Emerging rapper/songwriter roar taylor caught our attention with his brand new project entitled kostner. The 10-track body of work is a culmination of years of recording and collation of song concepts that explore his journey in this game called life.
The first track, “lottery pick,” is a masterclass in storytelling, with pop culture references and extensive wordplay to match. Over a cinematic backdrop with moody textures and punchy drum grooves, roar taylor explores the concept of destiny, genetic/geographical circumstances and fate with surgical precision. Lines like “This is a kid with a tooth, they had priorly chipped it/debut on Columbia that was entirely skipless/It’s pandemonium, society’s shifted, we talking Oprah appearance and Variety mentions/A scrawny kid who drew the eye of the Pistons/Admired the physiques/The vision of fire persistence” underscore the concept. Here, he pays homage to some celebrities who attained their status in various fields, and if you read between the lines, one can tell who he was referring to. He continues to run down the long list of cultural phenoms and his own development over the years. The track is a brilliant introduction to who roar taylor is and how his environment greatly influenced him. The second track, “mike in retrograde” featuring fellow emcee PaperWork, is a punchy vocal-sample driven jam that sees both rappers in their element as they share thoughts of success in a world filled with hurdles. This is followed by the laidback “what dreams may come,” which shows a different side to taylor’s artistry. Over the soothing soundscape, he tells a heartfelt story of finding internal solace and peace with that special someone or it could be a blissful place far from the craziness of reality. The track exemplifies the non-monolithic qualities of being a true emcee with skill and being able to pull from different emotions and experiences to create relatable music. “say less” is a collaboration with Uncle Cam, and is an insightful look at the modern-day drama young black men go through as they try to find their footing in an unforgiving world. Lines like “And we know the stars are our ceiling/part of the village, the part that they pillage, villified, have you hunting, trapping and drilling/Lord willin, Malice is only half of the Clipse/Thes eyoung niggaz off the wall, I mean the plaster is stripped” underscore taylor’s point of view, while Uncle Cam finishes it up with his own take.
The project continues to unveil roar taylor’s life as he shares intimate details of his life. From personal loss, his flaws and successes. On “nod ya head (the processional)” featuring Major and PaperWork, the trio pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed away. While the track has a sobering and solemn feel, the lyrics are a mix of reflection and celebratory as they focus on the lives and experiences shared with those who passed away. Next is the title track “kostner,” which is built on a retro 90s boombap/jazz soundscape. Once again, roar taylor delivers a heartfelt tale that digs deep into his life and a dash of bravado. The anthemic “marcellus” is a hard-hitting cinematic piece that looks at the winner’s mindset and its littered with Sports references which help punctuate the theme. The final track “black forces” brings the project full circle with it’s blend of street savvy insightful stories. roar taylor is proficient with the songwriting and gives audiences another glimpse into his life on this hard-hitting track. Other notable tracks include the bouncy “we get to it” which is reminiscent of mid 200s Neptunes R&B tracks and “the haunting” with it’s spooky and brooding beat and vivid lyricism.
Overall, kostner as an album offers quite a lot in terms of listenable tracks and more importantly relatable topics that listeners can tap into.
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