TANK

Dat Boi Dunn
SELF-RELEASED

Dunn, one-third of Skyscraper Stereo, returns with his second solo, a deeply personal listen that equally satisfies head-nodders and reflects his status as our emcee with the best stage banter. TANK opens with lighter fare, the Jacksons-sampling “D-A-T-B-O-I” and the affirming “I Heart Me.” Things take a darker turn, though the production from Lexi Banks, Vybe Beatz and Chuck Deuce is all top-notch. A quarter of the album is devoted to appreciation of the sauce, but centerpiece “Faded” is easily the highlight. A perfect sample goes a long way, and Dunn’s adlibs are second only to Jean Grae. Your heart will break to “Hate You,” a story rap with more vulnerability and pathos than anything local emcees have ever given. Closer “Next to the Best” is a dedication song for his Skyscraper brothers. Excellent work.