The project opens up with “Dipinto a Mano(Introduzione)”, a 1-minute track that splices vocal samples from obscure noir crime films, 70s kungfu flicks, and cartoon sound effects and it sets the tone for what to come. The first track “Hand Painted” is a vivid glimpse into Knowitall’s immediate environment and the many characters who make up the colourful world. From gangsters, dealers, fast women, fast money, blue-collar workers and innocent bystanders whose lives get crossed by unprecedented events. “Wayback” continues the reflective theme and sees Knowitall contemplating on the dark side of the streets where talking the talk might get one tested in the most brutal way. From the young thugs, OGs and cops, Knowitall details his own perspective with lines like “Niggaz talking all that conscious shit/ sometimes it’s bull in disguise/ Young guys shooting bullets in skies, scared to ride”.  He also ties it up with his own blissful ignorance as he confesses “I used to hide in my room/ wake up about noon-ish/ Yesterday’s blunt got 2 hits/My attention span is thinner than toothpicks”. The record is pretty revealing as we see his progression as a young man trapped in a not soo pleasant environment but still manages to find his way out albeit being slightly scarred.

“Lord Knows” and “If I Go Away” are 2 tracks that truly shape listeners’ perspectives on what makes Knowitall tick. “Lord Knows” starts off with a dark cinematic intro and switches into a moody piano riff and punchy boom-bap drums that form the perfect backdrop for Knowitall’s graphic lyrics. He once again takes us into the mix of the action as he traverses the studio and streets and shows us how lyrically potent he can be. He sure proves it with the following lines “Bitches tell me that my spirit is dope/What I tear from my coat could pierce your eyes, ears, nose and throat”. “If I Go Away” opens up with a movie sample that suggests if one wants to survive, one should always go for the kill as opposed to anything otherwise. The production here is melancholic and cinematic but devoid of drums and that is where Knowitall proceeds to shine with his bravado-driven raps. He reminds us that he is not going away anytime soon so best stay ready for his verbal onslaught. On “Road To Perdition” he embodies the contemplative spirit of a man who made it out of the fire while being scathed. Bolstered by the soul-stirring solemn backdrop provided by Barto100, Knowitall and fellow rapper Patty Honcho paint a graphic picture of mistrust, hate, envy and a touch of rue. This is followed by “Pale Hands” featuring Vega7 The Ronin. The track is a vocal sample-driven piece underpinned by Knowitall’s impassioned flow and descriptive songwriting. Vega7 The Ronin helps conclude the track with his off-kilter flow and street-savvy raps.

I must admit there are many choice tracks to pick from like the Kung Fu flick sampling “Sky High” featuring Trash Tompsin, Blaxploitation sounding “Night Rider” and the gloom and doom aesthetic of “The Sun Doesn’t Rise”. Another stand-out is the soulful “ peek a boo”, which is made up of solemn strings, pitched-up vocal samples and hushed drums that are boosted by Knowitall’s no holds barred style. The man throws caution out the window with lines like “Suck the fattest dick, every rhyme is a Greg Maddux pitch/On Twitter getting this suckers mad as shit/cos I know they sensitive” and continues to keep his foot on opposition’s necks with more bars than a busy club district.

The project closes out with “The Fat Lady Sings” and “Connie”, the former is a sad piece that focuses on trauma and death in the hood while the latter is a contemplative track that plays out like an open letter to all the experiences that shaped him into the man that he is now. He digs deep into his past as he shows his heart with lines like “All I wanted was a Gameboy colour but it ain’t a game being a coloured boy, I was born paranoid/one valedictorian to climb to shake the mayor’s hand/ All my bad decisions made me a man”. This is the perfect closer in my opinion as we get to see who Knowitall truly is beyond the hard-hitting street raps. He is genuine, candid and to some degree vulnerable.