I love people who care. People can clown Kevin Durant all they want, but that man loves ball. It’s easy to spot when someone is doing something with little heart. That’s what makes it so exciting when you come across an artist who lives and breathes their craft. Illinois’ Reed Starks is someone who cares. You can hear it in his cadence. You can hear it in his rhyme schemes. You can see it in his obscure sports references. You can tell by how he sequences the album. He loves this rap shit.
I’ve been a fan of Reed for a minute. His flow is fast and constant, so if you blink, you might miss the best bar on the album. We’ve had conversations about our mutual love of rappers like J.I.D, Kenny Mason, and Grip, amazing artists who also have a top-notch pen game. His beat choice is reminiscent of Monte Booker, one of my favorite producers out right now. Every beat is one that I wish I had found first.
I love an album that sounds better in the order decided by the artist. You can tell by the name of the first track, “Wandering,” and the last track, “Out Loud,” that Reed put thought into its order. Some of the features match Reed’s introspective backpacky style, and others offer a cool changeup in the flow. So, without further backstory, here is my review of Wandering Out Loud.
“Wandering”
Third album? Already? Damn, time really flies. This is a chill intro track where the laid-back instrumental rides out. I connect with graduating, not so much the marrying soon. I got some work to do.
“Joyless” feat. Kareem Ledell
The drums on this one hit instantly. Before the opening chorus, Reed says, “This about to be my favorite song of all time.” I think he might be right about this being his best so far. I love his layered vocals on the chorus and his adlibs on his verse. Reed sounds angry on this one. I love his vocal inflections on the “down, down, down” part and when he says, “I’ve been numb.” Kareem fits perfectly on this track with his laid-back flow. He sinks into the beat with his tactical rhyme scheme. “I’m the best, but I struggle to see it.” A complex juxtaposition to understand unless you’ve felt it before. Kareem slid this entire verse, and his chill manner makes it seem like it was light work.
“Resolve”
I don’t know what the sound effect in the background of the beat is, and I don’t know how to explain it. Is it a cowbell? Whatever it is, I always hear it on beats, and I always love when it’s there. I like when Reed uses a softer tone on his choruses because it makes it feel like a feature on the track. Always love a good Austin Reeves bar. Reed seems to be facing some setbacks but still remains optimistic about his future. “Around the sun like 20 years, but the better days be ahead of me.” This is a shorty but a goody.
“A Beautiful Day” feat Kid Ziggy
Reed has been on a roll with these choruses with his laid-back and stacked vocal layers. This is a confident track full of boasting from Reed. “Still better than your best effort/I’m a go-getter on some comma shit.” Sheesh. Kid Ziggy offers a great contradiction to Reed’s introspective style with his melodic autotuned verse. This one is a dope track to play in the car for a night drive. This verse isn’t anything too deep, but the melodies are hella catchy.
“Solace”
The drums on this one had me excited before a single other instrument appeared. Very Monte Booker-esque. Reed is confident that if given a chance, he would take full advantage. This is one of his more chill rapping performances, which I think is a cool changeup from his usual vocal inflection. “Solace on my mind/I define what I feel today.” I love the testament of this chorus. Reed is at a place where he’s comfortable where he’s at emotionally as he’s decided to take control of how he responds to outside pressures.
“Aurora” feat. Wakai & King $ly
Reed gives up the reins for this chorus to CQCX mate, King $ly, which I think was a well-executed changeup. I love his raspy vocals. Reed comes out on this one like the rent is due. He’s rapping his ass off, so you must rewind this back a few times. I love the inclusion of the memes in this beat. “Feel like I’m Russel, it’s all in the hustle/but feelin’ no love in the bubble.” Gah damn. Really love the sports references throughout this project. Wakai rides the beat masterfully.
“Varsity Blues” feat. King $ly & Lil Du Bois
This one is a very chill bop. “Find my heights from the lowest points.” This line is a motivating one for anyone stuck in a rut. In order to climb, we have to come from somewhere. $ly gets a full verse on this one and utilizes every second he has. He uses this track to talk about evolving as a person and finding himself, learning in that time that he had outgrown some of those around him. Lil Du Bois, another CQCX member, shows the chemistry this collective has. His verse continues the theme of growth and inner reflection. This track has no chorus, and it doesn’t need one. Each verse sticks to the theme and adds to it.
“Out Loud”
I love how the album starts with “Wandering” and ends with “Out Loud,” completing the album’s title. This is an amazing closing track. Once Reed starts rapping on this one, he doesn’t stop until the clock hits zero. He summarizes many of the album’s major themes on this one, highlighting his growth from some of his lowest of lows. He’s learned not to pity himself while he’s down and, instead, has decided to keep marching forward. He’s nostalgic about his youth but excited about the possibilities of the future.
