If you’ve been paying any attention to the underground scene you’ve probably heard of 9TAILS, and for good reason too. The Toronto based artist is known for his wordplay, wit, and artful flow. 9TAILS’ fourth full album Safe is his most masterful yet experimental project to date.
This album displays the many faces of 9TAILS; some we’ve seen before and some we haven’t. Each song is extremely unique and stands out in their own right. One thing that ties Safe together is 9TAILS’ ability and willingness to spill his guts, heart, and thoughts into every song and line. There is a heat, a fire, rather, behind his work; a passion that can’t be faked. Safe delves into seemingly delicate moments and insurmountable obstacles within 9TAILS’ life. The album lends itself to the listener as a late night conversation between friends in this way.
“Draft 001 (prod. Idealism)” is a quiet and candid assessment of where 9TAILS is; articulating the toll his relentless work ethic has taken and the ways in which his lifestyle and experiences have alienated him from his relationships and sense of self. “Draft 001” contains some of the best parting lines in the project; “The love they show despite my faults is empowering, I’m glad my soul is keeping close again.”
After our humbling usher into Safe, the project picks up tempo with, “hope it happens (prod. 25)”, which features an R&B infused instrumentals and hopeful lyrics. Right as we’re getting comfortable, Safe pulls us into the depths once again with “better days (prod. hateful), an emotional ballad with a heavy-hitting hook,
“I’ve seen better days/ I’ve spent a year in the darkest place/ I’ve got some stories I’d love to share/ I couldn’t think of a better way to tell you.”
We are ripped from our audio trance with the jarring, and dramatic instrumentals of “brain machine broke (prod. nays.),” which is perhaps the most surprising track on the project. 9TAILS’ aggressive and explosive flow moves with the bone shattering bass. A previously unseen side of 9TAILS, combative and boastful, “brain machine broke” could be described as a “divine banger.”
The next track, “leaves (prod.nobody),” recalls the somber subtleties of “001 draft” with its narrative of falling out of love. 9TAILS relays the emptiness of loving someone more than they could ever love you back. The sixth track “shit (prod. franky m)” brings us inside 9TAILS’ manic work ethic; the seemingly endless cycle of goals, creation, success/failure, repeat, as well as his lack of interest in breaking focus from the music.
“No feats, no beats, no repost feed, talking full fledge dip, sick of this shit.”
Safe maintains the cadence of an emotional rollercoaster. The listener is taken through the many faces (and talents) of 9TAILS — from his most boastful all the way to his most self-critical and forlorn. What is remarkable about the project is just how diverse the tracks are in feeling, sound, and vocals, while still somehow speaking to one another in a heartfelt and meaningful manner.
In three words, safe is: candid, eclectic, and bold.