Chicago’s Alex Wiley rose to prominence in 2014 with the release of Village Party. Hits like ‘Vibration’ and ‘Ova’ meant his next instalment was always going to be heavily anticipated and the official follow up, Village Party 2, certainly lives up to the hype. Aside from a few features by Mick Jenkins and Kembe X the first instalment remained a largely individual piece. VP2 invites other artists to contribute more to a vision he’s determined to convey with his audience, whilst still remaining loyal to his unmistaken flow over the mic.

The words “young little wavey” reign over a lethargic beat on one of the main singles off the album, ‘For Sunny’. Self-assured in his own ability and armed with the repetition of these very lyrics, the MC is determined to make us see the proverbial light, and grasp the full ramifications that speak through his musical movement. Aided by high profile features of the ever energetic Chance the Rapper and Calez, ‘Navigator Truck’ continues down a path of self-discovery and defiance. Chance the Rapper’s naturally disjointed flow is perfectly complimented by the more ferocious and direct tones of Calez and Wiley himself without drowning each other out. ‘Ex-Machina’ is the standout track on the album, it has a nostalgic feel about it as he spits raw interrupted lyrics over a hazy beat. Appearing as one of the very first tracks it leaves us with an overwhelming sense of excitement as to what Wiley has in store for us throughout the rest of the album.

Though featuring a number of artists on the record, Alex Wiley strikes the important balance of not drowning out his own influence. It remains distinctly an Alex Wiley record as he walks us through the realities of living in one of America’s most dangerous cities. This is something his audience may not commonly identify with but with the help of his music Wiley imparts on the listener a greater understanding.

Niall Ballinger