Some records feel like more than they are. Raw Soul’s new one, for instance, canters through its eight tracks at pace, but it stays with you for much longer.

By Graeme Smith

Still High… is a hip-hop masterclass that brings together lo-fi, soul, and good old boom-bap to deliver fast-flowing wordplay and plenty of meaning. Much of hip-hop is braggadocio, and there’s plenty of that in Still High…, but Raw Soul’s words carry weight, delving into philosophical depths and exploring the wider world.

At its heart is a personal story of inner work. It feels as if Raw Soul has made the record as much for his personal development as for our listener pleasure. It works on both levels. He’s embraced the craft rather than chasing numbers and the result is an accomplished album without airs and graces.

Hip-hop lovers will find all the usual elements – classic samples, polished production, strong beats, and complex lyrics that seems to just roll off the tongue. Rappers are among the most hardworking lyricists out there and probably don’t get enough credit for that fact. Raw Soul proves his worth in Still High… in that regard.

Individual moments fit nicely into the record’s wider narrative which runs through an emotional arc from contentment to ambition. It build nicely to its final moments. Raw Soul leaves the best to last by giving us the double blow of the lo-fi highlight I’m Going (Letting Go) and the resonant To Whom It May Concern which closes things.

The latter’s last bars are a standout moment. “F**k Trump and his Epstein government/ Free Palestine and all of those suffering,” Raw Soul declares, stripped of backing track, leaving a lasting, fist-raising moment.

To create Still High… Raw Soul worked with producers ARVM Beats (Run Free), eeryskies (Still High, In Need (of Healing), Skyscrapers, I’m Going), pilotkid (Perseverance, To Whom It May Concern) and bvtman (Lenses). Each adds their own flair to his sound, giving us plenty of variety throughout.

Raw Soul is an accomplished rapper with a conscience, and the fact that he’s doing his own thing makes his bars even more compelling. I deeply enjoyed Still High… It’s a must listen for hip-hop fans, even casual ones like me.

If you want to keep up to date with all that Raw Soul is doing, you can by following him on Instagram.

Still High… is out now, and you can listen to it below.