One of Montreal’s great street poets, Lost, is particularly inspired this year. With Souldia, he released the collaborative album last May Robot portrait and replies this week with Hanged Man 4 (Lost Chapter).
Launched in 2015, the series of mixtapes was supposed to stick to a trilogy, completed in 2018. However, as the new tracks were recorded, Jayson Moutome Elombo found himself in the same state of mind as when he started out as Lost. Thus, he offers 16 new songs that refer to the brutal universe of Hanged Man. But like the hero on the album cover, the MC emerges triumphant.
From the first track, BP4Lost wants to reassure: “Don’t worry, Mom […] We fall, we get up, we fall again/Luckily we are strong”. The album does indeed have its ups and downs from a narrative point of view, but also from a listening point of view. The good moments are however in the majority. It is rather the similar structure of the pieces that becomes boring. However, the music is the work of several composers: Toosik, TWT, Freakey!, 2Konthetrack, Gancho, Pako, Razor, Birdzonthetrack, Astro, Bynow, Forgs, 450Ketchy and Zenderbeats.
OTthe second piece, is one of the highlights of Hanged Man 4. The chorus is catchy, the beat TWT hits hard, then Lost and Trappo follow on wonderfully. Warriorright after, is just as successful. The image that Lost paints with the line “I have knives in my back, but my back is wide” sets the tone for a first verse delivered with rage and intention. Sleeping pillsthe next piece, is in the same vein.
The mood lightens somewhat on Photo paradesa collaboration with French rapper Dinos, but the message remains serious: “Humans disappoint us too much/Friends are good when you have no money/Jealousy arises when they know too much.” The melancholic piano of Deceived by time allows for more introspection and a flow more melodious.
Further comes Van Cleefa very welcome bomb, which slips in between a few songs without much interest. Hanged Man 4 nevertheless concludes in a beautiful way. First, with Banditbut above all thanks to At my housewhich benefits from the contribution of rap keb veteran Manu Militari – in great shape –, then from 20 Benzan intoxicating production by Freakey!, which also features Frenchman Kekra. Urus And 6 months nicely close this unexpected but satisfying fourth chapter.
Lost will offer Hanged Man 4 on the occasion of a Quebec tour that will begin on October 19, in Bois-des-Filion. Among the twelve shows, two are planned in Quebec City, on October 26 and 27, then another at Club Soda, in Montreal, on November 8. We bet that the friends of 5sang14 will also be there.
Excerpt fromOT (with Trappo)
Rap
Hanged Man 4
Lost
5sang14