GLBL WRMNG Celebrate Through Hardship on Vol. 1
An alternative rap collective in NOLA has been born, and their full-length introduction is a sprawling display of their talents.
In New Orleans music, community can often run deep in more ways than one. GLBL WRMNG's debut Vol. 1 features lyrics about staying grounded during times of struggle by keeping close to your community, and GLBL WRMNG itself is a community effort. More than 20 NOLA musician friends comprise the GLBL WRMNG roster, with rapper Pell sitting at the driver's seat. The 13 alternative rap tracks on Vol. 1 are first and foremost a celebration of that community. Pell and company have sparked a musical bond and they're inviting listeners to feel that same spark.
GLBL WRMNG's debut owes its sounds to a wide span of hip-hop music from a wide span of time. Everything from the moody 808s and samples of current trap to the sleek pop R&B harmonies of 2010 to the head-bobbing drums of classic hip-hop find their way into the blend. Staples of the 504 make appearances too, most notably the bounce beat and jazz samples on the track "Ivory". I couldn't see any rap fan coming away from Vol. 1 not having found one aesthetic choice they agreed with.
This diversity helps the album's approachability, but it makes the album's musical character tough to pin down. Singles “504” and “What Is Love?” lead listeners down the road of heady alt-rap with strong ties to the hip-hop of old, but the vast number of influences evident on the remaining tracks put that identity into question. There's something to love about a project that's a free-for-all for a bunch of different artists who like working with each other, but future releases would benefit from those influences funneled into a clearer, more direct, more vivid identity.
One thing that runs constant across Vol. 1 is a likable balance of quirk and authenticity in the rapping. GLBL WRMNG founder Pell raps on more of the album than any other artist does, and his charismatic, slightly animated delivery sets the tone for every other MC in the fold. Lyrics on Vol. 1 at times dive into the personal and conscious like on "N95" and at other times veer more casual as on "Really Really." Themes of persevering through the pains of modern America are always just around the corner. In any case, GLBL WRMNG’s lyricists have more than enough energy and personality to captivate listeners throughout Vol. 1.
It's always wonderful seeing a large pool of talent brought under one artistic body. Though the mission behind GLBL WRMNG's artistic body may have yet to be realized to the fullest, the passion and integrity is already there on full display. Should they stick around, GLBL WRMNG's debut likely won't go down as their biggest and boldest statement, but will always be an enjoyable introduction to the GLBL WRMNG experiment.
