SYLVAN LACUE

‘Apologies in Advance’

(Album Review)

Reviewer – Dante Florez

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The world is sleeping on Sylvan LaCue.

Previously known as QuESt, the Miami rapper has been around since 2009, releasing several mixtapes with little to no recognition. It wasn’t until 2014 where he gained mainstream momentum with the critically acclaimed Searching Sylvan.

At the time of release, LaCue was partnered with Visionary Music Group, which also housed the superstars Jon Bellion and Logic, who respectively reached Australian radio with their hits All Time Low and 1-800-273-8255.

LaCue left this label on good terms to emerge with his own WiseUp collective. Apologies in Advance is his second independent studio album, and certainly his most defined so far.

There is a rare breed of artists who do not only create for creation’s sake, but truly contain a message within their work. LaCue proves himself a prime example. His concept album directly addresses his depression through an AA meeting setting, focusing on the 12 Steps of Growth and Acceptance as the central theme.

Piano samples trickle through the tracks and the interludes, meshing them together as an experience. These nine interludes, where members of this fictional meeting speak their opinions, create a group encouragement and affirmation that adds more weight to the songs that follow. It is certainly recommended to listen to the full tracklist of Apologies in Advance on a first listen.

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LaCue’s production style compliments the subject matter of his album beautifully. It is concise, mainly melodic samples and the 808 is used quite sparingly throughout. The occasion ad-lib vocalisation rounds off his sound nicely with a raw humanity. He achieves a platform for his lyrics to speak as loud as they can. There are many moments, such as on Best Me or 5:55 where you forget you are listening to a rap album and you enjoy the rhythmic poetry.

Rap-wise, LaCue continues to prove himself while rising out of the underground. His wordplay only continues to sharpen and his unique flow triumphs all across the record. Matching this with substantial content is a pleasure to listen to, but at times can be hard to follow for those unaccustomed to listening at speed. If anything, there is replay value in finding these gems of genius in his lyrics, leaving you gobsmacked about how much is condensed into his words. Sylvan shies away from the common subject matter that the rap format usually discusses – quite the opposite, never feigning invincibility. Those who are generally uninterested in the genre might find this a good place to start, as it is much more conscious to listen to.

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The middle of the album really gets to the meat and potatoes of self-reflection. Selfish and Guilt Trip played back-to-back transition the album from a discussion of personal obstacles to taking responsibility of where we should be directing the blame, digging even harder through Coffee Break. It is encouraging to hear LaCue sharing such authentic struggles – his dark and twisted restraints – and by putting his pain so vividly on the platter, he advocates for the sides of ourselves which wish to be free of our own limitations. By his specificity with human problems, LaCue becomes genuinely relatable, without the deliberate reach plastered everywhere in contemporary pop.

On Step 12 : Apology Accepted, Lacue comes to account for and accept his own flaws in a manner that is very responsible – wise, if you will. He finds that by doing so, he is able to begin healing, using himself as an example in the hope of helping others.

Apologies in Advance is as therapeutic as it sets out to be. This isn’t about kicking demons when they’re down, but fading them away by confronting and defeating the doubt that plague us all. Sylvan LaCue has grown, from a lost young man to somebody who realises his own strengths and responsibilities, using that to help others find the best version of themselves.

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AMNPLIFY – DB