Kid Hum is farelly well known around the colorado rap scene, and had a fairly successful mixtape released last year. The mixtape itself got up to the 20th slot on the local hip hop charts, and was a fairly well received album. On November 25th, he released a mostly instrumental album, of some interesting hip hop beats, titled “Love To Give”.

Before listening to this album, I had briefly skimmed over the Offshore Drilling mixtape, to see what I was getting into. While good, the whole thing didn’t interest me very much. Maybe I needed to listen to it a bit more , but I feel like most of it felt very regular and not that fun to listen to. Over the next few days, I started listening to Love To Give, and learned to appreciate it alot.

As a whole, the album feels more like a concept. There are alot of tracks with good ideas going on, but end before they really get there. It feels shorter than it should be, and some tracks get repetitive and others are a little too somber. But that doesn’t make this album is pretty good. From the first track all the way through, the album delivers. Effectively grasping old school, and new school fundamentals, KId Hum does a well done hip hop record, that, while not perfect, is incredibly immersive. The older jazz and big band samples give the album a very intense feel. While its not the most original idea, Kid Hum owns it and puts his signature into everything.

The album has a very nice flow which keeps a steady mood through out the whole thing. Kid Hum knows what his strengths are and makes sure that things are appropriately soft and/or intense when they need to be. He has a very good ear for how an album is supposed to go together. Comes in steady, but not overbearing, no filler, keeps the middle refreshing and exits on something strong. 

It may not be the strongest album, and it does feel a little empty, but “Love To Give” is a fairly enjoyable album to listen to. I am happy to say I enjoyed this, and I hope he gets some recognition as an artist. 

listen here

Amor, est. in essence, is… strange. Not that the sound itself is strange, but the way it is done. The way that he records his music is so earnest. In a way that no other artist could be. From covers of the video game Earthbound, to samples of Steve Brule from Tim and Eric, Amor, est. seems to pour his entire soul into this record.

Amor, est.’s songs are equally well balanced between sample heavy hip-hop tracks, and harsh and dirty electronic noise. So harsh at times, it almost sounds like dub-step. Not that that is a bad thing, but the real strength of this album is the ambiance. Everything feels so well constructed, and planned precisely to feel as immersive as possible. Every sound is intense and amazing and deeply enjoyable. That being said, In The Purple Cave is not without it’s faults.

The album itself feels at times, more like a mix-tape (and if that was the intention, then never mind). But it probably could have been put together a little better. for instance, following up Dark Crystal with Breast Stroke, was not a smart decision. After sucking us in with such a strong first track, I feel the anticlimactic Breast Stroke almost ruined it. And while most of the rappers on the album do an incredible job, I feel Tayke One was lacking. And he is not a bad rapper either, he just seems to be off on this one. And although the record is very good, I feel like it gets repetitive after a while.

In the Purple Cave is good, but I feel Amor, est. needs to grow as an artist. I would, however, definitely pay money for a second album. It will be interesting to see him evolve.    

(listen here)

This is Colorado Ear. I will review any local Colorado music that I like and think deserves a decent review. Thats it.