Hardstone Psycho: Melodic Rap Meets Rock

By Karen Zheng

On June 14th 2024, Don Toliver dropped one of his most impressive studio albums to date. Introducing novel elements of rock to his sound, Hardstone Psycho takes a more ambitious and experimental route. However, the album still contains the heavenly mix of R&B, soul, and psychedelic trap that so heavily defines Toliver’s signature sound. It is a perfect marriage of the old and the new.

The assortment of songs are diverse, so there is something for everyone. Some tracks are more high-energy and intense with a more obvious rock influence, such as “Tore Up” and “Bandit.” Others such as “5 To 10” and “Backstreets” carry a more sensual and melodic tone, thus being more heavily influenced by R&B. The beat switch that occurs midway through the opening track “Kryptonite” gives us the best of both worlds, as we seamlessly merge from R&B to trap, all while being underpinned by rock-heavy instrumentals. It is a delicious cocktail that will have all your senses tingling.

A number of prominent hip-hop figures also lend their voices to Hardstone Psycho, such as Travis Scott, Kodak Black, and Teezo Touchdown. These features are well thought out and beautifully executed. The result is a surreal mix of distinctive yet complimentary voices, mixing and merging to produce a musical experience like no other. Don Toliver really cements his place as a key player of the modern rap scene through this genre-bending album.

Here are some of my top picks from the album:

·      “Kryptonite”

·      “Tore Up”

·      “Brother Stone”

·      “4 X 4”

·      “Backstreets”

·      “5 To 10”

·      “Geeked Up”