Scholito's experience and perspective give credence to 'Black Lives Matter'

Black Lives Matter by Scholito

Philadelphia emcee Scholito, who has collaborated with fellow Philly friend Freeway, steps out on his own with composure in his new album, Black Lives Matter, named after the popular movement of course. In addition to having some big irresistible sounds thanks to its soul-inspired choruses and rocking beats, this Black Lives Matter disc is especially remarkable for Scholito’s crafted conscious lyrics. It’s one of only a few healthy new projects to drop in the last days of September ’16.

After an intro emphasizing that all lives, not just black lives, matter, Scholito dispenses critical, impassioned rapping on the inexcusable problem of police suppression of people in poor communities in the titular second track. He hits the nail on the head at the beginning of the song when he says, “publicly oppressed lives in communities economically disadvantaged” are the true receivers of ill treatment. “State of the Union” and “4 Letter Word” have more great street testaments and truth-telling, and “L-O-V-E” simply tells us what we need more of.

“Pawn” is a skit but with a lesson, and “Black Man” addresses the black-on-black violence that is all too prevalent in the USA and world. Dramatically but also studiously, “Bleached Whites” looks to examine Neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan, and “Mandela” keeps the spirited fight for sanctuary and justice alive. Black Lives Matter is a relatively short stack, nine tracks at EP-length, but with nice production from S. Frank and important words and quality wordplay from Scholito, it is both time-sensitive and timeless. Good projects like this deserve to be expanded into LP-size, but as it is, it’s a solid attack on hate and good momentum for Scholito.

3 out of 5 stars