The False Self and The Vase by Sydmac – Aipate

I love me a good concept album, and The False Self and The Vase by New York-based artist Sydmac is, in this regard, so amazing. The album’s central themes of love, loss and growth cohere impressively across its twelve songs. As I listened to it for the first time — and I went on to play it a couple times more — I couldn’t help but draw parallels with Lupe Fiasco’s Samurai (2024).

Of course, as an emcee, Sydmac is inclined to demonstrate that he was indeed influenced by some of the best, especially Nas and Jay-Z. On this album though, the artist ambitiously balances great hip hop storytelling with experimental production, infusing elements from different styles such as R&B/soul, indie and pop.

The False Self and The Vase starts off with “Bring The Love”, a chill, groovy cut with an indie-dance allure. Sydmac introduces the theme of love from the get go.

The second track, “Sirens”, is enjoyably soulful. Set against the backdrop of smooth boombap beats, it involves thoughtful verses sandwiched in between a catchy chorus.

With the vibe of the album already established, the songs that follow get more and more introspective, with the rapper addressing a lot of issues in his personal life. “I take you through a time in my life when it seemed like everything was great but deep within…something else was brewing,” he commented about this whole collection.

“Bread and Circuses” takes a different tone though. This thought-provoking song offers listeners a vivid portrayal of what the society has become. Sydmac expresses his frustration with the political system, among others. This is an important song, I would say, since one’s personal challenges often don’t exist in isolation; their immediate environment, be it physical or social media, always have a bearing.

“The Vase”, placed towards the end of the album, finds the artist diving deeper into his psyche. As he regales us with tales of personal struggle, human survival instinct is brought to the fore. “The Vase”, and indeed the whole album, is inspiring and empowering.

Still, for true hip hop heads, an artist’s emceeing skills is of paramount importance when it comes to judging how good a project is. And I must say Sydmac effectively got to flex his lyrical prowess on this album. “Math”, for example, finds him in his element as he delivers heavy bars over soulful piano loops.

The False Self and The Vase is quite impressive. You will hear relatable stories woven beautifully to form a cohesive body of work. Listen below via Spotify and follow Sydmac on Instagram.