Well-known for his raucous live shows and don’t-give-a-f*ck attitude, Seattle’s iLL Chris channeled that live-wire energy into his much anticipated new album, Honor Thy Father. And for listeners who got hip to his music with late 2015’s massive “Pull Up,” it’s the perfect end result of nearly a year’s worth of campaigning.
Fittingly, it’s actually “Pull Up” that opens the album, and it does so in a major way. Armed with top-level bravado and a monstrous beat from BlackKeyCartel, Chris and frequent collaborator RudeAssMogli do what they do best: wyl’ the hell out. Their off-the-wall antics don’t end there, either, because HTF is stacked with bangers from start to finish. With beats from the likes of Young Forever and Metro Boomin & Banks (of 808 Mafia), the record rarely takes a break from punishing your speakers (in a good way, of course).
While the huge production is certainly noteworthy, it wouldn’t be quite as successful without a singular voice tying it all together. That’s where Chris and his stark, trap house-filled narrative takes center stage. In addition to flexing some clever boasts and punch lines—”Numbers” featuring Dougie F. is particularly brutal in this sense—the Seattle rapper showcases a dextrous flow that reminds us why he was a former ‘King of Seattle’ battle champ.
HTF is more than just braggadocio and bangers, though. There’s a frustrated mind lurking beneath the conceits—just listen to the great “Million Bands” with Tre Ross—in addition to one that clearly knows how to create a cohesive, engaging listening experience.
Honor Thy Father is now available through iTunes and all major digital retailers and streaming platforms via EMPRIE Distribution.
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