Soso is a musician and artist from Saskatoon. His style of music has a very unique and personal sound. The music is hip hop but has a very organic sound. The drums in particular are hand picked samples and not stock samples or computer synthesized beats. Soso’s raps are delivered in a simple manner that sounds like he is reading an essay. At first they sound simple and lazy but he is able to deliver very personal and interesting lyrics that are often dark and emotional. Occasionally he sings in a high pitch voice that almost sounds like a joke but on repeat listens these vocals are haunting and powerful.

Not For Nothing is his fifth album and was released in 2013. On this album the production is handled by Swiss producer Maki. Maki provides a soundtrack that similar to the music Soso has self produced for his previous albums. It’s very atmospheric and often brooding. Soso’s contemplative lyrics fit perfectly over slow drum beats and piano samples but the music holds it’s own between sparse lyrics adding to the feel of Soso’s deliberate emotional delivery.

It is definitely a hip hop album but this is not an album for hip hop purists The seriousness of the lyrics does not always make it suitable for easy listening. Be prepared to invest some thought and feeling as you listen. This is one of my favourite albums from 2013 and as the snow rolled in today in Toronto I could not think of an album that I would prefer to listen to.