Emerging rap artist Lukas James unveils his debut album Young Bobby Caldwell. The 7 track project is partly influenced by the late singer Bobby Caldwell and James’ experience as a young man finding his footing in a cold, unforgiving world.

” my flame” samples the classic Bobby Caldwell song of the same name and finds James penning heartfelt lyrics to a special someone who is in a relationship. Far from trying to undermine her situation, James asks the pertinent questions about her well-being alongside his true feelings. Lines like “My heart is 1448 and I’m Vlad the impaled/I’m glad to see something in you, for you that’s truth for him/But tell me is he insecure or rebuker of men?/But tell me, what’s the reason that you stay with him/And if you had to do it all over, would you again?” underpin his emotions and contentment with the whole situation. The next song, “Can’t Lie” featuring Laura Molina on backing vocals, boasts a bouncy drum groove with a moody sample and pulsating bassline underpinned by James’ laidback flow and knack for penning relatable love-laden stories. The track details blossoming love and attraction, and how he has to balance his masculine frame with being vulnerable. We find James moving to a young lady, but fortune didn’t go his way as she placed him in the friend zone, and the rapper had to deal with the aftermath in his own way. The production on “favorite things” featuring Dan Newton has a DJ Premier type vibe with punchy drum grooves, vocal scratching and pause-tape sample type arrangement. Here, both emcees take turns in detailing their favourite things, experiences and memories. The track evokes pure nostalgia as the duo takes us back in time, revealing some interesting details about their lives.

 

The project continues in a reflective tone, which not only includes the insightful songwriting but production as well. James decided to stick to traditional hip-hop sounds throughout the project, and this also serves as a recurring motif that ties into the album’s concept. The track “Never Prepared” features veteran West Coast emcee Fashawn, who is known for his commanding flow and insightful storytelling. James definitely holds his own here and gives audiences a tale about self-doubt, failures and personal growth on the first verse with lines like “I was never prepared to face the challenges of life/I was never prepared to look my ego in the eye/Was never prepared to see my mother cry.”Fashawn closes it out with a verse about the never-ending personal struggles and the power of resilience. The production on “me & my brother” finds James opting for a mid-west vibe with downtempo drum grooves, screwed vocal samples and a jazz/soul sample. Here, he raps about brotherhood and the dividends of having a great work ethic. Fashawn and Laura Molina return on “Minute Made,” a two-part track that finds James spitting a touching tale about love, race relations, and emotional strain while Fashawn kicks a solid verse over a dark, moody backdrop to close things out.

 

The final track, “Silhouette,” serves as the right closer with its ominous backdrop and offbeat sound design. The first part sees James penning a heartfelt tribute to a loved one, and when the beat switches, Liliia Kysil delivers a haunting vocal performance ripe with layered melodic runs and heartfelt lyrics. Overall, Young Bobby Caldwell, is an interetsing project that touches on relatable topics that everyone can latch on to. The production throughout the project holds up, and each song serves as a snapshot of different phases in his life. The features do add an extra punch and vibe with each artist, bringing a different perspective to the subject being covered.

A solid project worth listening to if you ask us.