By Jhantu Randall
Staff Writer
From the grit of looking back upon a career that was started and built through blood, sweat and tears to a crescendo of self-awareness where nothing is held back, State of Washington’s own Stuey Newton who is not just an emcee but also a battle rapper, can reflect on a lifetime of growth, penned out for each bar. Each track recorded on, “…And I Hope You Remember Me” has its own unique feel, equally standing on their own, showcasing Stuey Newton’s growth through his scars, struggles, passions and life celebrations. “…And I Hope You Remember Me” begins with a track called “Essence.” Seattle, WA-living Stuey and his musical partners introduce the energy of the album and it takes to turn a mere thought into a tangible recorded body of music.
The second song, “Last Dayz” gets the album going as Stuey paints the scenes of an audio film that lives in your mind. He guides listeners through an imagined dystopian society where there is not only injustice but to be armed for protection from those who have cursed you since birth.
From that, Stuey transitions into “Integrity” which is integral in life. The juxtaposition from the previous song brings something more level. The tempo of “Integrity” is reminiscent of the musical released by an early Kanye West or Lupe Fiasco. Stuey can be heard spitting on a deeper, more personal level. Stuey seemingly pulls universal laws out of the words of this song within his own right.
“For a little money they put their morals in Jeopardy; I’ll never ever jeopardize my integrity”
– Stuey Newton, “…And I hope You Remember Me,” on the track, “Integrity.”
“Bharleston Black” is one of the standout songs on “…And I Hope You Remember Me” where Stuey addresses the hypocrisy, similar to Charleston White who is the Founder and CEO of Helping Young People Excel (HYPE) whose early contributions to gang life got him 12 years in prison on a murder charge that was highly publicized. Turning his life around is part of his success story and where the track “Bharleston Black” was born.
“Thankskilling (Feat. Blando Blaze)” and “Bachelor’s Pain” both show how diverse an emcee Stuey is on the mic as he paints two separate stories in the songs while crafting both of them in a way that the listener can literally relate. Both tracks map out actual lived experiences. “Thankskilling” is about a life going down the drain because of the path chosen, atmosphere is added by Bando Blaze on the hook, laced up with a solid sonic quality. “Bachelor Pain” is the voice inside so many young men nowadays; trying to find truth behind connections while not getting lost or screwed over. We out here raising these kids! The rest of Stuey’s album is outstanding as there is not one skippable track in the entire project, rather each song allows the listener to pull multiple interpretations from them upon repeated listens. Personal favorites would be “Someday Service,” “Black Gold” and “Secrets” while “It was Fun” is a fitting close out to the whole experience.
Usually there can be some hesitation when it comes to albums by battle rappers, due to their exceptional lyrical prose in their arena. Translating battle-type lyricism to song form does not always convey as intended. The battle rapper Skyzoo is an example of this, where his bars are gold to the lyricists but for the casual listener, the complexity goes over their heads. In context, Stuey is the antithesis of the listener’s hesitation, because not only are the lyrics on this album cutting and at times, poignant. His production is top notch as each track sonically makes an impression and stays with the listener. The songs are a perfect balance as the lyrics and sound seemingly compliment the superficial difference between a battle rap lyricist and an emcee.
There is no surprise that a man who put the battle rap scene on the map for the state of Washington could surpass the bar he set with the title to this album. Throughout Stuey’s career and with each release, He dictates the stories of his life in the form of rap with each track acting as another chapter.
If this is truly his last project, then it is a library full of knowledge that any rap fan should study. Stuey Newton as well as his album, “…And I Hope You Remember Me,” will be remembered as a success of talent with the fortitude to build it all on his own terms. So, roll up another Backwoods and take the smoke in, the author of authenticity has once again spoken.
