Buffalo, New York emcee Heem concludes the Bars & Noble trilogy with his fourth record. He came to my attention in 2020 after becoming a protégé of Benny the Butcher and signing to Black Soprano Family Records, making a few appearances on the label’s showcase EP before releasing his debut mixtape Long Story Short and debut EP High Art. His debut album, From the Cradle to the Game, is released in spring 2023 and is the follow-up to Bars & Noble from earlier this year, completing the final chapter.
The title track opens with a boom bap instrumental that talks about making anyone open their mouth on a stretcher, while “Bonettis” featuring Illy Foo finds the pair having more and more time to right some wrongs. “Buffalo to Bompton,” featuring Figg Newton, was a mild East Coast/West Coast collaboration with a hint of g-funk influence, just before “$20 Stones” got hyped up with samples.
“Redrum” moved on, showcasing his homicidal tendencies as he pulled up to the scene, advising those near him that they’d better run for their lives, while “Menace to Society 2” conceptually picks up where Long Story Short left off. “Foot Steps” featuring Zee Baby sees the pair express their desire to get up and grind, while “$1 & a Dream” featuring Jamal Gasol talks optimistically about their upcoming day.
Jae Skeese kicked off the final leg of Bars & Noble 3 by singing “Graceful” with Heem, one of my 5 favorite songs in my personal opinion asking for prayers, and “Family Tree” talking about his upbringing sampling soul music. “Warring Ave 2” brings the trilogy to a successful conclusion, another sequel to Long Story Short, telling us more about his upbringing on the streets of his hometown.
The original Bars & Noble was an unwavering devotion to everyone in his circle who’s been around since day one, and its sequel came out this spring at his wisest time, but Bars & Noble 3 sometimes feels like a hybrid of the two compared to its predecessor, though the guest list and some of the production don’t hold much interest for me. I’m in no way saying this is weird, I just prefer the earlier articles to the more recent ones, that’s all.
Rating: 6/10
