Rapper/producer who goes by the moniker Flighteous is charting his way up the rap game with his style of street-savvy, conscious music. His latest album, All Dressed Up for a Beautiful Fight, is a 14-track project that delves into the core of his life. From loss, grief, success, and the never-ending struggles, he shows audiences that he is not monolithic, and his nuanced approach to storytelling sets him apart from the crowd.

The first track, “Encore,” is a self-assessment of sorts and sees the rapper taking stock of his journey in this thing called life. Over an offbeat drum groove and lush, solemn keys, he flows with a tuned melodic flow. He gives audiences a glimpse into his life with lines like “I was thinking that I do too much/But I guess I never do enough/Fuck I gotta do more,” which underpins the never-ending quest to succeed. The next track, “Atolla” produced by Supreme, is an anthemic trap track that explores the duality of life in the streets and the thin line between life and death. The track “Boudin” switches the mood of the project with its laidback atmospheric vibe. Here, Flighteous flows effortlessly with a stream-of-consciousness style laced with tales of luxury and the high life. The following track, “Ain’t Nobody,” is a reflective and urgent track that centers on integrity and family ties, and we get to see another side to Flighteous’s artistry as he gets candid about friendship and blood. The track flips the classic Chaka Khan song of the same name into something different and cinematic.

“Entertainment” is another collaboration with producer Supreme, who crafts a cinematic backdrop for Flighteous to share his perspectives on brotherly codes and the essence of being true to oneself and family. On “So Scared,” Flighteous takes audiences into the mean streets where the wrong moves might be detrimental, while “Skate Country” looks at life after loss and the strength that comes with moving on. “Try Not To Panic” employs a mix of Jersey club bounce with edgy drums and sees the rapper sharing vivid tales about his struggles, and the next track, “Goat Stew,” is a guitar-driven jam that showcases his lyrical dexterity and ability to weave vivid stories with edgy references that keep audiences engaged from start to finish. The final track, “Jodi’s Stolen Bike,” produced by ChoppedbyJodi is a brilliant closer and helps bring the project full circle with a beautiful story about resilience and hope.

Other notable tracks include the insightful “Slow Win,” the heartfelt themes on “The LeVee”, the solemn “March 24th,” which chronicles the rapper’s life on a timeline. “Thomas Foolery” is a bravado-laden, street-savvy piece ripe with edgy and vivid lyrics

All Dressed Up for a Beautiful Fight is chock full of well-crafted soundscapes, stories and top-notch lyricism. Far from glorifying street life, Flighteous also gives audiences some vulnerable moments and overall, he breaks the mould with his unique style.