B. Dolan has been plugging away for a few years as a spoken word artist and social activist. When I found out he was friends with Sage Francis and would be touring with him in support of their new albums, this made sense.

On this album, which Dolan collaborated with anticon. member Alias on as producer, he comes at you with a focused, intense barrage of songs. At times, it feels that Alias is channeling El-P, laying down a sonic background of funky, harsh, urban decay. Dolan has plenty of topics that he wants to tackle, including the economic crisis, consumerism, foreign policy, and New York City.

He also tackles a few topics that don’t directly follow this political theme, such as song about vampire hunting, or a song exploring the death of Marvin Gaye.

Dolan possesses a gruff voice. Combined with a sharp, precise delivery, his flow brings an urgency and intensity to the album. With each song, it feels like Dolan has something to tell you, and he definitely needs your attention. This isn’t an album to turn on and have on in the background as you do your laundry. No, this is an album that wants to tell you what is going down immediately. I have a feeling that after this summer, a lot more people will be paying attention to his music and his message.