For all the EPs, mixtapes, and singles that Adam WarRock releases over the internet, it might surprise you that this is just his second full length album. However, after all these releases and the constant touring and building up his fan base, there couldn’t be a better time for him to drop this album. Teaming up with Baltimore producer Vince Vandal, You Dare Call That Thing Human?!? delivers on all the aspects of WarRock that make him appealing - a nice mix of nerd humor, comic book references, battle raps, as well as songs discussing race, regionalism, and showing your sensitive side in hip hop.

The album opens with “On the Subject of Normal…(intro),” which does a great job of introducing WarRock to new listeners. In most cases, a spoken intro to an album is unnecessary and will go on too long, but in this case WarRock strikes the perfect balance of length and message as he talks about his lack of use for normalcy and authenticity. This gives way to “Human?!?”, which gets to the heart of the album title, discussing how constant touring and people’s perceptions of him as an artist push and pull him in different directions. I especially appreciate the wink to the audience when he starts chanting “No Homo sapiens” at the end of the song. For those who were turned on to WarRock through tours with MC Chris, MC Lars, or nerd-friendly releases like his Firefly-themed EP, you won’t be disappointed. There are plenty of battle raps, comic book references, and guest spots from Doctor Awkward, Mikal kHill, Beefy, int80, and MC Lars. The album would have certainly been enjoyable if that’s all there was to YDCTTH?!?, but WarRock gives us much more to digest. “I Kill Giants” takes it’s title from a comic series by Joe Kelly and J.M. Ken Niimura, and discusses the struggles of being an outsider and dealing with the loss of a loved one. It’s a very moving and personal song, and I certainly appreciate WarRock opening up and including it on the record. “You Might Like It” is the first skit on the album, which makes fun of sexually explicit rap songs. It’s not bad, but I don’t think it really adds anything or gives any new insight. However, this gives way to “Sensitive Side,” a great hip hop song taking masculinity to task, which does add a lot to the discussion and complicates the music. “Civil War” complicates things further as WarRock discusses his Southern roots, and how it affected him growing up as a nerdy Asian kid, and “Beast I.Z.” furthers the discussion of race and his struggle to find his own space as an Asian American emcee.

What makes Adam WarRock so unique is the way everything comes together in his music. There’s something for the nerds, there’s something for the hip hop heads, there’s something for casual listeners who just want something fun to listen to, and there’s even social commentary that is sure to stir up conversation amongst fans. It doesn’t always come together perfectly, but for the majority of the album, WarRock is able to balance all of these facets of his music and personality very well. What makes You Dare Call That Thing Human?!? special is how it doesn’t allow itself to be labeled.