Hip-hop is a genre that loves a good metaphor. We’ve had ballers, prize fighters and more, but I don’t think I’ve heard an album in the genre that uses the concept of a camera to explore an introspective journey.

By Graeme Smith

That’s what we get from APERATURE, the new release from Jthurston. Across eleven tracks, the rapper confronts his inner self, exposing what he finds.

Things open moodily with, appropriately enough, INTRO. When the verse comes it, it has an old school vibe, but its introspectiveness sets it apart from typical boom bap. Jthurston considers the philosophy of Carl Jung as an influence, which goes way to show the intelligence that’s gone into this album.

Trauma, ego, doubt, resilience, and truth are all put under the lens as the album unfolds. Jthurston plays with genre too. CHANGED strikes a more modern tone thanks to its autotuned vocals and emotional, intimate instrumental. EVENTUALLY is an early, soulful highlight rich with bass and poetry.

There are star turns by Jorden Kyle and Dregs One who add their own flair to the ambient SAFE, the sharp CUTTHROAT, and the darkly funky I TOLD YOU SO, another highlight.

Title track APERTURE closes the album with the kind of moodiness with which it began. We get plenty of braggadocio lyrics against a hard-hitting backdrop, delivering some classic hip-hop.

Alongside the introspection, Jthurston sees APERTURE as a story of integration. The story is personal but also universal. We all have some shadows we’re hiding from. His message is that we should cast light on them.

APERTURE is out now, and you can listen to it below.