Human interest plays a vital role in the constantly evolving hip-hop spectrum. Although no longer linear in nature, there are still organic narratives that only serve to enhance the culture, and in turn the music that artists within it spend their energy and soul putting forth. For the once West Egg affiliated Spray Lodge, his step into a solo path doesn’t deal in the local politics of his hometown of Tampa’s music scene. It has nothing to do with gravitating towards personal gain with no regard for his crew – something becoming more and more common among young creatives. No, Lodge is possibly the most unique case that has crossed our desk in some time: he is an active military officer serving in the Air Force at a Senior Airman E-4. Not only is his job among one of the more important a member of the US population can hold, he is also currently stationed thousands of miles away from home in South Korea.
From his post there he built a network of like minded individuals that saw his artistic vision – namely J Remy who features on his album. In between shifts he locked down beats, penned verses, fleshed out a concept, and laid down what is Accept the Unaccepted. If this sounds like pandering, respectfully, fuck you. Beyond the obstacles and unlikely scenarios that would make even a basic project seem prolific from the young emcee given his profession, it is almost unthinkable that we’d see one of the best independent albums to come from a fresh Florida artist in years. I don’t say that lightly. The Gatsby produced “Beliefs” is eons beyond peer output, from the fast yet controlled flow of bars, to crucial R&B hook-to-song construction. Rarely preachy, but unafraid to be introspective over minimally smooth instrumentals like “The Drink” and “My Script,” Lodge’s formula for word play, first person storytelling, and cultural/political references find a balance that marginalized rap has lost along the way.
“This was the first solid solo project I did. I wanted to let it be known I have talent as a rapper, but more than giving people bangers. It eas strictly for vibing out and chillin’. My favorite songs are ones that I can chill out to, so I tried to give people that same feeling,” Lodge says of Accept the Unaccepted. On the title track of the record he expounds upon this mentality, trying to work out the contradictions he sees as both personal and meta issues of the world that has folded hip-hop culture into its modern reality. “Testify Remix” is a reimagined look at Gatsby’s original standout track from theredtape that Lodge elevates with his loose stream of conscious spitting. This cut says more about his loaded replay value than most moments on the album, but also his emphasis on still connecting ties to the West Egg movement. Spray Lodge has arrived, and it may only be February, but this will be the benchmark project all others coming out of Florida this year will have to stand against.
