A year to the day after he released the celebrated Thirst 48, Compton/Long Beach rapper Boogie is back with The Reach released on his son’s birthday. I’ve been waiting for this one, it just premiered on HNHH. In a recent interview with Red Bull Music Academy Boogie said “With Thirst 48 I was really just alone in my room a lot, just thinking. It definitely was the reason I was in my feelings so much. With The Reach I’m more so in the street, and then going to the studio. That’s probably why this next tape is going to sound more aggressive and street.” The tape begins with impact and power and continues to deliver all the way through. Boogie is smart, honest and unique with both words and delivery and while this album may be more aggressive, I still hear his warmth and accessibility. More that half the project is produced by Keyel who is also co-executive producer along with YungGroupon. Additional production is by Jahlil Beats, Willie B, AC, Mike Zombie and Dart. The beautiful voice of D’anna Stewart is heard on two tracks, other than that, The Reach is all Boogie. In “Make Me Over” we hear Boogie’s son saying his prayers and the rapper follows them with “That’s my 5 year old kid, he’s still got crayons in his cupboard, Now how I’m supposed to tell him I got shot over a color.” An early fav is “Wit Me.” The Reach is a significant project, spent some time listening.
