Rising rapper D.Monroe  enters our site with his latest project, Crowns Are For Vanity, an 18-track body of work that is filled with raw, unbridled lyricism over hard-hitting beats and engaging concepts.

The first track, “Crowns (Intro)” is an anthemic piece that helps set the tone with its enthralling backdrop and D.Monroe’s raw storytelling. Lines like “Am I crossing the line, find myself filling the nine up to the top /Caught in a bind, egos is blind, one in the head, but where does it stop /I mean I know gutters, spent time in the sewers /Grew up around shooters, we all that we got ” underscores the price to pay in this unforgiving world he resides in. It might have a bleak tone to it, but truly, it’s a measure of how his life can be at times, and this is further cemented on “Say My Name In Vain.” The track’s brooding backdrop serves as the perfect foundation for a masterclass of songwriting and lyricism. Here, the rapper speaks his mind with a candid demeanour and reminds the naysayers and detractors that he will always be around. The next track, “The Move,” is a hustler’s anthem that sees D.Monroe teaming up with Chief Mazi to share their success stories as they climb up the financial ladder. They both knock it out of the park with lines like “Mixed up success in that cauldron, fuck stylishly dressed in a coffin /Killin’ em softly, get em up off me, I am the best at that boss shit.”   The next set of tracks, “Mandatory,” “The Next Thing,” and “If Looks Could Kill,” all bring different sounds.  From the club-ready “Mandatory” to the motivational “The Next Thing,” to the swagged-out “If Looks Could Kill.” D.Monroe just keeps stirring the pot and switching up the broth with every track. “Good Vibes” is brimming with Latin guitar licks with moody pads and fits the rapper’s laidback flow and detailed lyrics that depict the life of a man on a mission. “Manifest” is an adulation-filled piece about that special someone and the ups and downs that determine their relationship. It shows a bit of vulnerability with an edgy element as D.Monroe balances his goal chasing with finding true love or something close to it. “Lift The World” is a testament to his work ethic and his wins, while  “Bang” is a dark, brooding cut about friendship, pain and growth as a young man trying to find his true purpose in life. This is followed by “The Process”, a smooth, bouncy jam about getting the job done, showing results instead of procrastinating. The track features fellow artist RealasChris, who adds his 2 cents on the topic at hand. Next is the soulful “H2O (Flawless),” where he showcases his proficiency once more with engaging storytelling.

The project closes out with “Sleep Tight” and “Let Em Tell It,” a pair of tracks that dive into themes of self-assessment, self-reliance and the power of moving in silence in the midst of wolves disguised as friends. The latter is quite compelling as D.Monroe breaks down his tumultuous journey as he built his empire from the ground up. He caps it with lines like  “I remember days I relied on my baby mom /Now I’d rather die than be broke and I can’t provide /Way too many times, perpetuating a lie /Insecure, so immature, focused on pride /And Cole said that was the devil fighting these demons /Lost everything that I loved or I believed in ” which underpins his pain. Other notable tracks include the semi-autobiographical “Always ready,” the sombre “Keep Going” that brims with motivational themes or the  money over broads mindset on “Triple Threat.” He also throws in some adult vibes on “Naked”, an R&B-infused jam that pays homage to the independent woman who caught his eye. Here, he goes for the kill as he hits the ladies with lines like “Like an alignment, you can let go, close your eyelids /Run out of gas, that’s absurd, I’m a hybrid /Your curves like a Tesla, so smooth when I’m driving /Don’t need GPS coordinates, your spot, I’mma find it.”

Overall, Crowns Are For Vanity is dense and diverse in many ways. The soundscapes vary and offer a wide variety of vibes while D.Monroe’s smooth flows and storytelling put the icing on the proverbial cake.