Album Review - Boldy James and Nicholas Craven: Fair Exchange No Robbery
STRONG 7/10
Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher and Conway the Machine are seen as the frontmen of Griselda; the Buffalo, NY-based independent rap label founded by Gunn. Their roster depth goes beyond this popular trio though, as Gunn’s brother, Mach-Hommy, and Detroit’s Boldy James have been building up their own qualitative discographies. James has collaborated with the likes of The Alchemist and Nicholas Craven, the latter of whom is his co-partner for Fair Exchange No Robbery (2022). Craven has made a name for himself in the underground hip-hop scene for his soulful sample chops and luxurious production that fits with the overall tone of Griselda’s rich, but grimy, style. James’ stone-cold demeanor is ever present on this new effort and Craven’s instrumentals evoke further performative advancements within the rapper’s repertoire of skills.
Straight & Tall (9/10): Boldy James starts off with a jazz-infused soulful introspection on the militant nature of the street life he grew up in. Analogies of friends being tagged as soldiers elicit sorrowful, but proud, reminiscence on the war that is drug-dealing. Fatalistic lyrics such as “Beam on the cyclops, I'll thread the needle/Big creature like I'm Sasquatch with this Desert Eagle” reinforce the perspective of life being riddled with warfare when you grow up in the same environment that Boldy did. The angelic sample that loops throughout the track offers the somber tone that softens the verbal aggression that Boldy expresses.
Stuck in Traffic (8.5/10): Nicholas Craven’s production takes a funky turn on “Stuck in Traffic”, where Boldy adopts the role of a suspect in a hot series of criminal offenses. Boldy portrays himself in a cinematic style, referencing his tunnel-vision focus on evading New York and Miami Vice police officers. The Detroit rapper’s composure is cool and collected in the first verse, but the following bars provide insight to his jumbled mental state as a result of the anxiety-inducing stakes that he has taken on in his life of crime. Regardless, Boldy wants his audience to know that he achieved his success through hard work and only respects those who joined him throughout his trials and tribulations.
Scrabble (7/10): The repetitive refrain that permeates the track’s production is dynamic and charismatic, but Boldy seems content in his own lane; he opts not to match the upbeat tone of his instrumental. “Scrabble” recycles a lot of the material touched upon in “Stuck in Traffic”, but with a lot more emphasis on loyalty, as well as a relentless will to put one’s life on the line for prosperity.
Town & Country (7/10): “Town & Country” returns to the borderline-noir fashion of production to back Boldy’s explicit analyses of the process and idiosyncrasies of dealing drugs. Boldy also pronounces himself as a leader in these illicit entrepreneurial ventures, as he inquires “Was there a game before I ever had my shoes laced?”. The Griselda rapper also employs humorous punchlines that include a comparison of Disney On Ice to how he’s able to “slide with this double-decker”. The chorus is slightly drawn out, making the track a little longer than needed, but it is concise enough.
0 Tre Nine (feat. Gue Wop) (8/10): Boldy and Gue Wop showcase their natural chemistry in their combined hooks that lead to conversational verses that expand on their tales of criminality. “0 Tre Nine” highlights Boldy at his most personable, where there is a ounce of emotion underneath his concrete stoicism. James’ parallels to Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell of the tv-series The Wire fit his character and the tone of the track perfectly, as they both personify the dichotomy of the rapper’s desire to grow out of the street life that is restricted by his dedication to the game.
Monterey Jack (9/10): The radar pings that Nicholas Craven provides Boldy with on “Monterey Jack” evoke a sense of urgency; there is also someone out there searching for, and trying to dethrone, the rapper. This is only accentuated by the beginning of Boldy’s first verse that details the murderous atrocities that he is wanted for, countered by the song’s chorus that showcases his disappointment by the cold reception to his attempt to grow out of his rambunctious past. Ultimately, the title of the song supplies the reasoning for his hesitance in neglecting his prior life: money.
Designer Drugs (6.5/10): “Designer Drugs” takes a thematic detour where Boldy takes a moment to reflect on the luxury of his life. Talks of romance and exorbitant indulgence produce a shallow essence that does not match the hardcore scrutinizations of the album’s prior tracks. Craven comes through with another jazzy orchestration, but there is just not enough substance to justify the inclusion of a cut like this.
Six Toes (8/10): The Pharrell-esque quad-beat build-up to Boldy’s most versatile and compact hook on the album is a wonderfully exciting start to “Six Toes”. Each word Boldy spits matches the cadence of the piano keys backing him; it is refreshing to see the Motor City rapper conform to the instrumentation for once.
You Ain’t No Menace (7.5/10): Boldy bounces boastful bars around about his social status making him confident enough to hook up with Ashanti, as well as questioning why anybody would want to bring his self-assured vibe down. That being said, Boldy is still backing himself at all times; he finds time to not only compare himself to God, but to also note the discrepancies between his antagonists and him regarding his propensity to self-defend instead of employing security.
Power Nap (7.5/10): Death is the nap that never ends and Boldy makes it clear that he is capable of submitting his foes to that fate. The distortedly high-pitched and chopped vocals that Craven implements is in the same vein as an ominous lullaby. Boldy also plays with the inevitability of death in his drug usage that forces him into unwanted slumber, noting that it is more of a coping mechanism than a pleasure. Even a menace like Boldy James needs his beauty sleep.