Happy Tooth is an artist from Columbus, Ohio. He has been releasing music for about ten years, often working with fellow Columbus artist Dug as a duo. Last year, those two also linked up with a collective of artists in the PNW called R4PC4MP to release an album called Just Outside America’s Test Market. On top of that, Happy tooth also gave us an excellent solo album as well called The Laughter’s Rehearsed. Now he’s right back with another new solo album, Done Suffering.

There is a pervasive idea in the art world (and elsewhere) that one has to suffer to make great art. This idea, of course, is bullshit. Good art can come from any number of circumstances, which includes any number of positive life events, or even just being content for a moment. This is the thesis of Done Suffering. Happy Tooth is taking the course of the album to explore this idea, and to create a series of songs that come from many different places and to put the suffering to bed. To make this album, he reached out to an up-and-coming producer named Fisk. After listening to this album, you’ll want to know all about him, because the production he brings to this project is top notch. It’s well-rounded, hitting you with a lot of different styles, sounds, tempos, and rhythmic patterns, but always in such a way that each track is in conversation with the last and there is a natural flow from start to finish. It’s just incredibly well-constructed, with a veteran’s savvy that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from someone like Fisk. To match this soundscape and to explore the big statement he’s trying to make with this album, Happy Tooth is also landing in a very well-rounded position as an emcee. He’s got plenty of experience at this point, and he’s been comfortable opening up and getting personal on the microphone before, but this time through he’s pushing himself into some different territories to give us a few more looks throughout the album. There are some really sweet songs, such as “Resume,” “Best Day Ever,” and the title track, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. My personal favorites on the album are “Canceled,” which gives a really nuanced discussion about trying to hold abusive and creepy artists accountable in their scenes, and “For the Friends I Outgrew,” which is a mature and thoughtful song about recognizing that you’ve reached a point where you might be going in a different direction that other people you used to spend time with, and that doesn’t have to necessarily be a good or bad thing.

Happy Tooth has been at this a minute, and he continues to push himself to make really creative and emotional hip hop, while still remaining fun and accessible at the same time. That’s no easy feat, but he’s done it once again with Done Suffering.