Independence Day

Joining a rarefied list of rappers to release two albums in the same year, Fredo does as he pleases on <i>Independence Day</i>. If the eye-catching features on January 2021’s <i>Money Can’t Buy Happiness</i> helped explore his crossover potential and overseas reach, the West Londoner’s third album revives the brooding sonic ambience of his early mixtape rise. Through a well-honed tendency to celebrate the finer things in life, Fredo’s lofty dreams have long been balanced against the very real threats he escaped. Across 14 tracks of bass-knocking rap, Fredo expands his lens across the entirety of his experience for his most sincere work yet. “Finally seeing there’s more to life,” he reveals on “Everyday”. “Every single time I pree into my daughter’s eyes.”<br /> Highlights here are diverse—and often powerful. The centrepiece is a chilling retrospective on tours across UK prisons with Headie One (“Wandsworth to Bullingdon”), while a teenaged tale of street drama is converted into a clever hook alongside Potter Payper (“14”). The Pattern Gang rapper also evolves his flow for an infectious drill beater (“Double Tap”). From the pitfalls to the hard-fought moments of progress, <i>Independence Day</i> presents a tough but rewarding world according to Fredo and his grand bid for redemption.