Born in western Philadelphia, rapper Armani White suffered the loss of four family members due to a fire in 2006 and two more fires last year, one leaving him homeless and the other without his close friend. Articulating his music from tragic experiences and survivor’s guilt, with every new track White delivers a seamless story infused with raw emotions and psychedelic beats on “Things We Lost in the Fire.”
Remembering his losses, White starts with “Too Many Angels” featuring Christain Eason. This track bleeds with pain as White sings, “This year done gave us too many angels / But how I survive, when so many lives got lost in the flame though? / Too many angels.” The soft piano in the back and the depth of grief in his voice fits the ambiance, with an added sermon in the middle saying, “Our father and our God / We thank you for gifting us loved ones / To be a part of our lives / You have called them back unto yourself / They are now our Angels.”
Similarly “RIP Melinda” featuring Barefoot Chandy takes the listener on a hopeless, gut-wrenching journey of agony with White’s soft muffled cry and acoustic guitar in the background. He sings, “Melinda / What is left of me / Is gone / Wake Up Wake Up,” tirelessly communicating the grief he cannot escape.
While “Too Many Angels” and “RIP Melinda,” have somber and more heavy-hearted acoustics, “Watch Your Self,” “Grateful” and “Danny Mac” (addressed as an ode for his brother) are focused on redefining his journey with a positive outlook.
“Watch Your Self” is my favorite track with a hard hip-hop beat and enticing jazz based vibe and saxophone solo at the end. White builds on his growth and the dedication it took to move forward even when he hit rock bottom. Illuminating his self-journey and gratitude to the things he has achieved, “Grateful,” reiterates his doubts as he sings, “I let you burn my name up, while I compete with the mirror – I been down on my luck, started to blame myself / It keep me feeling like I’m not supposed to have this / But I stay grateful.”
“Things We Lost in the Fire,” sends you into an irresistible whirlpool of heartbreak yet pulls it all together with tracks like “Grateful.” The essence of the album leaves you in a grey area of pain yet gratefulness for the things we do have. Like J. Cole and Saba, White uses his experiences and makes every single lyric lined with passion and spirit. With his menacing and articulate somatic beats, definitely give this EP a listen to fall down on a step of grief but get right back up and reflect.
