The Bigger Artist

In September 2016, Artist Dubose was being feted as the man who could reinvigorate New York hip-hop. “It’s a lot of pressure,” he told the *New York Times*. Unbowed, he’d deliver this sure-footed full debut just 12 months later. With a voice that blends melody and muscle, he considers the highs and lows of fame on simmering opener “No Promises,” and responds to being pulled over for having tinted windows with playful triumphalism on the spry, piano-infused “Say A’.” “Drowning” serves up enjoyably unabashed braggadocio, but the Bronx MC doesn’t shy from soul-baring—he’s just as compelling when he’s sighing over romantic complications on “Unhappy” and “Get to You.”

The New York rapper’s promising debut showcases a 21-year-old who’s still finding his own lane between sensitivity and swagger.