My good friend thought I might like this album and recomended it to me, so I thought it would be a good chance to write a review. Apologies for the lack of quality, I was writing this during finals season.

Hanif Reads Toni - Incredible first song, kind of also contextualizes the rest of the album. I enjoy the themes about kind of forgetting the past, new order, and more progressiveness.

Sun, I rise - Another fantastic song. I think this song is about cycles of violence maybe. He seemed to have toppled someone who toppled another at the beginning, and comes to terms with the fact his own life may end like that. Also has a lot to do with Icarus, flying too close to the sun and will inevitably fall.

Mezzanine Trippin' - this one I like the sounds a lot. I think I'm hearing the gold chain he mentioned there. The major theme I noticed was about how he's "shining" now, which is both a blessing and a curse.

Run, Run, Run - I enjoyed this album a lot musically. I love the layering of the vocals, the bass and the drums especially. Noticed another Icarus mention. But I think this song is mostly about flying away to somewhere better.

Live! From the kitchen table - I love the saxophone so much. Honestly so far this is the one I love the most sonically. But the lyrics have so much to offer as well. The "kitchen table" seems to reference Kitchen Table Series by Carrie Mae Weems, a photography installation about how "the kitchen table is the real stage where life’s biggest moments play out, and where the full range of human emotions is expressed." This song seems to reference this idea in relation his complicated relationship with his father, and the time they spent at the kitchen table, and now reflecting on that as his father is seriously ill. Also fun 50 cent reference.

Tyler, Forever - Fun awesome confidence anthem, but also pretty musically complex. The main themes I heard were about reflecting on his own pain and his artistic process.

Dedicated to Tar Feather - I love the voice with the strings and piano in the background. The main themes I heard were about "suffering from success". The singer has done really well as an artist but is now facing the consequences.

The Story so Far - Interlude - The Saxophone is once again awesome. Fantastic song.

The Story so Far - Super interesting rhythm and sound. Love the bodega setup. I think the song is mostly him reflecting on the people around him and their ways of life. Also great setup for the next song.

Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? - Incredible song all around. Great as the title track too. It also has a lot of all the themes from all the songs before it. He talks about gold fingertips again, his home, his love for his city (his beloved paradise I think?), him up at the top and falling, being vulnerable. Its a song that ties right back into the beginning of the album while going over everything the album has to offer.

OVERALL - Honestly Incredible Album. No bad songs at all and very sonically and lyrically interesting. My favorite albums are often the ones with a lot of vulnerability and this seems to fall in line with that. I think my favorites from the album are "Live! From the kitchen table" and "Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?". Definitely going to listen to this again. If there's an inspiration I think it would be Kendrick.