Valenta by Hester Valentine

Musical success, depending on the cards you were dealt from birth, comes down to some combination of talent, hard work, artistic eye, and luck, but according to Hester Valentine on his new album Valenta, we assign the wrong value to each component. This abstract hip hop album fuses elements of noise electronica with a straightforward prose rap delivery reminiscent of the 90s, pairing this articulate vocal style with an unusually unsupportive backing beat. Despite all the intricate, experimental sounds unfolding in the background, this instrumental imbalance immediately draws our attention to the vocals, delivering lyrics that air out exasperation with the “grind” mentality. When other would-be rappers in Valentine’s life sacrificed their artistic values in pursuit of what they saw as success, they both hit a brick wall in their career and themselves. Though the artist with a relentless commitment to a pure representation of themselves may not score a hit overnight, their satisfaction both before and after this rise will provide continuous fuel to meaningful hard work, creating a virtuous cycle that always beats the life of the sellout.