ArAfAt – No Funerals For Robots (Album Review)

Today’s review will center around a body of work that is unique for this time, bringing us back to an era of hip-hop & rap music that has more similarities to those who are well-read rather than the mere incoherent musings of hedonistic acts. Meet ArAfAt, with his newest release titled NO Funerals For Robots.

The album is described by the artist as having written in a dark dystopian future by his future self, sent back in time for him to release it now as the most important moment in our history. It’s also described as a call for those who can hear and for those who can see. As quoted, ‘Separation is illusion. There is only One. Merge with Nature, NOT technology. Find the balance.’ With this album, he presents his bare, naked soul.

The album honestly is appealing but concerning in a multitude of ways. It definitely is fresh in the sense of a revival of a style of rap that is no longer popular in the mainstream, but in terms of musical composition, it lacks any new motifs for it to be revolutionary or new.

I admit though, that that statement itself may cause some issues between the artist and I. I understand the intent of the album is much deeper, as the lyrics suggest, but one has to ask about the lines between depth and empiricism at some point. When songs become the sonic allegory to books, should all books be read because it’s in the form of a book?

When you consider the reasoning and truth-value of some of the songs aside, they are very adequately produced and executed. The artist has a bold voice that paints the narrative in most of these tracks, setting the foundation for the soapbox on which he metaphorically stands. I think the album could do with a little bit of newer production techniques, but that would thematically go against the artistic value and intent of the album itself.

the techniques and delivery within this album also reminds me of a lot of big acts associated with the old New York rap scene, such as characters like Ol’ Dirty Bastard. I think people who grew up in that era and reminisce on such musical acts would definitely revel in this album as a ‘return’ to their roots, and what they feel works.

I do have to commend the artist on his vocabulary. Rap albums are often meant to be judged on the linguistic prowess behind the work, instead of the music as an isolate- and I do have to say, he uses a higher standard of vocabulary and probes deeper into certain hypotheses compared to acts today. The branding behind the artist also helps to seal the deal, especially within the context of this release.

SCORE/Good: If you’d like to re-live an era of conscious rap without the need for an overreliance on race politics, this album is definitely for you. It’s chock-full of concepts and thematic tropes that will fuel your imagination, or ‘open your ‘eyes’. I don’t mean to hate, and please do not take this the wrong way, but the lack of innovation within the composition does not make this exceptional.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

Check out ArAfAt’s link directory to keep up with him.