Outside of the mainstream realm of hip-hop, an Atlanta-based hip-hop collective consisting of established artists JID, 6LACK, and EARTHGANG along with up-and-comers Jurdan Bryant, Benji., Hollywood JB, and Mereba released their fourth studio LP Spilligion. The group goes by the moniker Spillage Village, a clever pun based around “spilling” one’s thoughts, or in Hollywood JB’s words “to say what needs to be said without fear.” The album, spreading across a dozen tracks, 50 powerful minutes of rhapsodic melodies, and uncompromising bars shepherds listeners on a spiritual journey. Only two songs clock in at under four minutes as Spilligion is packed with “posse cuts,” collaborative songs featuring successive verses from four or more rappers. The chaotic and uncertain events of 2020 impact this album heavily, as members touch upon the coronavirus pandemic and the protests against social injustice and police brutality throughout the United States. Most of the group members lived in a studio home rented by JID for the duration of the pandemic.
In a style similar to Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers III, Spillage Village’s record label compilation album, the cross-cultural talents contribute to a refreshing, genre-bending experience seemingly bound together by unanswerable questions regarding God’s intentions for this world. Spillage Village calls upon their jazz, soul, gospel, and even African folk roots to create a wonderfully articulate yet smooth musical juxtaposition.
Despite heavy-hitting themes including apocalypse, injustice, and the harsh reality of inner city life, the project comes across as fun and carefree, reminiscent of that Southern hospitality. Production on this tape is built to accompany and compliment the wide array of artists, rather than stand out on its own. In-house producers Olu and Christo (older brother of Benji.) carry most of the weight along with other outside contributions. Throughout Spilligion, heavy basslines, guitar strums, and drum sets outline the soulful lyrics. Background choir and deeply-voiced gospel preaching can also be heard, supplementing the spiritual theme. Upon first listen, it feels as if one was transported to a Sunday morning gospel church service, with waves of bubbly hooks countered by deep spoken-word sermons by the legendary oracle Big Rube. On the apocalyptic, neo-soul-influenced track “End of Daze”, Mereba sings “Why oh why? All the kids afraid, momma cries / God packed His bags and said, "Bye-bye.” Although religion often bears a sense of conviction that those who practice must be fervent in their beliefs, Spillage Village implores listeners to contemplate the events of recent events and ask questions.
You will not hear Spilligion during your next nightly outing to a bar or club, nor in the car on your way to work as you tune in to the radio. Instead, this contemplative record will echo in the minds of those who do seek it out and hear it. I highly recommend anyone interested in hip-hop or soul music, or just looking for a fun escape from the bombardment of news and media discussing these times of turmoil, to lend Spilligion both your mind and ears.
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