Distant EP: Review

This was an unexpected journey. Every Thursday at around midnight I hop on Reddit to check what hip-hop albums and songs and projects have been released. Unfortunately this week there were very few that I had to choose from due to it being New Years. The first two weeks of the year are always a little sparse. This week was awful though. I found hardly any projects that peaked my fancy and felt like would be worth reviewing. Although that is part of the reason I committed myself to doing these every week; it forces me to listen to music I may not have otherwise. 

Queue the discovery of Distant, an EP by Bun B and Le$ (pronounced L-E-dolla sign). I saw this and decided it was probably the best one to go with as it was the only project released with an artist I had heard of. I had no desire to listen to this as I have never been a fan of Bun B personally, and Le$ was someone I hadn’t even heard of. I saw the track list sitting at only six songs and a run time of twenty minutes and thought that even if I hate it, it's a short album and that I should go into it with an open mind. The phrase “pleasantly surprised” doesn't even begin to describe my feelings towards this project. I am going to break this down track by track in just a second but this EP delivered in a way I was not expecting and I was genuinely excited to write about it after only a couple listens. 

The first track is called “Wolf Spider.” This track starts slow with this distorted guitar lead, the producer tag for $teakx$hrimp kicks in and this slow, simple drum pattern led by the hi-hat kicks in. Le$ takes the first first verse and it’s a clinical verse about his raping proficiency and the respect he deserves. It's nothing super deep but the flow is so smooth that every line hits in just the right way. Exactly halfway into the song Bun B takes over. His deeper voice feels tailor made for the beat as he drops the most OG of knowledge on his verse. He drops lines like, “Two people only keep a secret if one of them dies.” The track closes on a thirty second skit of some people chatting about the spoils of being rich.

The smoothness doesn’t stop though. “Live By” follows and has a beat that very much follows in the mold of the previous one. The lead is another guitar though this one is more riff focused with what sounds like bells or chimes layered on top. The drums are a little more trap inspired but they don’t turn this into a trap beat at all. The song takes a slightly more focused approach to its messaging with Le$ once again handling the first verse, and then later handling the chorus. The lyrics tell the tale of just remembering who you are and that everyone is trying to accomplish their goals the same way you are. The song is filled with words to live by (pun very much intended) regarding the ideas of hustling to get yours and not fucking up other peoples hustles just to put yourself over. Once again Bun B steals the show though as his lyrics just hit the point so much harder. His verses are shorter but the way he is able to say so much with so few words is a constant throughout the EP.

“How it go” follows and this time we get Bun B first. The beat feels like an Alchemist beat almost, with this synth lead that feels happy and hopeful. The drums pace the song but this, like previous tracks, is here to facilitate the artists words. Bun B talks about the difference between this generation of rappers and his, and how social media is not a part of what he does. If he has beef with you he will make it known to you and other then that he just wants to be left alone to rap and make money. The Le$ verse on the song leaves a little to be desired but is essentially about things going wrong and people not being able to mind their own business. The chorus wraps all these ideas up by just saying this is how life goes and you just have to find your ways to deal with it. 

We get our first beat with some real groove to it on “Maintain.” The guitar is a little deeper, a little slower, and gets teamed with these slightly intermittent drums that are again, just here to pace and layer the song. Up to this point, the song titles have been a big indicator as to the subject matter. This doesn’t change. Both artists are on their A-game lyrically with this track. Both artists talk about having bad days in different ways and the types of things you have to do to maintain your sanity and just recharge your batteries from the day. For the first time we have Bun B handling a chorus and it's basically just him listing off things he does to reset himself and then closing it out with how doing all of these things is nothing but positive. He says in the track, “Nothing to lose and everything to gain.” I only put that line in here because I couldn’t come up with a better way to phrase it. The song is a slow walk in the park on a sunny afternoon when you’re all done with work. The song also coincidentally tells you to go take a walk. This is easily one of the highlights on a project that's filled with highlights. 

The spaciest beat on the track list is up next. “Point of view” is a song easily translatable to your own life, again. Bun B and Le$ take turns talking about what concerns them in life, in abstract terms that is. They want what's best for themselves and their families but that comes with worries. The chorus echoes the sentiment and adds that while their lives and success might not mean anything to the listener, it's the only thing that they know, because it’s their own life and experience. 

The album closes out on the title track “Distant.” This track has some of the smoothest flows on the project and that is absolutely saying something. Again each artist takes about half of the track. Le$ talks about staying on his grind no matter what is going on around him and specifically references having to socially distance. As for Bun B, he starts his verse with the line, “Never miss out on some free game, You better listen and learn.” I think I will choose to not write about his verse anymore because if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know about the lyrical excellency that followed then I don’t know what would. 

I can’t believe how much I loved this EP. I have always respected Bun B for what he has done for hip-hop, especially in the Houston area, and the sound he has cultivated and inspired. That being said, I have never really been a fan. I often find myself not really enjoying artists with deeper, more monotone vocal inflections. As for Le$, I had never even heard of him, which I stated above but really does bare repeating. That all led to me going into this project hoping to get a C- grade out of it and being prepared for a D grade. 

Then I actually listened and was blown away. I listened late at night which couldn't have been more sublime. The EP is the absolute perfect length for what they were trying to make, and I felt like from top to bottom the album is well produced with great flows, insightful verses, and all the knowledge you could ever want from one of the greatest rappers of all time. Distant isn’t just for the OGs, it's for every single hip-hop fan that could use a little bit of wisdom in their lives. I am shocked at how good this project is and honestly I should probably feel bad about that, and for doubting what this could have been. I say all that just to make it clear that this album deserves, and is getting the highest grade I have given to an album since starting this website. 

The Grade: A-