Toronto, Ontario, Canada presenter/producer Raz Fresco self-produces his 18th studio LP. I’ve been familiar with this guy since high school, both from some of his work and from his own extensive discography, including the Magneto Was Right mixtape series, the Gorgeous Polo Sportsmen album by Futurewave, the Boulangerie album by Nicholas Craven, Cake Beat Tapes, The Eternal Now by Gia… However, after finishing at Champions Stadium, he returned 15 months later as Y=Self.
“It Don’t Stop” opens with a soft and gritty intro that promises he’ll do his thing as long as the sun shines, while “Borders” talks more about the madness of a generation with a drum-less vibe. “The Living Light” deftly embraces a warm boom-bap direction, boasting about his ability to throw assholes’ world off balance, leading to “Can’t Let Go” which fondly talks about people making themselves prisoners of street life.
Continuing from there, “The Blind Man” goes back to the boom days, telling critics they can pretend he’s not as successful as they wanted, right before “What’s Really Real?” Starting to question the authenticity of hip-hop itself from his perspective. “Deaf” ends its first half on a rough note, talking about trying to break the cycle of intergenerational pain, while “Mayday” opens its second half with a warning that no refunds are available.
Our Sixth Letter, which makes Y=Self’s only cameo appearance in “Memoirs,” talks about reminiscing about his life when all is said and done, while “Professional” lovingly details him becoming an expert at getting what’s his. “The Dumb” ends the trilogy of songs, “The Blind” begins, “The Deaf” connects, and “LIFE (Learning Through Wisdom Forms of Energy)” is a symphonic account of his attempt to preach without a microphone, because that’s what church is for.
“Censorship” brings the album’s finale with a darker vibe, talking about the level of certified gangster shit that’s going on at any given moment, while “PlzTllMe” once again showcases Raz’s ear for sampling, flipping soul tracks and producing simultaneous knowledge on the mic. The ending to Euphoria’s Formula , the Toronto veteran’s first full-length in over a year, features a soulful coda that comes straight from the heart.
The last time Raz Fresco produced a full-length for himself was 2023’s Pocket Operations III: Breakfast in Berlin, so considering his solo work over the past few years, and considering my love for Bakin’ Soul or The Eternal Now, I’m excited for Y=Self, and I can say that since I first heard his lyrics on Ace, he’s created an introspective work that further solidifies his status as one of the underground’s most respected voices. Hashimoto’s Super Smash Bros. as a teenager.
Score: 8/10
