Posthumous releases are generally a bad idea, but this album was apparently almost finished when Chino XL died. He killed himself, which makes one wonder if his Darkness is meant as a sort of suicide note. There are certainly enough references to suggest so.
XL, like Canibus during his 2000 peak, is best when he’s rapping because he’s one of “the greatest lyricists of all time”. Things only falter during the breaks. On Lumps Of Silver, for example, he makes the mistake of singing in the same melody as the guitar riff.
Or was that bit added after his death? That’s always a question with these posthumous releases, but there are some savers nevertheless. They include Words In The Color, which conjures Biggie’s Suicidal Thoughts, Sermon In Crimson and Blue Obsidian.
my rating : 3 of 5
2024
Album was completed as of June/July 2024.
Nothing was amended or added.
Its the album in its true original form. Released as per Chinos wishes.
Along with this, he left Sermon in Crimson, his last solo official music video for the world.