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“Among Other Things'' is producer and MC, Stanley Ipkuss’s latest project and although
the title may come across as a bit vague, the symbolism behind it is anything but. The
phrase, “among other things'' is usually used to communicate details or extra
information that has remained unsaid .The many things that are never spoken, force a
person into the past - granting the present and future extinct for the time being. Ipkuss’
flow is like a hidden message in a bottle, drifting, lost at sea - the poetic cadence to his
flow compliments his nostalgic instrumentals like dessert wine. Tracks that Ipkuss
decided to make purely instrumental such as “spiced apple cider” and “soda night” act
as a palette cleanser to the overall listening experience of the album - influences of jazz,
soul, and hip--hop simmer amongst one another like a love potion.
These are genres and sounds that possess so much history, which only further pushes
the theme of a haunting of the past. “Among Other Things” feels like perusing an old
vinyl shop for an afternoon or sitting for far too long and far too late into the night at a
coffee shop. The approach to the bars and lyricism mirror an energy of fearless
sensitivity - self reflection is evident and beaming. Throughout this project Ipkuss is
getting a lot off his chest, speaking directly to the youth and his generation of artists in
which expressing emotions and vulnerability are considered a weakness. Tracks like
“user not found” and “ghost” represent the many ways our generation fails or is unable
to fully communicate and express our emotions, or perhaps even simply unwilling.
This act of putting on a front, to mask authenticity with superficiality are the hidden
skeletons of Ipkuss’s past experiences with others that he is illuminating. The theme of
interrogating the past is not only evident in his lyricism, but also sets the foundation for
the project sonically. Female artists, Jada Imani, Stoney Creation, and Lucy Camp, are
notable features on the project as well. On track, “unevakno” the beat mirrors an old
western film, old-school blues strings wailing like a hound dog. Ipkuss gives Imani the
whole stage, as she raps about the circle of life ancestral trauma, the reliving of our
ancestor’s experiences in our waking reality. She spits, “I’m talking bout high stakes,
when your mama panther black and your daddy got blind rage. You're a product of the
free-way your grand-daddy paid.”
On the track, “do ya thang” Stoney Creation sings effortlessly on the hook, “lil mamma,
do ya thang, mama, do ya thang now” over R&B inspired piano keys. Ipkuss raps on
the second verse, “I’m just waiting on the past to go and heal itself, not reveal itself.
“Among Other Things” showcases Ipkuss exploring the past through a kaleidoscope
lens rather than a magnifying glass towards the end of the project. No longer looking
into the past with such focus, but rather looking to the hazy colors of the future.
Click to follow and listen to the entire album:
