree, Token needs to grow more to master his craft and to his credit he is incredible talented as it is right now, better then most rappers today IMO
I disagree. It’s not perfect but it has some really good bars, great flows, he is fast ASF and a honest lyricist.
Late to the game on Token, but saw his Sway freestyle and had to check this out. He spits fire, the beats are hard….really I can’t understand why any true hip hop fan wouldn’t like this shit. It is banging and renews my faith that the new generation still has mad talent and will carry that torch forward. Must Buy! Amazing album