'Limbo' Review: Feel Yourself Adam Aminé Daniel

Tucker Cargile
Aug 19, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Feb 19, 2021

Limbo Review: 9.1/10

Back in 2017, Aminé dropped his debut album Good For You. This project allowed the rising star to introduce himself, boasting witty and comedic verses, as well as catchy hooks on all fifteen-tracks. The fun and lighthearted style that Aminé put on display contributed to great success and the album's breakout single “Caroline”, which could be heard playing at every college party across the nation. This fun loving album was solid, but Limbo illustrates the 26-year olds staggering emotional and musical maturation.

Limbo begins with “Burden”, a song that resonates due to minorities being killed by police at disproportionately higher rates. In verse one he raps, “When your skin darker, shit gets harder (True)/This a black album like Shawn Carter (Yee)” highlighting the obvious injustices rooted in our society. On this opening track Aminé comes out swinging, with insanely good production and hard hitting verses.

Phenomenal production continues throughout the album, showcasing unique beats from Boi-1da, T-Minus, and Vinylz, as well as additional production from Parker Corey of Injury Reserve. The beats are often moody, playing into Aminé’s feelings around relationships, the death of Kobe, and experiences that shaped him into the artist that he is currently. In addition to the various beats and samples used, Aminé’s good friend and comedian Jak Knight speaks on several tracks. His presence adds so much to the album, especially on “Kobe” where he conveys how the death of the hoops icon affected him personally.

Limbo also boasts exclusive features on five of the tracks, with each artist matching Aminé’s energy, but never fully stealing the show. On “Roots”, JID and Charlie Wilson join forces to help Aminé create a song that lets things breathe a bit, as well as highlighting the smoothness that makes JID such a coveted feature. The other features from Young Thug, Summer Walker, and Injury Reserve are all fantastic, but it’s Slowthai and Vince Staples’ features on “Pressure In My Palms” that are so intriguing. The two high energy rappers share a short verse and absolutely light it up, causing some confusion and disappointment as to why they didn’t have more extensive verses.

After listening to this album several times it just continues to get better. Aminé sounds mature and composed, while never fully steering away from the happy-go-lucky style that made him the star that he is. The improvement in production is insane, but Aminé’s lyrical improvements are also apparent. Throughout the 14-track LP the rapper utilizes classic references and name drops, like Winona Ryder shoplifting and the Malice at the Palace.

On “My Reality” Aminé starts off by absolutely throwing down, “Ahem, can I feel myself? Used to need a handout, now I need no help”. Yes, Adam Aminé Daniel you may feel yourself because you just dropped an album that will only get better with age, having the chance to eventually be regarded as a hip-hop classic.

Limbo’s methodical and fun nature is its greatest strength, making for a relatable album that is easy to listen to. It is also exactly the release that Aminé needed to propel his career into a new direction and solidify his place as one of the best in the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzSZtHdMDzk

My Favorite Tracks:

01. Burden

04. Roots feat. JID, Charlie Wilson

05. Can't Decide

06. Compensating feat. Young Thug

08. Pressure In My Palms feat. slowthai, Vince Staples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKOwkYIEE3k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyOJfbt4jt0

Anthony's Track Ranker:

1. My Reality

2. Pressure In My Palms feat. slowthai, Vince Staples