Album Review: Hopsin-No Shame
By Gabe Guo
On November 24, 2017, the rapper Hopsin released his new album, appropriately titled No Shame. This album is the first and only album to be on Hopsin’s very own record label, Undercover Prodigy. Previously, Hopsin had released his albums in collaboration with Ruthless Records and Funk Volume, but following his conflicts of interest with the executives of both labels, he chose to found his own label. For the most part, this album keeps in line with the hip-hop mantra of “keeping it real”. Hopsin leaves no topics unaddressed, as he bares the problems of his personal life to all of his album’s listeners. Much of the album focuses on his failed relationship with his ex-girlfriend and the aftermath that resulted. This makes for some very emotional material. The first track, “Hotel in Sydney” delves right into the root of the issue: his failed proposal attempt that landed him in jail. In the song, he documents flying to Australia with an expensive engagement ring to propose to his girlfriend, who is twenty weeks pregnant with what is presumed to be his kid. However, he discovers that she has been cheating on him, even as she carries his baby. But, the unpleasant surprises do not end there, as he also finds out that his girlfriend is an “exotic dancer”. Hopsin is emotionally distraught, and begins to argue with his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend. In frustration, he pushes her on the bed. This is what lands him in jail, with his now ex-girlfriend claiming that he has been perpetually abusing her. As a rebuttal, Hopsin raps, “Officer, I know you ain’t gonna sympathize / I don’t approve of any man puttin’ hands on his girlfriend or wife /Especially when she’s pregnant with his kid inside / Honestly feel like I wasn’t in the wrong, but still I wasn’t in the right / Ask her, she ain’t got no bruises on her”. He goes on to lament that the officers believed in the stereotype of the abusive black male on the mother of his child. He feels cheated, after all the efforts he made for their relationship. This is very emotional, and perhaps, disorienting material to be the first track on an album that is meant for commercial appeal. It is reminiscent of Eminem’s debut album, The Slim Shady LP. (On a side note, Eminem is dropping his album Revival on December 15.) Nevertheless, the raw, angry content is what makes Hopsin special. He does not shy away from sharing his feelings in his art. Much of the album follows in a similar vein, showing Hopsin’s ever-developing cynicism towards the world. The four singles from this album are “The Purge”, “Happy Ending”, “Witch Doctor”, and “Ill Mind of Hopsin 9”. In my humble opinion, “Ill Mind of Hopsin 9” was the song with the most pathos. It is written as a letter to his unborn son, who he is not allowed to see, on account of being banned from Australia due to the aforementioned domestic violence charges. He grieves and mourns about how he may never get to meet his son, expressing his rage at his ex-girlfriend for causing this. Perhaps the most powerful lines of the whole album come on this track: “I promise we gon’ be together somehow in the end / I am very ashamed that you don’t have my last name / Every night I go to bed and I’m feelin’ this wicked pain”. For the most part, the beats and musical production match the lyrical content: anguished, angry, and somewhat eerie. This is expected, as Hopsin produced all but one of the songs on the album. The beats are mostly in a dark, minor key. Overall, this album is a very expressive, well produced work of art. Anybody who is looking for an hour of meaningful music should listen to this album. I give it five stars out of five.
