— Whyz cements himself as one of Atlanta’s most uniquely talented and incredibly insightful artists with the release of his latest project, Negro Spirituals.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Whyz grew up in what many would consider the capital of the American south. Soaking up the influences of his storied environment while also gathering inspiration from artists deeply rooted in culture and pure artistic expression such as Erykah Badu, Prince, and Andre 3000, Whyz has become a truly thought-provoking and inspirational artist himself. In fact, his latest body of work, Negro Spirituals, is a glaring illustration of just that.
To begin the album, none other than Atlanta legend and Dungeon family OG Big Rube lends his distinguished voice and respected outlook to the album’s title track, “Negro Spirituals,” by delivering a spine-chilling message about the state of Hip-Hop and its often forgotten importance and involvement in the advancement, expression, and community-strengthening of Black culture. This short monologue sets the tone for the entire project, but can also be seen as the foreshadowing of a much-needed shift in Hip-Hop in which Whyz may find himself being one of its biggest catalysts.
Following Big Rube’s weighted words, a series of wistful vocals — much like those used in traditional negro spirituals — begin the transition into the album’s first musical offering as they eventually synchronize to form the hair-raising chant, “There’s something in the water, there’s something in the air.” Shortly thereafter, Whyz delivers a profound verse showcasing his personal complexities as he makes it clear that he’s a bit of a rebel while simultaneously highlighting some of his own afflictions — many of which are quite common amongst us. Whyz closes out the verse with a deeply compelling sequence of bars as he raps,
“They just want everything
Not even livin’ on Saturn, but they want a wedding ring
They just want everything
Mothers and daughters all stuck on the TV screen
We fall for everything
Money and p*ssy and power, Americans…
The sh*t in my blood n*gga. I don’t even need a battery
Nothing can happen that baffles me
I am so numb to the tragedies
I just wan’ drown in my melodies as I head to the hills out in Beverly
I’m just a messenger medalling
Since 2020, all our vision 20/20
All the lies, they been plenty
Sippin Henny til my last penny…
I know they just wanna bury us…
Domination got me furious
They got all the data and they pockets fatter, why we just acting so curious…
They just want everything…”
After “Negro Spirituals” comes the incredibly smooth “Hallelujah,” built on a mesmerizing instrumental featuring an enchanting vocal sample and snapping drum cadence, courtesy of producer Kasio. Here, Whyz gets quite a few things off his chest as he shows appreciation for his many blessings, shares his contempt for jealous opposition, and acknowledges past feelings of despair despite his unwavering devotion to uplifting his community along with the world at large. About 2 minutes into the track, the instrumental switches into a hazy dream-like production sending you into a trance as Whyz matches said production with a more slowed cadence and soothing vocals while delivering a masterfully introspective verse.
Whyz follows this up with yet another laid-back vibe, “Under My Feet.” Produced by featured artist, Prince Scooter, the groovy bass-backed record is perfect for a drive through the city on a sunny day, a cookout in your backyard, or anything in between. Furthermore, Prince Scooter flawlessly dances between a calculated rhythmic flow and his more melodic flows creating a dynamic energy that couples beautifully with Whyz’s thunderous vocals.
“September 3rd / Virgos Ain’t Sh!t” finds Whyz at his most somber thus far in the project as he starts off rapping over another beautiful soul sample, this time led by an elegant piano melody. Reflecting on his own mortality and gratefulness for life, Whyz encourages listeners to live freely while freeing himself from his own preconceived notions of “fame.” On the second half of the record, Whyz embraces some of his flaws while putting his vocal range on further display — a trend that continues on the following record, “Ego.”
To close out volume 1 of the album, Whyz gives us two more highly-introspective records supported by rich production. In the first, “Glory,” Whyz shares a few critical observations of our society including our obsession with screens, our general need to appear richer than we are, and our unwittingly willing participation in our own destruction. On the other hand, “Problems” takes us back to the album’s roots beginning with another negro spiritual-like chant featuring soft vocals, guitar strums, and a short harmonica tune. Switching the production and vocal delivery a few times, adding to the intricacy of the track, Whyz closes with an authoritative verse further condemning the more off-putting aspects of our society and culture.
Volume 2 of Negro Spirituals starts with the fantastically funky “Funkyawant” featuring fellow southerner Akeem Ali. Produced by New Message, this nostalgic record is made for the dance floor. Borrowing elements from the 70s funk era, Whyz and Akeem Ali create a timeless classic themselves — one that every generation can certainly enjoy.
The next track, “Sweet Potato” — draped in cozy and serene vibes reminiscent of a sultry jazz or poetry lounge — features Whyz musing over a significant other, likening the intoxicating, yet fulfilling, experience to that of eating soul food. Similarly, on the following two tracks, “Mannequin Girl” and “Bad Match,” Whyz focuses more on some of the complications that come with romance.
On “Mannequin Girl”, Whyz shares his grievances with a woman he considers to be superficial and shallow while featured artist, Atlanta songstress 7een, uses her velvety vocals to offer some push back, insisting that these accusations are simply projection. Still, on what could be a continuation of this very idea with “Bad Match”, Whyz wants nothing more than to be in this seemingly toxic union. Led by a passionate serenade by gifted vocalist Quashaun, “Bad Match” brilliantly highlights the complexities that exist even in the most fulfilling of relationships.
Getting back to a more upbeat vibe, “Don’t Close Your Eyes” is another groovy track equipped with a resonant bassline, vibrant vocals, and a spirited saxophone melody that leads into the trance-inducing “No One Else” featuring Atlanta-based vocalist Stone.
The album comes to a close with “Found a Savior.” With the help of a somber piano melody and soulful background vocals, Whyz starts out by baring his soul, reflecting on the losses he’s endured, owning up to his own mistakes, and shedding his need for outside acceptance. With a smooth switch of the beat, introducing trunk-shaking 808s, Whyz turns things up a notch. Effortlessly dancing over the bouncy production with an infectious flow, Whyz sends us off with an important message regarding his self-appointed position as leader and confidante within his community along with a few boastful bars for the road.
All in all, Negro Spirituals is a complete masterpiece from top to bottom. From its masterful production, handled mostly by producers New Message and Slayur, to its exceptionally gripping subject matter and world-class lyricism and songwriting, Negro Spirituals is a cohesive work of art that will be tough for anyone to follow. Lucky for us, this is only the beginning for Whyz.
Be sure to check out the full album right here. Also be sure to follow Whyz on Instagram to see what he’s up to next.