Roulette

As hip-hop, jazz, and soul continue to mingle and merge into exciting new forms, Alfa Mist stands to make his biggest mark yet with the release of *Roulette*. An adventurous, nearly hour-long outing from the London-based composer and multi-instrumentalist, his follow-up to the already notable ANTI- label outings *Bring Backs* and *Variables* captures not only the spirit of those records but a clearer sense of where he’s headed. Queens-bred indie rapper Homeboy Sandman kicks things off with “Reincarnation,” a thematic prompt meant to provoke further thought for the subsequent selections. Those who savor the slow burn of a late-night supper-club set will find “Found You” and the title track deeply satisfying, particularly the latter’s culminating flurry of bass, brass, and rhythm. As the album progresses, we hear directly from the artist on “9 Months” and “Give Nothing,” his insightful raps touching on personal struggles and quiet vendettas.