Devoted fans of Adam WarRock would be quick to note that he’s not a one trick pony, that for every TV-themed EP he’s released, there’s been a “Ta-Nehisi,” or “Guilty as Charged” - serious songs that tackle important subject matter. In a perfect world, everyone would be able to take a step back and not label WarRock as anything beyond “hip hop artist,” and we’d just let his career unfold and we could see how the different sides of his music and personality were actually in conversation with each other. Maybe we’ll reach that point someday - I’ll be thrilled if we can do that. Until then, I’ll happily play the role of the one connecting the dots for potential fans, imploring people to realize that while City Beautiful is a “serious” EP, we don’t have to keep everything separate for it all to make sense.

After spending the last two years on the road, WarRock finally took a break from touring to go back to his home town of Memphis. With time to reflect on his past, both recent and distant, it makes sense that we’d get one of his most introspective albums at this point in his career. Working with Dallas producer Rob Viktum, we also get the chance to see WarRock with the opportunity to collaborate with one producer exclusively, which often leads to some artistic choices that might not have happened if you’re picking and choosing from different producers. Viktum provides plenty of fantastic laid back, soulful, Southern beats, which really encourage WarRock to open himself up to lyrical and emotional exploration in his music in ways that he hasn’t done in depth in the past. On the opening track, “THX,” WarRock shows he can drop some statement/battle raps with the best of them, and he does a great job complicating the issue of labels within hip hop, along with the way the music industry has shifted. The title track features an amazing beat, with just great interplay between guitar and horns, thanks to Viktum, and the hometown love letter is really touching. “CAPS LOCK,” with YTCracker again explores identity issues, including some great discussion of the flip that occurs with success as the nerdy kid who was picked on is now sought after. Of course, WarRock takes the mature stance of not bragging about how many women he now scores, but instead tells the women who now claim to like him to come to the show and pay the cover, and maybe pick up some merch as well, if you really do like his music. “Oppenheimer” is a banger of a track, with a simple soul sample looped, playing against an absolutely sinister bass line, which lends itself perfectly to a crew track, with WarRock bringing in Tribe One and Schaffer the Darklord, as they talk about building empires outside of the existing structure withing hip hop. “Less Than 3” is the love song of the EP, and WarRock does a great job of avoiding clichés and sounding corny, instead finding a great balance between playfulness and sincere discussion of his feelings.

It’s a short collection, but it feels deep and complete. Viktum is a great partner for WarRock, and City Beautiful is easily his best and most complete work to date. Even though it’s a “serious” record for him, WarRock still has plenty of fun with the music, and it’s as entertaining as it is moving. I have a feeling that this EP is going to be a turning point in his career.