Sene: A Day Late & A Dollar Short. composed by Blu

Composed by Blu. That’s all I had to see to pick up this album, Sene’s, A Day Late and a Dollar Short. Realistically, I figured a few guest appearances from Blu with solid production and a few stand out tracks. This was not the case, as this is a great album. Backed with production solely handled by Blu, which is top notch and a strength of the album, the Brooklyn native Sene tells tales about his rough childhood and current life that make for a great listen.

Many different aspects and factors play a role in making a good song and thus, a good album. Whether it be lyrics, flow, production or whatever, different avenues are taken on each body of work. While lyrics are not horrible on this LP, in fact they are better than decent and production is most definitely a premium, the one thing that really stands out and carries the album are the choruses and the hooks. The album gives a feeling of Doo Wop, sing along hip-hop, without losing its base of bars and boom-bap. While it is not a KRS-One type of album, it stays true to the hip-hop genre and breaks away at the same time. The fantastic track (and my personal favorite on the album), “Whybother,” is a great example of this. Behind a piano loop and snare kick that give an optimistic feel, Sene counters this with pessimistic lines, a perfect match (opposites attract homie) that make for a standout track; it has the best hook of the many great ones on this album, “I don’t know why/ I even bother at all/ ‘cause if I didn’t have no bills to pay/ I’d probably chill and let my skills decay.” “Wonthousandgirls” also has an insane chorus and, along with a sample that gives a mental picture of Willy Wonka and his oompa-loompas in unison singing, tells of Sene’s desire to not settle down. The song gives a feel of a play for a video, with Sene walking down the boulevard singing, “I’m falling in loooooove.” “Everydejavu” is an outstanding song on the second half on the album, with not only a hypnotizing hook, but it may be the best song lyrically, as Sene rides the beat just right and delivers his best verse on the album in the second verse of the song, “Plus I got the fly lid I could have did without/ but now who’s counting?/ surely not me need to get me into counting/ whatever he account for/dollars aint amounting/ I’d cried out for help hell I know nobody hear/ my voice bounce back, the echo was resounding.”

Blu’s production shines through on the album. His sampling is right on point, and every snare or kick or piano key is just in place centered around the sample. An example of this is “Eyecry- The Before” as the “cry” sample is backed with hard hitting snares and this blends in perfectly with the zombie like hook that Sene recites. This is all evident in the first 15 seconds of the song. Another well produced track ,the single off the album, “Quarterwatersupporter” has an array of production elements in it. With a moaning sample that is in perfect melody with the bass line, kicks and piano loops that fade in and out, Sene seems the most energized on this track than any other. “Wonlover” shows a more relaxing beat from Blu, with several piano loops of different sounds, a violin melody in the background and a “check it out” sample to reel the hip hop essence back in, Sene expresses his love for his lady, Hip-Hop.

Blu’s impression on this album is evident, as it has the listener reminiscing of Blu’s debut album, Below the Heavens, and establishes him as a primetime producer. Sene delivers as well, as like a quarterback with a dominating defense. He doesn’t have to go out and win the game; he just has to not lose it. This is not to imply that Sene is weak in any aspect. Every beat is rode to the max and Sene does supply some heart wrenching tales and great lines. But lyrics are not the strength of this album, and there are times where Sene’s laid back flow and voice hurt him. However, flaws are a rarity here, and A Day Late and a Dollar Short is a great album and is a breath of fresh air, as the East to West coast transaction is a success. So just as the last track on the album is “Justasuggestion,” so will be the closing of this review: go get this album. You won’t regret the 10 dollars you spend.

88/100

Whybother

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Everydejavu

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Eyecry-The Before

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