Cocoa Sugar
Young Fathers · 2018
42 min · 14 tracks · hip-hop
Dynamic and eclectic, merging hip-hop beats with soulful melodies and experimental soundscapes that challenge genre boundaries.
Top tracks — play these first
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Fee Fi — This track exemplifies the album's boldness with its catchy hook and infectious energy, showcasing Young Fathers' ability to blend pop sensibilities with urgent lyricism.
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In My View — A standout for its introspective lyrics and layered production, this song encapsulates the band's exploration of identity and societal pressure while maintaining an accessible groove.
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Lord — With its gospel-infused elements and powerful vocal delivery, this track highlights the group's unique ability to intertwine spirituality with personal struggle and social commentary.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Cocoa Sugar showcases innovative structures and dynamic contrasts, solidifying Young Fathers' unique sound within hip-hop.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature rapid shifts in tempo and mood, creating a sense of urgency that is maintained through the album's opening.
- Several tracks incorporate unconventional song structures, such as abrupt transitions and layered vocal harmonies that challenge traditional verse-chorus formats.
- The album frequently employs contrasting dynamics, with moments of quiet introspection followed by explosive choruses, enhancing emotional impact.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short bursts of energetic expression
- playful experimentation with sound
- dynamic shifts between tracks
- cathartic moments of release
- engaging narratives in quick doses
Maybe skip if you
- long, drawn-out listening experiences
- predictable song structures and rhythms
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Cocoa Sugar is Young Fathers' third studio album, following their critically acclaimed debut, Dead, which won the Mercury Prize in 2014. By this release in 2018, they were solidifying their reputation as innovators within the UK hip-hop scene, exploring new sonic territories while maintaining their distinctive identity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Shabazz Palaces· Death Grips· Run the Jewels
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 See How 2:01
- 2 Fee Fi 2:42
- 3 In My View 3:15
- 4 Turn 3:37
- 5 Lord 3:35
- 6 Tremolo 3:09
- 7 Wow 4:00
- 8 Border Girl 4:01
- 9 Holy Ghost 2:33
- 10 Wire 1:40
- 11 Toy 3:14
- 12 Picking You 3:10
- 13 Just a Kid 3:03
- 14 Out of My Mind Sometimes 2:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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