American rapper, singer and producer 2hollis just dropped his fourth album, “star,” on April 4. His esoteric beats, a supernova of emotions, distinguish him from other producers. This new album tells the story of his fame, reflecting the sounds of today’s Internet.
“beginning”
This song, “beginning,” serves as a flashy introduction. The track begins with buzzing ambient noise followed by intermittent flares of the sound of zooming vehicles, quickly picking up the tempo. 2hollis then adds in a monologue seemingly addressed directly to his listeners: “Right now / You are now witness to something great, a miracle / Do you get it? Are you ready?” Directly addressing the audience is not often done, demonstrating 2hollis’ genuine interest in connecting with his fans.
“flash”
Every song in the album plays seamlessly after one another as this second track, “flash” does, connecting perfectly to “beginning.” The title is fitting — every second of this song is electrifying with bursts of showy synth and the word “star” repeated in the lyrics. The synth is a highlight, controlling the tempo significantly as it picks up speed rapidly near the end.
“girl”
2hollis posted on social media in March, revealing a new private account that would only be open for his audience to follow for the next 24 hours. Following the album’s release, this account became public, imparting to the audience his vision of his music moving forward. The posts are bright, capturing the flashiness of a star, which “girl” also expresses. Although it is not as exciting or loud as “flash,” it perfectly emulates the “star” motif of this album with bright synth sounds.
“safe”
Much of this song is filled with his vocal ability that shines on top of his trademark autotune, rather than focusing on background beats like some of his other tracks do. The lyrics are powerful as they convey a sense of yearning for safety — he repeats the line, “Tell me that I’m safe.” This song is the last track in “star” and ends with the lyrics: “You never did go home, did you? / No, never.” This line closes the album in a mysterious way. 2hollis also announced with the release of “star” that there is an upcoming sister album, adding on to the suspense.
2hollis’ fourth album, “star,” is ultimately a bold album, crafted with electric sounds made by bright synth and exciting lyrics. The sound is electrifying and exhilarating, trademark characteristics of this artist’s music. As his fourth album, “star” demonstrates 2hollis’ stylistic capabilities and reveals the new chapter of his fame through the development of his production and songwriting abilities.
