SABA 'FEW GOOD THINGS'

By Leo Hewitt-Provost

02/04/2022

The 27-year-old Chicago born rapper Saba announced in late 2021 the release of his upcoming album titled Few Good Things, after two singles had come out earlier in November of the same year, two more singles came out as the new year started. Come My Way featuring Krayzie Bone and Survivor’s Guilt featuring G Herbo, one of the hottest rappers out from Chicago, came out recently and the latter served as the last single before Few Good Things saw the light on the 4th of February 2022.

Saba’s latest release was anticipated by many since Care for Me was one of hip-hop’s best releases in 2018, his last release before Few Good Things had already surprised many listeners as Saba’s storytelling and reflective lyrics are what set him apart from many other rappers.

The track list of Few Good Things is slightly longer than his previous two releases and features the likes of G Herbo as previously mentioned, Mereba, Black Thought, Fousheé, Eryn Allen Kane, Smino, 6lack and many more.

On the intro Free Samples, Saba links up with Cheflee, an artist not many can claim they know well, but his voice is stunning and sets up Saba perfectly for his verse: “I tried to spend a little less like a minimalist but then I can confess that this gets harder the bigger you get”, the track is quite short but very concise and goes straight to the point. 

On tracks like On One Way or Every N**ga With a Budget and Survivor’s Guilt featuring G Herbo, there is a clear contrast as both tracks are sonically so far apart, the sole Saba song is very melodic and the use of instruments work well whereas the feature with G Herbo has a much faster pace from the get-go, casual hip-hop fans would not be aware this was the same Saba. A minute in and the instrumental becomes melodic, choir-like chorus whilst Saba explains family struggle growing up. G Herbo mentioning 21 Savage after their track together is a good note. The beat suits G Herbo’s tone of voice but I am not convinced by the closing line.

On an Interlude called “Circus” featuring Eryn Allen Kane, the artists from Chicago, the interlude is very reminiscing of how the album started, with smooth vocals from Eryn Allen Kane, who brings a different side to the song where Saba harmonises and uses this chance to sound amazing, instrumental is very concise.

On Fearmonger featuring Daoud- the single that came out last year- it is quite outstanding to contain a range of different vocals throughout, as everything is utilised beautifully and all ties together, the last part of the song is simply gorgeous, Daoud singing is very pleasing.

Come My Way featuring Krayzie Bone Came out earlier this year, with the production and the feature showing a slower aspect to the song as Saba’s rapping abilities are shown here, with a slightly higher pace. This song is beautiful, and the hook is very refreshing.

Still featuring 6lack and Smino showcases a very harmonious start to the song, the instrumental and beat themselves are not crazy but the production, structure and composition of the song must be acknowledged. Smino has a very short verse and although well delivered, does not hold much substance compared to his comrade Saba. 6Lack’s performance is once again on point.

Mereba is the highlight of a Simpler Time, her vocals are incredibly beautiful, and she shows that she is comfortable switching it up as she sounds as good rapping as she does singing. 

Saba displays a range of emotions through the first half of the song and paint a vivid story on How Life Used To Be Simpler.

Featuring Saba’s Pivot Gang collective, Soldier was always bound to work, and this is Saba’s best verse yet, his substance matter is on point, he is accompanied by Joseph Chilliams, as he lays his verse. 

If I Had A Dollar featuring Benjamin Earl Turner’s Production is once again crazy, as the album develops, you get this sense that the beats are much more sharp and abrupt.

Stop that, which served as a single last November, is one of only two tracks on the album that does not feature another artist, the other one being One Way or Every N**ga with a Budget, surprisingly, the beat resembles a drill beat but with Saba’s demeanour and tone of voice. After all, he is from Chicago.

Lyrically, Saba has always had a great pen, and this has always been appreciated by the hip-hop community, on Make Believe, Saba sounds clearer than he has ever been and isn’t scared to back down from wanting to say what he wants coming across. Fousheé adds her own little touch as the instrumental is comfortable enough playing on its own when Saba and Fousheé feel like leaving gaps, adding more flavour and personality to the track.

2012 featuring Day Wave, like most songs on the project, has a beautiful start to the song, this song in its theme resembles Make Believe, lyrically Saba is always reflective and wants a clear message to come across to the listener, as the song closes, it becomes more powerful and resonates clearly as we are still trying to establish the fact that this is the second to last track on Few Good Things.

There are not many better ways to finish an album than with Black Thought, the 7-minute track features one of the most lyrical rappers of all time. The chorus stretches the song as production is still intact and as good as it first was.

Black Thought raps so effortlessly but that is in reality the furthest thing from the truth. His verse’s length is around a minute long but talks more in this short period of time than most rappers ever would, most likely because it is not that simple without living, eating and breathing conscious and lyrical rap. Saba has two verses, one which occur before Black Thought’s sole verse, and one after, which is amazing to see, the song is executed perfectly and there are no better ways than to finish an album with a lengthy track, something Saba did ever so well on Care for Me in 2018.