Made up of fifteen tracks that tell the story of a life filled with wins and losses, Gametime is the new album from Brandon Mitchell.

By Graeme Smith

Mitchell’s new album opens regally with the fanfare of Gametime Title Track. A percussive groove breaks in, bringing with it free-flowing and charismatic vocals. Lyrics tick of all the braggadocio landmarks, referencing sports, pop culture and running the game.

Boxing is a recurring theme across the album, used as an extended metaphor for all aspects of life. Across the album, Mitchell meditates on nostalgia, romance, and living a life full of defiance.

Dirty Dishes is a wordplay-rich moment while Sugar is sultry and romantic. Right Back is a vulnerable, autobiographical number. Highest Wave 2 is a slow and stripped-back highlight. What We Doin is quirky and early Eminem-like. Brooklyn’s Song has a timeless soulfulness about it that makes it another highlight.

In many ways the record is everything you’d expect from a rap album but elevated by Mitchell’s delivery and its fine production. It’s rap done right, not pretending to be anyone else and giving us a fresh, raw take on the competition of life. Regular readers will know I don’t share a lot of hip-hop to these pages so it always feels special when I hear something from the genre that’s worthy of praise. Gametime definitely fits into that category.

The album is out now and you can give it a listen below.