On his sophomore effort, , Brooklyn MC continues to honor the golden era legacy of his forebears, while making a major leap in lyrical prowess that takes aim at the ills and injustices in America. Similar to equally politicized releases from the likes of contemporaries , , and tackles police violence, institutionalized racism, and , while maintaining hope and tempered optimism for the future ("Land of the Free" and "Devastated" are standouts). There's a lot to unpack here, which makes an involved and rewarding listen. Powerful, relevant, urgent, and mature, his anger and frustration bleed into the delivery of every dense bar. On "For My People," he asks "Who will take a stand and be our hero?," while on "Temptation" he begs "Tell me Lord can you help me/I said Lord can you help me?" With production by , and more, is drenched in the sounds of nostalgia and lush sampling, especially on the jazzy "Y U Don't Love Me? (Miss Amerikka)" and the old-school New York vibe of "Rockabye Baby." Like an old or track, "Rockabye" creeps with a menace courtesy of West Coast rapper . Other guests include reggae singer on "Babylon" (which includes the great line "If them heaven gates close/I'mma break off them hinges for my niggas"); on "Super Predator"; on the smooth "Legendary" (where raps "It's clear we living in hell/The life of a black male"); and the showcase "Ring the Alarm," which features of on an urgent, throbbing highlight. In case his position was unclear from the album title and artwork depicting Klansmen burning a cross in the desert and hanging dead from a noose, he maintains a certain distrust for the powers that be and the so-called "land of the free." On the final track, "Amerikkkan Idol," he raps, "I'm out for dead presidents to represent me/Cause I never knew a live one that represent me," pledging allegiance to the power more likely to advance him in America. An extended spoken word outro packs in a wealth of quotable wisdom from that wraps up the entire album with a red-white-and-blue bandana. It's a call to arms for listeners to wake up, educate themselves, and fight for justice. is the sound of a young rapper finding a voice and higher purpose, an exciting and powerfully insightful statement. ~ Neil Z. Yeung