2011 has been a hell of year for Has-Lo. With one album and an EP already under his belt, he’s back with one more album for good measure. Conversation B is being pushed under the context of a complete re-envisioning of In Case I Don’t Make It, but I feel like that sells this album short, as it stands very well on its own. It’s a different album than his last, and it lets us get to know more sides of this talented artist.

While Has-Lo produced ICIDMI himself, Conversation B brings in a slew of producers to work with the Philly emcee. Audible Doctor, Exile, Kev Brown, Paten Locke, J-Zone, Apollo Brown, ST/MiC, Small Pro, Y?Arcka, Mike Fiveduece, IMakeMadBeats, Eric Lau, and Oddisee all lend their talents to the project. While this a lot of chefs in the kitchen, the album flows very well from song to song. The album isn’t as dark as ICIDMI, but does feature a lot of midtempo and slower tracks, running from happy and nostalgic to cold and isolated. However, all of the songs allow for Lo’s lyrics to come to the forefront, which is where the record really shines. There’s a lot of soul baring and self exploration on Conversation B, and as a result, I feel like I’ve really gotten to know Has-Lo. He covers a lot of ground on exposing different pieces of his past, along with how they shaped his views on life. “Maxwell UR,” a song he produced himself, gives us Lo’s personal history with hip hop, which while it’s been before, it’s always going to sound fresh if the artist puts themself into the song, and that’s exactly what Lo does as he discusses what attracted him to the culture, how artists’ deaths affected him, and how it allowed him to find his voice. “Never Was Yours” discusses how people get caught up with matters of money and lose sight of what’s really important. “One for Nana” is one of the most moving songs on the record, as he takes a look back at how his family, especially his grandmother, helped shaped his life. “Lies That Sound True” takes organized religion to task, and while it begins with a dark tone, the song ends with a glimmer of hope as Lo begins to reveal what he believes to actually be true. “Last Day of School” reveals how Lo struggled socially and academically when he was younger, and how he learned to cope.

In under a year, Has-Lo has firmly established himself as one the most talented lyricists working today. By that I don’t mean there’s a lot of clever wordplay, but that he is able to convey honest thoughts and emotions that are able to cut right through the music and resonate with his audience. Listening to an album like Conversation B, I feel like I’ve been catching up with an old friend. More than anything, that’s what I feel makes this album special.