Invincible “Shapeshifters” Review

When it comes to Midwest hip hop, the mainstream tends to focus on Chicago (Kanye, Common, Lupe, etc.) and the underground tends to focus on Minneapolis (Atmosphere, Brother Ali, etc.). All too often lost in the shuffle is the city where these distinctions blur, the city producing some of the hottest emcees and producers in the country, the city that, if there is any justice in the hip hop community, has “got next”: Detroit. And Invincible is undoubtedly one of the leading voices in Michigan hip hop; her debut album, Shapeshifters, is a resounding call-to-arms, a long-awaited victory lap for one of hip hop’s most talented, hungry emcees.

Invincible is undeniably a rapper’s rapper, crafting dense, rapid-fire bars featuring lots of internal and multisyllabic rhymes. For hip hop fans, this is heaven, but for casual listeners, her music might be a little more challenging. There isn’t a lot of negative space on Shapeshifters; every bar is full, damn-near overflowing; even the hooks sometimes come across like short verses. Again, for the hardcore heads, this isn’t a problem, but don’t expect your little sister to be singing along to “Recognize” or “Locusts.”

Those who are able to unpack Invincible’s rhymes, however, will definitely be rewarded. While most emcees who utilize this style are content to just rap about rapping or simply rhyme cool-sounding words together, Invincible isn’t afraid to tackle meaningful concepts. Whether talking about the skeletons in the closet of her hometown, colonialism and imperialism, gentrification’s impact on Detroit, or how the loss of Detroit hip hop legends J-Dilla and Proof connect to the larger struggle, she never settles for pre-packaged formulas.

The production is lovely across the board, featuring beats from indie-rap luminaries like Black Milk, Waajeed, House Shoes and more. Highlights include the sinister funeral march “Ropes,” the minimalist masterpiece “Sledgehammer!,” and the ridiculous title track, one of the best beats of the year, courtesy of Waajeed. At a solid 14 tracks, the album flies by as well, never overstaying its welcome.

But what really separates this album from other solid indie-rap releases, at least for me, is Invincible’s politics. She i’t afraid to tackle big issues like gentrification, racism, Palestine and more, and does so with the kind of thoughtful, razor-sharp analysis missing from so many “political” emcees out today. You’re not going to hear empty platitudes or revolutionary clichès on Shapeshifters. Rather, you’ll hear a rapper really engaging with the issues, unafraid to make bold statements but never doing so just for shock value.

Also notice that the title of the album is plural; while Invincible does talk about her own story and her own emotions, the spirit of community is always central. Shapeshifters is that rare treasure: a hip hop album featuring both solid politics and banging production, jaw-dropping rhyme schemes and creative content. Definitely don’t miss this one.

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