Written by W. Kazi Mbugua, JD, Vice President of All In-House Entertainment. Follow me on Instagram @aih_ikazi23 and the label @allinhouseent

Midwest artist, Solo4x, is back with another project ‘Sorry 4 the Wait’ and blessed me with an opportunity to do a review of the music BEFORE it drops, June 8, 2024! 

So is it worth a listen? See my thoughts below!

Track 1: ‘Sorry 4 Tha Wait’ Intro — 10 outta 10

With a title like that, in homage of Lil' Wayne's ‘Sorry For the Wait’ Mixtape series, my expectations were set high and I was eager to see where this was going. But Solo4x did not disappoint. Let me tell you, with my speakers up - that beat kicked in correctly! All of a sudden, Solo4x slides in with his smooth “mhmmmmmm” ad libs and his authentic midwest influence graciously takes over the track while his smooth candor and violins in the background pull you into the streets of Kansas.   

Just like that, you are locked in for a solid Solo4x experience. 

Track 2: ‘Cloudz’ — 8.5 outta 10

If you are a Three Six Mafia fan, this track is for you, but I'll try not to spoil the surprise. In other words, Solo4x really knocked it out park with his execution on ‘Cloudz’. The beat is soothing but not boring, lyrically memorable but not heavy. I can see this one being fun to perform in front of a live audience. Especially after listening to ‘Run Away’, I felt the deeper connection between the two songs as being different moods of the same artist towards his vices.

Track 3: ‘Home Run’ ft. Prophet — 8 outta 10

Solo4x cranked up the autotune for this one and paired it with an EDM/Electric?/Hip-Hop meets 80s keytar synth (aka piano guitar lol) type beat - which sounds better than you think! You can tell the guys had fun in the studio making this one. But it stands on business as Solo4x raps about hitting home runs in his real life. If you need a song to amp you up, this might be the one.

Track 4: ‘Run Away’ ft. Misc. Dept — 7 outta 10

In ‘Run Away’, Solo4x showed that he is an artist who is also dealing with the real pressures of the world and music is the conduit to which he tells the underbelly of his story. In this harmonized track, Solo4x speaks his truth about every day stressors being remedied with unhealthy vices and thoughts of running away from his problems. When listening back to ‘Cloudz’, I can now hear the cognitive dissonance as Solo4x grapples with his views on weed being a pleasure, the problem, and the cure to his problems. That said, the vocals in the chorus sounded a bit off key which was hard to ignore since the chorus ties the song together. 

Track 5: ‘Budz Flow’ ft. Budz — 6 outta 10

The mixtape is well balanced with features, but this one is notable for its bravado. However, I'm a little conflicted on I felt about ‘Budz Flow’ personally. On one hand, after a song like ‘Run Away’, it was great to hear a bounce back track to lift the mood back up. On the other hand, the lyrics related to pushing drugs to fiends and shooting guns which all promulgates death in the communities we ought to protect, fell flat. But otherwise, it was a good attempt at a freestyle.

Track 6: ‘This Right Here’ — 6 outta 10

Coming out with a strong set seven of tracks is not easy, and there is bound to be some weaker ones in the batch. Unfortunately, ‘This Right Here’ also fell into that weaker category for me. The back vocals were distracting as some lyrics sound mumbled or delayed, the chorus was off kilter, and the content was familiar. That being said, this song may have just not been my jam but might be somebody else's. 

Track 7: ‘Frozone’ — Rating 8 outta 10

Overall, ‘Frozone’ served as a decent closer to the project. Hype, upbeat, and in line with Solo4x's mob boss mentality, the track is a reminder that Solo4x can still swing lyrical punches that count. While not the strongest of the group, ‘Frozone’ ends the project on a high note and leaves a positive lasting impression on the listening experience. 

Total Score = 76% | Solid Project

Overall, when it came to cadence, this was the best I've seen Solo4x. He found his footing on the beats and his delivery was relaxed. Most importantly, Solo4x showed that it was indeed worth the wait, as he has spent his time perfecting his craft being a family man, an artist, and a barber in between projects. I can't wait to see what he puts out next!

With 11 monthly listeners a month, Solo4x is definitely slept on and is one of the best artists under 1,000 monthly listeners. Be sure to follow him on your preferred streaming platform or download his music to support him directly.

‘Sorry For the Wait’ Drops Tomorrow June 8, 2024 and streams everywhere.

Follow Solo4x on Spotify - Here

Let me know what you think in the comments below!