Inland Empire’s 60 East have released their long-awaited debut album My Hometown. It’s been a long time coming and long overdue, but it’s finally here. The album was produced by The Soul Council’s Khrysis, Eric G. and Sndtrak, and features collaborations with Sa-Roc, Blu, Blueprint, Trizz, Oktane, Sly Boogy, DJ Rhettmatic and Stephanie Soul.
The intro features an appearance by radio host Big Boy from The Real, before moving into “What’s My Name” and “Freeway.” These tracks introduce listeners to 60 East’s hip-hop journey, highlight his roots in Ontario, California, and share the story behind his name. Next up is “Out of the Outback,” where he details his experiences growing up nearby.
“Persistence” shifts the focus to his current journey, exploring how he navigates the various opportunities that arise. “Where I Come From” details his upbringing in the Inland Empire.
“Purty Ugly” delves deeper into his goals in the 1960s and the struggles he faced in pursuing them. He shares the story of his trip to France (somewhere in France), highlighting the similarities and differences between France and the United States, while laying out the pros and cons of pursuing a career in hip-hop. The track “Chess” uses the metaphor of chess to describe his strategic approach to his career, contrasting it with the fast-paced action of checkers.
“In” uses clever rhymes and metaphors to connect flow and punchlines while combining puns with the word “in.” The track explores personal connections drawn from a variety of experiences. On “Soul Fly,” 60 East features Blu, Sa-Roc and Stephanie Soul, who harmonize on the chorus, each contributing a “so fly” theme that’s relevant to their current state. 60 concludes with “Lil Brother,” a look back at his journey, showing how far he’s come and how he now shines in his own way.
60 definitely went all-in on their bars. Everyone has a story to tell, but this one is definitely worth hearing.
Album rating 8/10
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