On "Teach Me," Tottenham-born
Headie One kicks things off with typical flair. Moving calculatingly through trap and rap dominance over bleak drill sonics, he coldly laments his youngers' inability to "see the bigger picture" -- yet just a minute in, things take a dark turn. "Somebody call God for me, tell him this is daylight robbery" the rapper belts with uncharacteristic despair, warping basses bleating and blaring in the background; what follows is a cutting tale of discovery, psychology, and family pain.
Introspection has always been an undercurrent of
Headie's work, but on
EDNA it comes into the light for the first time. Named after his late mother, the rapper's debut album is a reflection of both life and career, paying homage to his diverse sonic palette while offering lyrical insight into his journey here. The project's cover art, a monochrome connection between
Headie and his birth tag, sets the tone succinctly; there's a fundamental weight here, a completeness of identity not quite realized thus far.
Sonically,
EDNA is set out like a banquet of the rapper's works, tapping styles across the scene for a comprehensive representation of his career. While a little light on his drill roots -- "Triple Science" should prove a favorite for early fans -- the project compiles trap, rap, drill, and more in a surprisingly wide-ranging LP. The sheer variety on offer could run a risk of jarring, but impeccable sequencing allows for a 20-track roster to run smoothly; we're transported from complete vulnerability to floor-shuddering anthems without as much as a hitch. Elevated by new lyricism and layered production, each of his previous styles is lifted: "Hear No Evil" perfects the rapper's strain of aggressive trap, "Try Me" is "All Day" with double the chest-thump, and "Parlez-Vous Anglais" adds a classy dimension to Headz and
Aitch's back-to-back bars. Bound to no compromises, every song does what it says on the tin, and then some.
When guests arrive, Headie welcomes them with familiar sonics:
M Huncho and
Young Adz are right at home on trapwave fusions,
Young T & Bugsey and
Aitch let the braggadocio shine on radio-primed anthems, and
Mahalia and
Haile land smoothly on the project's softer cuts. Overseas stars make equally impressive ventures into the U.K. sound, with
Drake's "Only You Freestyle" and
Future's "Hear No Evil" verses paying impressive homage to the local scene.
If
Music X Road was the sound of Headie expanding his repertoire, then EDNA is the sound of its mastery: pulling out all the stops for an expansive statement of self, the Tottenham native provides his most compelling set yet. ~ David Crone
![Pre-Millennium Tension [Expanded Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/5013929168237_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Pre-Millennium Tension [Expanded Edition]")
