Fireplace: TheNotTheOtherSide Hodgy

Fourth Best Member From OF. Only under Tyler, Earl, and Frank.

Hodgy of Odd Future just dropped his debut album Fireplace: TheNotTheOtherSide, but he’s been in the game for a minute, in duo MellowHype with producer Left Brain and trio MellowHigh with Left Brain and Domo Genesis, and their reputation for making excellent indie rap-fare is impressive. Hodgy’s mixtapes, solid as well, were great warmup, one could say kindling, for this official solo LP. On the beats, Fireplace offers different style combos and musical tastes that pop, spark and sizzle but never overwhelm. Hodgy’s mind state is all clean and clear, and his hot lyrics dance magnificently in the flames of his nice bright audio-tinder. At various points, he avoids trouble over casual swank in “Kundalini,” aims high and slashes hate in “Barbell” and banishes evil in “Resurrection.”

Hodgy gets deepest in “They Want” with “they want you to fail, they want you to hate yourself” so that we the listeners do the opposite, and he steals hearts when he describes the humanity of those affected by the ironfist of juggernaut police. The album is simply decorated by Hodgy’s great lyrics of wisdom, sense, intuition, lessons, advice and words to live by, set to a backdrop of cool vibes. His thought processes are healthy and pure. His bases are all filled by the end when he encourages us to make-it-happen in “The Now” and goes through fluctuating family matters in “DYSLM.” Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne guest and show confidence and faith in their man at the same time. Though it’s not the best Hodgy can do, this great original Fireplace album is stripped down to the fresh beautiful basics and succeeds intensely.

I love every part of this album. And I'm disappointed not to many people have got it