But the album hits an early peak with “Life as a Shorty,” an infectious, reminiscent single that finds the young lyricist both adhering to a silver lining and standing his ground: “ Kids used to make fun of my clothes/ till one of `em got punched in the nose/ Kinda like I was forced to be tough/ life as a shorty shouldn’t be so rough.”īoy Meets World isn’t short on highlights though. Likewise, “Stars” finds him reflecting on his own youth and his dreams of stardom over a charming, old timey sample. When he says “the world is yours,” on “Hey Young World,” he’s not nodding to Nas so much as sending a message of inspiration to the listener. No matter how fierce Fashawn sounds, however, Boy Meets World is ultimately a positive and powerful statement. Fashawn’s verses are focused and sharp, cutting like a laser through Exile’s meaty organ samples with a combination of homage and boastfulness: “ rock like Aesop/ sound like a fable/ kerosene flow/ melt microphone cables.” That nod toward contemporary influences continues with “Freedom,” as Exile kicks off the track with a Black Star sample, but soon enough, Talib Kweli’s voice is all but forgotten as Leyva lays down a laundry list of icons and issues that rivals Mos Def’s verse on “Two Words.” This is apparent right from first track “Intro,” which, in spite of the name is a strong opening two minutes of high-energy hip-hop. Sorry Kid Cudi (what happened there?) and Wale (runner-up isn’t so bad), but Fashawn’s first official album is nothing less than a triumph.įashawn’s synergy with Exile is fluid and dynamic, as perfect a pairing one is likely to hear in hip-hop today. Boy Meets World, Fashawn’s debut album and collaboration with West Coast producer extraordinaire Exile, is, simply, the best hip-hop debut of the year. The biography is easy to hitch one’s headline to, and frankly, even if Fashawn’s not a household name just yet, it’s hard not to find his coming-of-age story inspiring.Īnd yet, the backstory would be a moot point if not for Leyva’s talent, which is eye-opening to say the least. But if his youth seems striking now, bear in mind that the young man born Santiago Leyva began releasing mixtapes when he was 15, which was just a few years after his troubled youth (incarcerated father, addicted mother) brought him to a group home at age 12.
Fresno emcee Fashawn prepped his debut album Boy Meets World just in time for his 21st birthday.
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