Earlier this year, 19-year-old rapper/revolutionary Raury said he was about to release “the best album of the year”, suggesting he might bring enlightenment to all mankind in the process; a more compelling mission than the usual “write good tunes”, but not as easy to achieve. It’s part flower-power protest, part stoner romance (think André 3000 circa The Love Below, or early NERD), but there are also misjudged moments of earnestness, such as Friends (featuring Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello), which is akin to MJ circa Earth Song in terms of its pledge for world peace. At times, Raury’s energy is more intriguing than his songwriting, and while the lack of cynicism in his lyrics is refreshing, you can’t help but question his decision to play the pop preacher – especially when he is also capable of making clever, cosmic funk tracks such as Forbidden Knowledge. Brave, and sometimes a little blatant, but for a man who has compared his music to “a World War III benefit concert”, it still beats Bono.
