est Palm Beach native Lion Muhammad presents his debut album but before that he leaves a trail of singles to guide the listener to his album. Starting with the energetic and blistering delivery on a cinematic production style from the single “Friendly Fire” with verses of "I find the beat then I vomit", and "it’s a dirty ocean and I’ll be a shark in the f***ing water so tread light" lastly, "untuck your nuts when you talk to me cause bi**ch I been a G", exudes confidence and bravado on classical-sounding production with accents of piano and strings on an interesting drum pattern. Murky and slow paced the single "YoungGhetto Boys" which is on the album The Heart of the Lion where the production gives the feeling of being stuck within a never-ending dream but the lyrics are quite the contrary giving a refreshing dynamic of pushing forward through it and waking up to something better when listening.
Following that is the single named "Untitled" with a classic boom bap hip hop sound Muhammad raps, "I had to separate and elevate switch my ways so that I can set them straight so I can detonate", letting those who look down on him know that he chose to rise above the madness and focus on his goals and aspirations. In the single "Sky walker" a dreamy and light production in which Muhammad raps "I’m a Jedi, ‘see that shit with my third eye got a bird’s eye ,kill the competition don’t I" with a melodic flow referencing how aware of his surroundings he is and moves accordingly forward against all odds. On the self-produced track "The Soul of Neo" Muhammad raps “my hunger won’t be pacified until I get what’s mine and make sure my people straight” which is the final single leading up to the album.
Review: The Heart of the Lion
The process of the album coming together actually began with the single "Young Ghetto Boys" which was the first song Lion Muhammad wanted on the album when asked what made you add the song to the album he states, "It was my absolute favorite song. It told my life in a way that listeners could understand, felt or resonate with my words." The singles leading up to the first album was a clear path to a cohesive and very mature project it has elements of genius with the title track "Starving Artist" coming out the gate with lyrics” I’m trying to figure out the definition of who is Lion" giving introspection within in the song. His lyrical prowess is shown in the fiery track intuition up beat blank instrumental and hip hop feel . This album shows that attention to detail and composition makes the album heart of a lion whole.
" #Summerrain is more than a bridge. It’s a moment that can’t be replaced or replicated if we tried. It’s kind of like a picture, the song that is"
Delving in to the bridge of the seven-track album is the track "#Summerrain" with its sultry sound by the singer Eboni. The significance of the track giving balance Muhammad explains, "#Summerrain is more than a bridge. It’s a moment that can’t be replaced or replicated if we tried. It’s kind of like a picture, the song that is." Heart of a Lion is album that shows hindsight is 20/20 lyrically the album is introspective and motivating it lends it is self to growth of person giving lots of gems Muhammad explains one in particular: "Fear. Fear of being a failure. My biggest goal in life is to give my mother the life she sacrificed for me. To give the people around me a chance to be something different, giving them a fighting chance in a world that they never was prepared for. All the people who truly believe in my as an artist and person, just conversations from certain individuals will spark a flame and I’m going harder than never before." Lion Muhammad getting past the fear and growing from the experiences faced gives insight on information the listener can apply in their own life’s. The album takes the listener on trip that traverses his adolescence to adult hood painting a picture of what it like growing up and pushing through the trials and tribulations of life and finding a balance that works for him based on a mixture of street, books smarts and faith.
He speaks to those elements through the song Starving Artist which features the Belle Glade food mart a place the holds great significance to the artist, Muhammad explains: "A lot people didn’t catch that gem. I’m glad this was brought up. In the music video, there was an old run-down store. This story was the last store me and my family use to visit before going to West Palm Beach from Belle Glade. We were poor, so I use to steal out of the store for my sisters when we would hit the road. The significance of the store was that it and I were the same. Both broken, but still standing." Being that the album is only seven tracks, makes it very concise and poignant it making every word more meaningful.
Review: Speechless
The Heart of the Lion is then followed up with a surprise second project focused on purely sound to tell a story in the project Speechless. In the project, Speechless he joins forces with his collaborator Jordan Henry a Jazz bassist and a producer, the duo created a project that’s much like a movie score heavily influenced by Jazz. The lo-fi-Jazz project allows for the mind to wonder and create it own narrative. Songs that standout in speechless are Palm Trees and Neptune these songs encapsulate the lo-fi-jazz feel and theme for the project.
The Journey Past Fear
The journey to the Heart of which is the culmination of two years’ worth of work from 2018 to 2020 and finding his voice and himself in the mist of change and growth. After speaking with the artist Lion Muhammad, he described how the album came together seamlessly. It can be seen as divine timing in many ways how everything fell into place from the collaborators, the lyrics and the production. Make no mistake that pressure met preparation in terms Heart of lion and speechless. From quitting his job at a fast food restaurant in 2018 to being robbed around that same time that is what became the tipping point for the decision to take music more seriously along with realizing that his value was worth more than working for fast food restaurant feeling stymied he decided to follow his dreams and moving past the fear of failure was worth the risk in this life and decided a change of scenery for a new start and new energy moving to the west coast of Florida around 2019. In addition, he wanted to make a better life for his family and break generational curses so that added more fire that helped spark him to make changes for a better life for himself so that he can help others around him. With that same energy he then decided to start a non-profit called Will Rap for Food which helped homeless people in need this attempt to assist those around him while only being around a brief stint left an impact on those it could help. That experience coupled with his due diligence of creating music with his experiences is reflected in the album but more so the collaborators that came together and assisted in cultivating the sound that became the album and for that he is grateful.
He gives praise to the ones he collaborated with which assisted in the sound of the album Muhammad explains: "They were all mad blessings. How some of them came into my life and how others changed moments in my life. Ashely Kay is a producer from Nigera, Africa. I had meet him only after weeks of trying to contact him, only to find out that my man didn’t have internet like that. We got in contact about another song I did a while ago and he had happened so to send me more beats to check out. I heard the starving artist beat and that was all she wrote."
The next collaborator is R.Gibson he is the producer for Young Ghetto boys Muhammad explains, "I remember the night he sent it to me, I must have listened to that beat 1000 times before actually writing the song." Someone that was influential in Muhammed start as a producer and is a artist in his own right is SBChrome, lion explains: "Chrome. My brother, the man that changed my life. I owe all my success to this man. I wholeheartedly am grateful beyond words. I didn’t even want him to come to my house when a mutual brother introduced us. He opened the doors for me and showed me the way to truly being a creator.", showing that some things that can make you uncomfortable can lend itself to be a blessing if you see it through.
A free style by IrrevanlantWiz on the song Let me live that ended up making the album as lion explains: "IrrevanlantWiz. My brother, I’ve known him for a long time. We always worked together, but this track was different. I was freestyling on the track and he arrived in the middle of it and started spitting crazy. The song was natural and true to its title. I’ve watched wiz grown both as an artist and as a man, I’m honored to know him." The art of living in the moment essentially embodying music by being present much like Lil Wayne and Jay-Z the art of the freestyle lends itself to a much-needed moment on the song that complement the album well. Lastly the balance the was needed to make this album whole is his contributor Eboni, Lion explains "Eboni. My soul sista’. I’m super grateful for Eboni. She showed out and showed out.", a very brief statement but the impact of her on the album made waves to the succinct nature of the seven-track album.
The next musical release called Speechless came about in an unorthodox manner lion explains, "The Collab between me and Jordan came as a joke. We were in my dinner room making music and I told him I wanted to do an album with no words, just beautiful music. He looked at me and said, "yeah we’ll call it speechless." We were hype about the name and made a pack to do it when the time was right." , with his collaborator Jordan Henry who is a multi-instrumentalist but his instrument of choice is the bass guitar. Speechless lends itself to imagination and when prosed with the question where do you hear the experience at in terms of film lion explains, "To be honest, I’d probably like to see some records in menace to society or boys in the hood. Stormlight playing in the back of the dopeboi lowrider as they drive to go get that get back(revenge)" the cinematic feel of the record and where he hears it being put on.
The Heart of the Lion is an album that inspires but also shows the complexity of being human and finding a way to rise above the madness of life to a greater goal. Reflecting back on creation and the release of his projects by allowing the moments and music pass I asked to him to reflect to his younger self what wisdom he gained through the experience he faced. When asked about giving any advice to his younger self far Muhammad explains: "Say what’s right, Do what’s right. You can’t please everyone and neglect yourself at the same time. Do what’s best for you because everyone is going to do the same. Finally, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what the think. It doesn’t matter how they feel as long as you believe in it and love it that’s all that matters. People will always try and tear you down, not because they intent to some of them yes, but mostly because they are scare. They will always reflect their past failures on you but remember that you are the only author of your book and they are just reading it. Be great.", learning from the past to make brighter future the reflection shows off an individual striving for better.
After listening to the album from front to back and back to front and living with it I find the albums overarching message is simply listen to your heart and the rest will follow. Speechless is a lo-fi jazz album that could allow you use your imagination and a find a story in it as you ride your car down the highway, studying or write a movie too. Looking toward the future he draws inspiration from all round and is very influenced by currency Lion explains: "If there is anyone that inspires me its Curren$y, I’m a absolute big Spitta fan. Been rocking with Spitta for about ten years now and he never disappoints. Humble dude stands for what he believes and push to better than who he was yesterday. I would also say that I have inspiration from experiences always. Like moments that happens in history or just in my life that I notate through music. I love music that just sounds mad beautiful with real instruments from musicians who put their heart into their style of playing." Furthermore, it will be interesting to see how that translates to future releases from the artist that is Lion Muhammad.
Instagram: @lion__muhammad
Spotify: Lion Muhammad
