Wild Card Wednesday: Aminé

Artist: Aminé

Album: ONEPOINTFIVE

Genre: Hip hop

Comments:

No longer riding the high of fame from his premier album, Good for You, Aminé's newest release, ONEPOINTFIVE, takes us on his comedown to the darker sides of celebrity.

In his opening track, Aminé reminds us all that he's not just the happy-go-lucky, comedic, and fun hip hop artist we grew to love in Good for You, but that he's human too. He confesses that he suffers from depression and anxiety, and asks his listeners to be his 'DR. WHOEVER' throughout his struggles as he discusses personal issues such as juggling who to trust in this cut-throat industry, keeping old friends, finding love, remaining the person his family knows and loves, and still being an independent and creative artist despite it all.

ONEPOINTFIVE is the polar opposite of Good for You - but, don't get it twisted. This album is just as good - if not better. It's more like a dark older sibling, if you will. For proof of that, simply listen to his earlier track 'STFU' in comparison to his angrier, short-fused 'STFU2' in ONEPOINTFIVE. And, don't forget the contrast between 'Wedding Crashers' in Good For You versus 'TOGETHER' in ONEPOINTFIVE where he goes from happily crashing the wedding of an ex to expressing feelings like, "I don't wanna be at your wedding, I wanna be in your wedding". And, for even more of a taste of the darkness that budded this album, in the song 'SHINE', Aminé discusses his struggles with a relationship and how he continues to shine and stay strong through it all. But just before the track ends and cuts to the next, we hear the sound of a lightbulb smashing against a hard surface.

While Aminé is showing us a side of him most of us probably weren't aware existed, he's still got the classic Aminé tendencies we know and love. With the use of his quirky flute harmonies, goofy commentary by Rickey Thompson between tracks, and choice pop culture references in his lyrics, we're reminded that sometimes the way we cope with hardships is through sarcasm and song.

While 'BLACKJACK', 'DAPPERDAN', and 'RATCHET SATURN GIRL' are total bops, I'm going to recommend you start the album the way Aminé intended, and the way I also started the album - with the intro. 'DR. WHOEVER' is so important, as it's an artist asking us for our therapy in the form of listening.

In ONEPOINTFIVE, Aminé shows us that - just like fame and celebrity - there's more to him than what can be seen on the surface.