Following the 2016 release of Travis Scott’s award-winning Astroworld album, a new star was born in the music industry. With a standout feature on Scott’s single “Can’t Say,” Don Toliver captivated audiences with his distinctive vocals and unique lyricism, a fresh sound that genuinely brought something new to the rap scene.
As Toliver’s discography expanded over the years, so has the quality of his albums. Although his 2023 album “Love Sick” left many fans disappointed with the mediocre production and underwhelming performance from Toliver, his unique vocals were still enough to be able to produce major hits like “Private Landing” and “LoveSickness”.
In Hardstone Psycho, these problems have disappeared almost entirely. Toliver sounds more confident than ever and is backed by incredible production, allowing him to comfortably switch between multiple styles of singing. This versatility adds a depth to his songs that were previously missing, delivering an album that truly feels polished and well thought out. As Toliver prepares to land at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago for his album tour, it feels only right to look back at some of his best moments on this piece.
There were two aspects of this album that really stood out to us—the stellar production and the diversity of Toliver’s flows, both of which were certain weak points throughout Toliver’s previous works. The album kicks off with a banger trio of electric and energetic songs, “Kryptonite,” “Tore Up,” and “Brother Stone,” all of which reflect the psychotic motorcycle aesthetic in the album cover. “Tore Up,” in particular shined bright in its production, with the combination of guitar, metal samples, and trap drum creating an anticipation that made listeners feel like something big was going to happen. Then, when the beat finally dropped, Toliver’s unique voice was able to take this beat over the top, making it truly feel like you are leaving Earth.
“Brother Stone,” featuring Kodak Black is one of the many splendid features littered across the album. Black’s raspy voice and unconventional flow blend in fantastically with Toliver’s smoother-sounding vocals, creating synergy between the two that elevates this track. The calming piano melody in the background further highlights the stellar production of this album, single-handedly transforming good songs into true masterpieces.
Despite the erratic aesthetic and guitar-based productions on the first few tracks, Toliver was also able to masterfully diversify his style as the album progressed. Songs like “Purple Rain” and “New Drop” showcase a different side of his artistry, showcasing a more melodic side where Toliver can use his transcendent voice to take center stage. “Purple Rain” is a good example of this; even though it is one of his longer tracks on the album at almost three and a half minutes, Toliver’s incredible vocals and Future’s incredible smoothness make every second truly worth listening to.
Overall, Hardstone Psycho is easily one of Toliver’s best works. His tracks are diverse, catchy, and have a ton of replay value. So far, his album tour has been super successful as well, selling out packed out arenas all over the country. If Toliver is able to keep up this level of production and lyricism, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be one of the industry’s brightest stars in the near future.
Rating: 9.5/10