As a poet, rapper, storyteller, and songwriter, it’s quite plain to hear Kae Tempest speak his truth on all his records. Personal and insightful takes on the state of the world and society at large, producing some of the most era-defining albums in recent history.
And yet on Self Titled, out today on Island Records, we hear, if this is even possible, perhaps the most personal record yet, an inward-looking Kae, an inspirational reflection of identity.
The poignancy of rapping alongside a vocal sample from his younger self needs little explanation. Know Yourself is extraordinary across the piece, from production to lyrics.
“When I was young, I sought help from my older self/ I came into my head, I told myself know yourself”.
In a time when the rights and bodies of the trans community are being slammed, denied and refused by governments, courts and celebrities, this album feels timely. There is defiance, a call to arms that runs from opener I Stand On The Line to the lead single Statue In the Square: “They never wanted people like me around here / But when I’m dead, they’ll put my statue in a square”. Bless the Bold Future laments the destruction of the planet alongside a calm acceptance of the self.
There is plenty of joy and celebration here, too. Sunshine on Catford with Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant is euphoric, as well as Prayers to Whisper. Infectious beats and hooks, distorted electronica, trips, piano and flicks of strings are all very British Hip Hop, masterminded by producer Fraser T. Smith. There is a slight sonic shift in comparison to Kae’s earlier works. It’s richer but digestible even for those who don’t automatically go to this genre (Hi!).
The standalone track on Self-Titled is Breathe. A six-minute stream of consciousness that comes towards the end of the record, that is full of catharsis, emotion and release. It’s exhausting, it’s beautiful, it’s devastating, it features Young Fathers.
It feels like Kae Tempest had to get Self-Titled out there, not just for us, but for him. The power of his truth captivates from start to end, and this will surely go down as one of the best albums you will hear this year and beyond.
