The North Carolina rapper, Mavi, steps back into the spotlight after his disgruntled sophomore album and gives fans a look into who he was over his absence.
This album is a must listen, but be warned it is very heavy. With themes of substance abuse, self loathing, and redemption this album will move you emotionally. Some of the stand out tracks are “the sky is quiet“, “the giver“, “too much zelle“, and “i’m so tired” but listen to the album all the way through to maximize your experience
Mavi’s “shadowbox” is A Must Listen
The album opens up with the track “20,000 leagues” and sets the tone of the album. Mavi raps over longing piano chords and strings. It sounds like he is rapping through an old phone, heartbroken and empty. He sorrowfully exclaims “I have nowhere to go /I’m really just a piece/I made you out of whole/I placed you out of reach” which talks about the heartbreak he faced over the last three years.
“shadowbox” is Heart-wrenching
The song “open waters” Mavi raps over a dissonant and echoey guitar. Mavi shares how he needs to cleanse his mind, body, and soul. He repeats the statement “I need a baptism”. The song is a harsh self-reflection, asking the question “who am I and where am I going”.
This is something every human has encountered and Mavi shares his experience with these thoughts and his coping strategy which was turning to the alcohol. He then reflects on his worthiness, which throws him into a state self pity and gives Mavi the conclusion “I dig a deeper hole”.
“Read the Lyrics, Listen All In Order, Quiet and In The Dark. It’s Okay to Cry!” – Mavi
Probably the most important song on the album isn’t even a song but an interlude titled “drown the snake“. The 41 second track features Mavi having a conversation with someone. The nameless voice tells a story about the inner child in all of us and the demon that grew up with it.
"But that child, it grow up and that demon do too, it gеt bigger
And it’s, like, you gotta learn how to kill that motherfucker, bro
You can't let that just keep haunting your life"....
..."So how you kill him?"...
The whole album can be summarized into this short monologue. The whole album is his journey trying to kill the self doubt and darkness he has within him. Mavi takes us down deep into what he is. He is an intellectual with self image and relationship problems who did not know how to cope with them. This internal struggle would then lead him to hate himself and the things he created like his music and relationships.
Not only is this a tragic story, but one that many listeners and people around the world can relate to. Mavi might have made this album for himself, but this instance and story connects him to his listeners throughout the world. Although most of this album feels hopeless, it does offer a hopeful conclusion.
On the last song of the album “my own way” Mavi reflects on his past and where his actions have landed him. He says “Betrayal make me afraid to use my heart, but it’s the only tool I got/Confused the rubble for the top, abused the only rule I got”. Showing what happened when he followed his vices and that inner demon in all of us. He then turns towards God asking him to make a room for him.
Mavi seems to be in a better place as well by stating via his instagram,”thank you, god for a life that teaches, and for a teachers who give me life. i touched the lowest lows yet making this. i needed this, and i needed you. thank you. i am your friend, and i live and die for your love, -omavi ammu (and his shadow)”
Shadowbox is available on all streaming platforms.
