Exile: 4TRK Mind

Veteran producer/rapper Exile has had his share of noteworthy collaborations. Among his more heralded works are the underground favorites, Below the Heavens and Boy Meets World, on which he teamed up with rappers Blu and Fashawn, respectively, producing each work in their entirety. From these well-regarded collaborative projects, as well as his recent solo albums, we’ve come to know Exile as a producer in the vein of some of the underground greats, crafting beats that emulate guys like Dilla and Madlib with their chopped up, soul-inspired sounds. On his most recent project 4Trk Mind (named for the 4-track machine it was recorded with), we get a rough, sample-heavy mosaic of sounds over which Exile graces us with some interesting rhyming.

As might be expected, the production is the focal point of the album, with his emceeing used to reinforce his obscure sample choices. However, Exile may surprise some with the quality of his spitting. By no means is he Rakim reincarnate. But, tracks like “Klepto” show that he’s capable of spitting against the right backdrop, adding to the overall sonic quality rather than carrying a track with his flow. Lines like “Check the heart of the small guy/ fall in love but don’t fool yourself/ don’t fall into hatred money greed or wealth”, off “Love, Luv, Love”, showcase his lyricism set against a scratchy string sample.

If you’re a fan of concept albums or those unorthodox projects that challenge the listener, this is your type of album. Exile really puts the onus on the audience to actively listen to the work, following along as he chops apart and pieces back together his intricate productions. Generally speaking, these sorts of avant-garde projects usually feature one or two tracks that just miss. Whether it’s the overly complicated sampling or rhyming that doesn’t fit, they just don’t work out as planned. While I really like the way the track is setup, with the super soulful vocal sample looped in the background, “The Man” gets too choppy, making it difficult to really follow the track through, despite only clocking in at 2:17. I know this is consistent with Ex’s production style, but this track in particular gets a little too creative for its own good.

The only other complaint one might have with the album is that it runs pretty long for such a complicated sound. With six tracks coming in at over four minutes, some may find it hard to keep focused for the whole 16 tracks. Still though, there really isn’t a joint that stands out as running exceptionally long, as even the nearly 7-minutes “Younger Days” works, thanks to more traditional storytelling rhymes and an easy-to-follow, grainy beat.

The album’s sole feature comes from the aforementioned Blu, on the uplifting, inspiring “When Nothing’s Left.” Considering some of the interesting music we’ve received from Blu as of late, it’s great to see him back in Below The Heavens form, if only for a guest verse. Perhaps it’s something about Exile’s production that brings the best out of the enigmatic emcee, but Blu spits a great verse for his producer friend, evidenced by lines like “I write rhymes for me, fuck critics, lick on these nuts/ ‘cause no matter how much I give it ain’t enough/ so I pick up pens thinking who I should eat up.”

Considering the complexity of its beats and often awkwardness of Exile’s rapping, 4Trk Mind is definitely an album that will only appeal to a specific niche market. Those that are familiar with his work will see that he is up to the task of producing an entire album that is wholly capable of holding the audience’s attention. Despite its length and the occasional bizarre-sounding rhyme or sample, Exile has crafted a thoroughly entertaining work that showcases his production skills and his improving ability as a rhymer.

8.0/10

Love, Luv, Love

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When Nothing’s Left feat Blu

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Crazy In The Head

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