In the vast landscape of the UK music scene, few MCs possess the technical prowess and depth exhibited by Ghetts. From unparalleled lyrical mastery to his vivid storytelling and acute social and political awareness, he epitomizes a rare complete package.
Ghetts builds on his momentum with “On Purpose, With Purpose,” maintaining a quality streak spanning two decades since his debut. Remarkably, he maintains two decades of quality, a standout feat amid veteran rappers grappling to recapture former glory.
Initially appearing as a gentle ease into the album on the track “Intro,” featuring a sample from the band Band Of Thieves’ 1976 song “Love Me or Leave Me,” Ghetts surprises listeners by sharply entering the smooth sample with a hard rap song path.
Despite the contrasting introduction, the intro serves as a deeply personal record, akin to Ghetts’ personal diary, providing a solid introduction the album. Closing the track is a speech by Martin Luther King, which elevates the impact of the album even further.
This speech seamlessly transitions into the next track, “Mount Rushmore,” where three elite UK rap legends—Ghetts, Kano and Wretch 32—go back-to-back. Each delivering five minutes of bars in quick succession. This collaboration embodies and class, one to cause an online stir on who had the better verse.
With Sampha featured on the third track, the pace of the project significantly slows down. Sampha, who has been on a hot streak with rappers, delivers a soulful contribution to the impactful record, themed on the title “Double Standards”. The single heavily delves into stereotypes placed on religion, races, color, and other forms of discrimination prevalent in society. It addresses various societal issues such as injustice, technological brainwashing, governmental manipulation, and warfare. The single takes a poignant turn with a groovy mid-tempo rhythm, allowing for a deeply impactful message to be conveyed.
Anakin (Red Saber) continues the album’s newly slowed-down vibe, featuring Ghetts delivering a laid-back performance over the Ten Billion Dreams production, essentially emphasizing his “Ghetto” credentials. “Blood On My Hands,” true to its name, exudes a cutthroat, sinister vibe, serving as a quintessential gangster anthem. This transition shifts the album’s focus from social change journalism to a gangster’s diary, especially evident in the last two tracks. Unknown T further enhances the track with his sharp lyrical prowess and fluid flow, elevating its impact.
“Stylish Nxxxa” maintains its sinister “bad man” direction, albeit with a less menacing vibe, serving as a self-affirmative track. Over a trap beat, Lancey Foux and Ghetts deliver a grime classic, blending their styles seamlessly. “Laps,” featuring Moonchild Sanelly, embodies a baseline trap vibe but adds a unique twist with off-beat elements and diverse directions, making it selectively enjoyable for listeners.
“Twin Sisters” begins with a suggestive intro, gradually transitioning into a single that leans towards bedroom vibes without fully committing. The track features UK heavyweight Skrapz, with both artists delivering adult-rated content, adding depth to the song’s narrative. Still following the emotive “in feels” direction (the third direction of the project), Shakka delivers an R&B classic, with Ghetts adding rap verses that strike a perfect balance between singing and rapping, akin to Sampha’s earlier performance.
Jay Angelo breaks the album’s flow with an interlude reminiscent of a commercial break, as seen in “More Than I Required.” After the interlude, the album returns to a self-aware tone, evident from the piano intro, which becomes even more apparent with Dexta Daps’s contribution. A motivational gospel-inspired song perfectly encapsulates the album’s essence, blending patois-infused R&B with finely tuned rap for a beautiful rendition. Harry Aye introduces a new vibe to the album with “Gbedu,” infusing a slow, groovy Afrobeats rhythm into the mix. The love song brings a perfect groove, with Harry Aye’s sound reminiscent of a fusion between Joeboy and Boj.
“Tumbi” offers stark contrast to its predecessor, leaning more towards an Amapiano fusion within Afrobeats, in a more upbeat vibe. Ghetts showcases his versatility on this track, delivering a performance that gives the Afrobeats Industry a run for their money. “Blessing” introduces yet another vibe to the album, with its groovy Afrobeats sound first showcased in “Gbedu”. Muzi and Ghetts seamlessly blend together on this track, with Ghetts demonstrating his versatility once again. This highlights Ghetts as a hardcore MC and a commander of the dancefloor.
“Grateful” serves as the second interlude, offering a spoken-word masterpiece that embodies “embrace the presentand live life to the fullest”. “Streets Politics” marks the end of the streak of upbeat tracks, transitioning back to a more introspective tone. Tiggs Da Author delivers soulful vocals over an EMIL-produced beat, while Ghetts paints a vivid picture with his storytelling.
“Jonah’s Safety” continues in the vein of the previous track, featuring Pip Millet’s magical and soulful chorus. Here, Ghetts addresses the societal challenges faced by women, highlighting issues such as judgment, marginalization, and the suppression of their voices, which often lead to their suffering and depression. Closing off the album is “Expiry Dates,” a rap song where Ghetts delivers his signature hard-hitting and conscious lyrics.
