This isn’t the sound I expected from Tragedy. Instead of the gritty, streetwise lyricism I associate with him, this project leans heavily into a pro-black, militant tone, both in message and sound, and sounds like a lot of what was already being done.
From the very first track, the bar is set surprisingly low. Lines like, "in the fast lane your life goes fast" feel simplistic and underwritten. Elsewhere it's okay, but that bar stuck with me.
Perhaps if I had heard this back in 1990, I’d be more forgiving, but even by early '90s standards, some of the production sounds dated. It lacks the grit, innovation, or sample-rich layering that would soon define the east coast renaissance. On tracks like 'Keep Striving', there’s even a noticeable new jack swing influence. I don't take much away from this one hearing it for the first time in 2025.
Beats: ★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: Back to Reality, Trag Invasion, Arrest the President
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