slowthai - UGLY
slowthai
UGLY
By: Dean Washmore
That’s one small step for rap, one giant artistic leap for slowthai…
Three album’s in - slowthai has always been known for his grimy, somewhat abrasive style of British hip-hop. However, on UGLY, he takes this aesthetic to another level.
From the opening track, “Yum” - UGLY, will jar you for its raw and intense motif. There’s consistent anguish, putting himself and the world we live in under a giant magnifying glass - and what he finds isn’t pretty. Like he muses on the title track, “The most beautiful people do the ugliest things.”
And while UGLY is not always the most comfortable record, it’s easily slowthai’s most ambitious and complete. It’s dripping in pain and honesty from start to finish, and whether the narrative resonates with you or not - you have to appreciate the sheer artistic confidence to attempt to pull this off.
In both the metaphorical and literal sense - UGLY plays like a therapy session. Literal in that the opener, “Yum,” replays how the advice from his therapist just pissed him off more.
Even when the music sounds lighter and more upbeat, the lyrics are still heart-wrenching. There are discussions around suicidal thoughts, alcohol, and drugs, and then there is the story of the murder of slowthai’s ex-girlfriend on “Never Again.”
At first glance, “Never Again” comes across as a more straight-ahead and bright tune, with his strong decision to lean on a spoken word delivery.
But as you pull away the layers - “Never Again” is the painful reflection on regret, the difficulty in forgiving yourself, and the looming reminder that humans try to ignore that you might never know the last time you see someone. It’s his most robust performance on the album and perhaps across his discography.
The title track is a creative and emotional achievement - with gritty punk rock anthemic tones, shouting "THE WORLD IS UGLY."
It's a stark realization for slowthai that the world and reality are ugly.
"I'm sick of thinkin' there's a reason I'm here, we're just puppets in a simulation."
As he hurts and grapples with his own struggles, he internalizes how unsightly the world can be.
The record could be an incredible drag to listen to, and one can certainly understand that based on its heavy lyrical content. However, sonic finesse and precision around the instrumentation make UGLY an evolving listen that you'll keep returning to. The dedication to his craft, his message, and the fearlessness to express his most profound and darkest thoughts is impressive and relatable.
After all, isn't that what art is for?
