By Will Mossa
A front runner for the top hip-hop album of the year so far, BETTER by Deante’ Hitchcock broke onto the scene in early May. On just his second full-length feature album, the Atlanta native displays an arsenal of different flows and vocals to complement his clever wordplay, all while maintaining a story-telling ability; a stockpile of attributes few artists in the industry have. By using wavy synth and techno sounds on multiple songs nostalgic of an 8-bit video game, Hitchcock adds an extra layer and groovy vibe to his already unique sound. Above is the visual for Attitude, the third song on the album with a feature from Young Nudy.
From a general sound standpoint, BETTER will have you head-bobbing and feeling good, but each song has loads beneath the surface to unpack. Featured song “I Got Money Now” does Deante’ Hitchcock pure justice as it has everything from a bangin’ hook to exceptional wordplay on top of his journey from broke to rich. It also features a flawless feature from JID, making it a stand out song on the project. An underrated artistic touch shown is the use of conversational interludes. Growing Up/Mother God is a notable anthem on the project with potential to be a summer banger. These few moments scattered throughout the album are reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar’s good kid m.A.A.d. city, as they emphasize that the album, all things aside, is about Deante’ Hitchcock’s life. BETTER should skyrocket to the top of your listening list, and Deante’ Hitchcock is a hot artist to keep eyes on as he will only improve with time.