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Virginia rapper Lil Ugly Mane is often known for his outlandish and sometimes downright bizarre side projects and albums. But his most recent album, Volcanic Bird Enemy and The Voiced Concern, is oddly beautiful.
Mane’s harmonic choruses and abstract lyricism blend perfectly with an experimental folksy, psych-rock instrumental.
Mane’s usage of not only imagery but also intense metaphors helps him convey his message about a person who was scorned by an ex-partner and has yet to fully recover. This is most implied on the track “VPN.” The song includes a very good breakdown alongside a metaphor for the isolation caused by the partner, as Mane says he feels like he’s surrounded by walls, like how a VPN creates private networks.
The depth to which Mane goes on this album to describe the fallout of a broken relationship is remarkable, truly showing his artistic prowess.
Throughout the album, common themes of manipulation and desire are often intertwined, such as in the song “Clapping Seal.” Mane sings about being under a spell and how it makes him clap like a seal for his partner, until he breaks the spell.
Another example of Mane detailing a fallout in the relationship is in the song “Hostage Master.” He sings about how being metaphorically planted into his partner’s garden causes all of their plants to die and rot. Mane describes this situation with a monotone voice while singing over a beat composed of synths, flowing water, and an off-kilter drum kit.
Finally, the best song on the album, “Cold In Here,” provides a vivid depiction of Mane’s battle with a destructive and mentally ill partner. Mane sings, “She wants my breeze to turn to winds of rotted breath / When you look in the mirror you realize you’re next.”
