Powfu: Poems of the Past
On his first full-length album, Poems of the Past, Canadian rapper Powfu navigates the trials of growing up with clever, poetic writing complemented by a catchy indie vibe.
Although the album only has six tracks to its name, with most of the songs clocking in at less than three minutes, Poems of the Past doesn’t waste any time with fillers. “I’m used to it” is the first track from the album, and similar to the tracks that follow, “I’m used to it” discusses the hardships of young adulthood, topics such as high school, breakups, and being bullied. The moody rap lyrics over subtle three chord acoustic tones offer some catchy hooks, reminiscent of 21 Pilots. But despite the lack of originality, the vibe of the album feels fresh.
The aesthetic indie album touches on themes of heartache and breakups, often repeating itself, but that is what makes the album so appealing and catchy. The songs are told almost like a storybook narrator, taking us through the most private areas of growing up and touching on themes of deep reverence and loss.
The tracks often involve a laid-back feeling rather than a get up and dance kind of vibe, which works well during these troubling times. The warm presence of acoustics and piano tones feel at home over the low and clear vocals. The smooth vocals are front and center, adding traces of hip-hop over acoustic guitar, drums, and the occasional synthesizer or keyboard. Each track embraces feelings of anger, hurt, sarcasm, and optimism. The lyrics are personal and raw.
The most successful track on the album is “Death Bed,” which features a sample of Filipino-British singer Beabadoobee’s debut single “Coffee.” The harmony and catchy and repetitive chorus are what drives the song “Death Bed.” Powfu owes much of his success to Beabadoobee and her hypnotizing vocal track. There is also a “Death Bed” bonus track which feature Blink 182. Despite the collaboration with Blink 182, the track is not as successful as the original version.
Although songs about teenage angst are nothing new, Powfu’s Poems of the Past is still a quick and catchy album that is worth your time.
7 OUT OF TEN STARS FOR POWFU’S POEMS OF THE PAST
