This is the full-length studio debut album from Niagara Falls, New York emcee Brother Nature. Releasing his debut single “Electric Apples (Driftin’) in 2022, the east coast lyricist known for having an old school style of hip hop with modern twist would soon follow that up with a debut EP of his own Up from the Mire & later No Fear produced by 99stealth. However, both of those EPs were merely the calm before the storm that is Solar Maximum produced by KimonoFox.
After the “Kimonos(W)rapz” intro, the first song “Rebirth” begins by hooking up some synthesizers & hi-hats talking about pulling up to the function to kick it whereas “I’m Through” jazzily dismisses any & all nonsense. “Brand New Day” gives off a sunny boom bap flare welcoming their opponents to the battleground just before “Great Lakes” featuring RBX finds the trio flooding the intakes of dope music.
“Willow Tree” psychedelically talks about being unable to fall asleep at night because of the state of the world while “A Better Life” featuring A.R.I. meshes some g-funk synthesizers & hi-hats together to seek for improved ways of living. “Be Like That” cumbersomely reflects on a breakup that he never saw coming while “Wavy Path” featuring G Premacy talks about preferring to meditate than fly away with anyone trustworthy.
As for “Higher Self”, we have Brother Nature over a more lo-fi beat to discuss killing off the ego as a wag of becoming an elevated version of oneself while the 3-minute “Dance Song” gives everybody something to vibe out to. After a quick skit, “Sunshine” featuring Rory Redmon & Sccit finds the trio suggesting to come chill with them over a Mobb instrumental while “Who We Be” featuring Sccit closes the LP making sure y’all don’t forget them.
Not one to shy away from admitting I wasn’t really too familiar with Brother Nature’s musical output until earlier this summer, but Solar Maximum is the finest example of the New York artist’s mission to bridge hip hop culture’s past with it’s present. KimonoFox’ production here is significantly more psychedelic than some of Brother Nature’s early EPs & the latter serves up what I consider to be amongst the most passionate verses of his entire career.
Score: 8/10