Inspired by the track that closed out his debut, 2018’s T.A.P (Talk About Poe)—LADIPOE’s sophomore album, REVIVAL, has been at least eight years in the making, created through periods of monumental personal and professional evolution. Exploring the responsibilities of life as a father, music star, and citizen of the world, REVIVAL functions as both a document of self-acknowledgment and a lodestar for the MC’s future. The ride begins with LADIPOE flirting with themes of self-mythology while acknowledging some of the criticisms he’s faced in recent years. “Movie star, rapper, dad tell me what your excuse is, huh?” he boasts on “Chosen,” before admitting that he’s been unlearning perfection, a clear impediment to his output. On “Compose,” he’s reeling from the euphoria of soundtracking parties across his city. If reveling in his achievements plays a part across REVIVAL, the album is likewise punctuated by moments of reflection that capture LADIPOE at his most pensive. On “Amazing,” he’s recounting the sacrifices he’s made to reach the mountaintop. “I see your fears, I know you hate to fail/Like you want to be a star but it’s humanity for sale,” he raps on “Friend Indeed.” And then there is Louddaaa-produced “Palm Trees (Interlude),” a heart-tugging reconciliation of the frictions that exist when familial expectations intersect with life as a superstar MC.