There in Spirit
is
Homeboy Sandman
's second EP since the soul-baring full-length
Don't Feed the Monster
, which was produced by
Quelle Chris
. Continuing to stick with one producer per release, after previously making records with the likes of
Edan
and
Aesop Rock
, this one features the talents of
Illingsworth
. The Detroit beatmaker provides
Sandman
with granulated rhythms that crackle and dissolve, yet remain solid enough to support the emcee's casual yet determined rhymes. Most of the lyrics focus on self-help themes, but they're delivered with
's usual down-to-earth demeanor, making them sound like a friend giving you an encouraging pep talk. "Voices (Alright)" is a mental checklist of tips for personal improvement and encouragement. On "Keep That Same Energy," he challenges people who are extremely active online to back up their words in person, over
's glitchy strings and wonky bass. Revisiting the more personal themes explored on
, "The Only Constant" shares anecdotes about receiving emojis from distant relatives, but being unable to see them without a smart phone, and on "Feels So Good to Cry,"
matches
's syrupy beats and muffled soul samples with slowly paced lyrics about how refreshing it is to let oneself feel vulnerable sometimes. The EP as a whole isn't excessively sad or serious, however, and it ends with "Epiphany,"
's comical recollection of that moment when he realized that he is surrounded by people who "do not have swag." The chorus repeats this eureka moment, and
emerges triumphant as he ignores the haters and stays determined to be true to himself. ~ Paul Simpson