Alano – No Originality [LP]

With the album No Originality, Brooklyn emcee Alano spares no jab aimed at the music industry’s superficial nature and cookie-cutter approach to hip-hop. Each shot on this 10-track set punches hard with high-powered beats and rhymes that push their way through your speakers with stern purpose. Produced entirely by burgeoning producer V-Notes, this album is a seminal nod to the timeless roots of NYC hip-hop and a forward-looking exploration of present-day post-trap vibes. The fusion of Alano’s New-York-straight-talk style and V-Notes‘ adrenaline-rushing, 808-driven beats paints a winning picture of rap’s ever-evolving identity, making listeners lean into every verse and hook.

Alano hits the ground running with “Nothin’ Yet“, a hammering mantra of raw resilience and tireless drive. His measured use of repetition and metaphors heightens this chest-thumpin’ piece, motivating fans to get turnt up and embrace their own power and potential. As expressed in the lines “My flow belongs in a vineyard, somewhere where they cultivate wine/ Cause while I may be an acquired taste, I’ll still get better with time” Alano makes it clear that he’s not here to be a passing fad. The visuals for this track bring to life Alano’s lively persona, drawing our focus to his spirited performance, further fueled by V-Notes‘ dynamic energy. Darren Talent‘s direction adds to the engaging imagery as he captures the fully charged BKMC shining in his element: inside the studio, in the club, hell…even alone in front of the mirror.

In the next phase, “That’s How I Feel,” Alano squares up against the rap industry’s notorious vanity. From the jump, he sets a no B.S. tone with “A lot of you niggas ain’t about what you say you about/ Yeah, that’s how I feel (yeah)/ A lot of you niggas will do anything for some clout/ Yeah, that’s how I feel.” He targets the hyped-up endorsement of materialism in hip-hop, licking a clear shot at the scandal-laden 6ix9ine with “But like a man is how you better take your years/ I don’t know another way to make that clear/ if niggas see that you ain’t really bout that life/ you gon end up like the nigga with the rainbow hair.” And as with “Nothin’ Yet”, Darren Talent’s direction for the song’s video brings Alano‘s bars to life, showcasing him in his everyday, low-key digs, pitting typical rap extravagance against true-to-life realism.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1d1UBIfk2lHZifaI0G5SA1?si=7ce880d7d1ab4c01

Alano doesn’t pause for breath before he connects with K1aus and Warren Wint and launches into “Great“, a sparse and hard-hitting verbal offensive against doubters and detractors. Speaking on the tension between aspiration and hate, the three-man team lets the world know that the only way to move forward is by putting those who want to hold you back in your rearview mirror. From there we dive into “You Heard“, a track where Alano takes us into the labyrinth of his life, navigating a terrain marked by trials and triumphs. This electric-wire anthem – sculpted and set aflame by V-Notes‘ booming drum kit, glaring horns, and shimmery organ riffs – allows the Brooklyn native to pay homage to his humble beginnings and the city that he calls home.

The album’s halfway mark is marked by “Rent Party” a track where stocky drum thumps and vibe-setting finger snaps mingle with muted synth lines and retro samples, fueling a rush of nostalgia and feel-good energy. The record reincarnates the historical ‘rent party’ culture, setting it in the present day with Alano’s unique spin. The party scene described in his lyrics brims with life, drawing listeners to its energetic core. His words paint a picture of a bass-thumping bash with plenty of drinks pouring, weed smoking, lovely ladies, and good vibes in the air. Keeping in line with the theme of pleasure pursuits, the track “Good Pu$$y” is an x-rated ode to the female form in a way that only rap music can deliver. The track, which features Loca Six, is a raunchy and hot-blooded morsel of grown-folks fun set to cosmic synth leads and pulsing beats and a nice change of pace from the other tracks on the album. “Be Without You” is another standout cut on No Originality, one that cleverly spins the well-trodden-but-still-fascinating metaphor where a spellbinding woman embodies the equally spellbinding spirit of smoking weed. The chemistry between Alano and guest emcees Sha Summers and Cryssy Bandz definitely adds a spark of energy to the tried and tested concept and V-Notes’ rhythmic guitars and thuddy drums only add to the track’s appeal

Transitioning to a reflective state of mind, Alano reshuffles his sonic deck with “Back In The Days,” a cut that prompts listeners to bathe in the glow of old memories. The instrumentation, laced with jazzy drum loops, delicately strummed guitar notes, and soothing echoes from singer RKHTY, set the framework for a potent rundown of what it means to be grown. Our boy plunges headfirst into the pool of maturity and adult responsibilities, resurfacing with a vivid account of rent, bills, job stress, feelings of being undervalued, and the emotional and physical exhaustion that comes with it all.

The album closes with a pair of heartfelt gems, “Until We Meet Again” and “Used To Love Her“. Wrapped in raw emotion and vulnerability, “Until We Meet Again” is Alano‘s touching ode to his late mother. Grief and confusion are apparent as he narrates the details leading to his mother’s collapse, “Unconscious when paramedics found you on the floor / still breathing despite everything you had endured.” This stanza speaks to both his mother’s strength even in her most vulnerable moments as well as Alano‘s respect and admiration for the woman who raised him. His palpable pain and his struggle with strained familial ties in the wake of his mother’s death offer a stark contrast to the rest of the album, ultimately showcasing his versatility and depth as an artist. The final salvo of the album, “Used To Love Her” explores Alano’s evolving relationship with hip-hop culture. With more than a hint of bluesy nostalgia on deck, he expresses his disappointment over the current state of hip-hop, and how it dilutes originality in favor of shallow popularity. Over V-Notes somber arrangement and singer Jai Emm‘s elegant coos, Alano uses the metaphor of a souring relationship to express his frustrations, disillusionment, and bittersweet reminiscences of a bygone era.

https://open.spotify.com/track/34hM9pZpPSjUSIZH6GxIXh?si=c95afcb65c014227

Throughout No Originality, Alano manages to keep his story personal and engaging, making the album feel authentic and distinctly his own. His ability to twist together intricate details, personal experiences, and cultural references is top tier and his textural, complex bars keep each track fresh and engaging. Whether he’s critiquing the industry’s obsessions, paying homage to his mother, or exploring his own transformation, Alano’s rhymes always stay vibrant and relatable. Both he and V-Notes need to be celebrated for their tightrope-like balance between moving the crowd and moving the soul. Without question, this album doesn’t just hit the mark, it slices right through it.

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https://open.spotify.com/album/45IhIeZH0eM4jS7g8EcS86?si=uUrYA_-dR7m6Iip7nm_CbA

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