Album Review - Breez “Heavy Heavy Is the Head That Wears the Crown.”

For the majority of this year, Breez has rapped with a chip on his shoulder, putting out four projects and navigating instrumental as if he has a personal vendetta to any emcee holding a microphone within a 1,000-mile radius. On his latest project, “Heavy Is the Head That Wears the Crown.” The Ann Arbor bar-spitter ups the ante on what it means to be a rapper, crafting a project that could rival any emcee mainstream or underground.

In many ways, Breez is an under-acknowledged trailblazer of the Ann Arbor buzzing hip-hop scene. An unapologetically battle-tested emcee that attacks every beat as if it's his last, and on his new album, "Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown." Breez's music is as densely lyrical as ever. His raps have long leaned on the preferred devices of obscure sports reference and competitive lyricism; Breez exemplifies puns, metaphors, and sharp-witted bars without coming across as lyrical masturbation.

Topic-wise, on “HITHTWTC” Breez, tip-toes a tightrope between touching on hip-hop mainstream topics, from issues of the often-flawed prison system to sports, without coming across as wanting to be mainstream or suffering from identity displacement. He addresses each subject with a hip-hop purist state of mind, where anything commercial is death. It’s a blend of underground hunger with commercial confidence.

One of the album's best qualities is Breez surefire cadence and delivery. Breez has the perfect hip-hop voice, which in its sole presence, ensures that each line comes equipped with a self-assured swagger without coming across lines of Kanye-ish.  However, when tasked, Breez plays his cards expertly: His adaptive, veteran flow serves as a beautiful ear-full for the audience to process.

Production-wise, Breez has developed an ear for rewind-worthy production. While sample-heavy, this project possesses beats that will temporarily make you forget someone is rapping.  Tracks such as 'A Challenge.' Show Breez put into a position where he puts his best pen forward, cutting his sharpest tongue over what appears to be an infinite instrumental, which will allow the listener to appreciate both the producer and emcee's level of skill.

Overall, this album is Breez's audition for hip-hop king and, if nothing else, is a beautiful testament to the level Breez showing that he'll hold the crown eventually.