Here we have the 18th full-length studio LP albeit Strange Music sophomore effort from Sacramento, California veteran X-Raided. Exploding onto the scene in 1992 off the strength of his full-length debut Psycho Active, he was shortly after sentenced to 31 years in prison on murder charges, only to be granted parole in the fall of 2018 & continued to build his discography by dropping a little over a dozen more albums whilst incarcerated. The Nefarious Loc surprisingly signed to Strange in 2022 & his previous offering A Prayer in Hell was a true blue return to form, so A Sin in Heaven had me expecting no differently.
“2400” is a trap opener airing out everyone for getting here late & flexing that he got here early whereas the rapid-fire “Sacrilegious” discusses not understanding the dark if you ain’t ever been in the light. “Can’t Hold Us Down” has a gospel trap vibe to the beat looking to ball in the midst of them tryna keep his people broke, but then “California State” featuring Locksmith is an cloudy tribute to the state out in the west coast that raised them.
Meanwhile on “Boy Meets World”, we have X over a much more bouncier beat talking about wanting to become a banger as he was growing up just before the groovier “P.T.S.D. (Passing The Story Down)” talks about his story being passed on to his children. “A Favor for a Favor” featuring Nox finds the 2 coming together so they can tell a hustler’s story but after the “Waste Management” interlude, “A Cold Day in Hell” featuring C-Mob & Joey Cool refuses to choose hoes over his bros supposing that’s the way life goes.
“Olly Olly Oxen Free” featuring Bleezo, Tech N9ne & T-Nutty has these nervous undertones throughout stepping on these muhfuckas in a real way acknowledging that only the top MCs be fuckin’ with them while “The Sunken Place” preluded by Wyshmaster solemnly lives in a drunken state. “Anymore” strips the drums completely hopping over pianos asking if it’s too late to admit he’s broken & “Pray” hooks the trap vibes back up talking praying when all else fails.
Moving on from there, “Conception (Aneraé’s Song)” atmospherically looks to break all generational curses in his family tree while the trap-driven “Invigorated” featuring Ellis Prescott as well as Macntaj & Trizz talks about the feeling of being revitalized. “It’s Up” featuring KXNG CROOKED & Ras Kass sees the trio coming together for a 3 & a half minute west coast barfest while “Juggernaut” goes drill refusing to ever stop now that he’s home.
“Paranoia” featuring Tech N9ne blends a guitar & hi-hats allowing them to demonstrate speedier flows revolving around the theme of being paranoid & after the “All or Nothing” interlude, the psychedelic rock/trap hybrid “No Conversations” tells everyone to hold their breaths as he balls. “Baby Mama Music” wittingly expresses his gratitude to be free while “Water” featuring Ellis Prescott, Jerome Dillard, Laza & Macntaj takes a delicately melodic approach.
Pushing further towards the end of A Sin in Heaven, the penultimate track “Elevating” featuring Don P is this gospel/trap hybrid finding both of them talking about constantly evolving from an artistic standpoint while MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. Seven laces the closer “Gladiator” featuring C-Mob & King Iso finds all 3 of them coming together passionately referring to themselves as being trained to fight with weapons against others.
Only the 2nd release from the Strange Music camp this year following Tech’s first Collabos album in a long time C.O.S.M. (Class of Strange Music) after signing a new distribution deal with both RBC Records founder Brian Shafton’s new label Compound Interest Entertainment alongside Virgin Music even last summer & it’s a worthy successor to what has already become X’s strongest body of work in recent memory. He takes things full circle experiencing joys in life now that he has crafted a life he could only have imagined just a few years ago.
Score: 7/10
