Every so often, an EP comes along that just “becomes” a story. Not in the lazy, “let’s throw in some skits and call it a concept album” way, but in the way that grips you by the collar and drags you headfirst into a fully realized world. NOSTALGIA does exactly that. It doesn’t just evoke memory; it warps it, reconstructs it, turns it into something tangible. Across four meticulously crafted tracks, UraelB stitches together a project that feels like it lives at the intersection of good kid, m.A.A.d city and The Lost Boy; a space where youthful ambition collides with the inescapable weight of the past. This isn’t just an EP about looking back; it’s about reckoning with what’s behind you while knowing damn well it’s still shaping what’s ahead.
NOSTALGIA isn’t just an EP; it’s an open door into UraelB’s world, and he doesn’t just invite you in, he throws you in. This is South Central LA through his eyes: the weight of survival, the sharp edges of memory, the uneasy tightrope walk between who you were and who you’re trying to become. As the first piece of Respect The Real Vol. II, it’s both an introduction and a warning shot: a raw, unfiltered transmission straight from the heart of experience. UraelB doesn’t just rap about coming of age; he makes you feel it. The late nights spent plotting escape routes, the ghosts of past decisions lingering at every corner, the burning need to carve out a future before the past catches up. It’s the kind of storytelling that doesn’t just resonate. Instead, it pulls you under, drags you through, and leaves you staring at the ceiling long after the last track fades out.
Right from the jump, NOSTALGIA makes it very clear that UraelB isn’t just here to rap, he’s here to drop you headfirst into his world. Smart Guy doesn’t just open the EP; it sets the scene, the way the first shot of a great film tells you everything before a word is spoken. Think Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter, but instead of just watching a story unfold, you feel it. The beat is warm, eerie, and slow-burning, the kind of production that sneaks up on you rather than demanding attention. And then there’s UraelB, painting a picture with the detail of someone who remembers everything, every flash of recklessness, every moment where the line between ambition and survival started to blur. “Most of my culture’s ex-cons and felons / so I knew the art of war by the age of eleven” isn’t just a clever line; it’s a thesis statement.
Another highlight comes in the form of Dirty Toothbrush, a song that doesn’t sit that moves through nostalgia. If Smart Guy was a memory, Dirty Toothbrush is the drive home after, the weight of those experiences still rattling around in the back of your mind while you figure out what’s next. The production shifts toward a West Coast bounce, but the energy stays introspective. Think Have Mercy by Cordae. Like, it’s a flex, but it’s also a question: What happens if the success I’m chasing never comes? Lastly, Aim 2 KiK It slows things down, reflects, and lets the weight of everything settle in. There’s a heavy, almost bittersweet quality to it, the kind of track that plays as you watch city lights blur past your window, caught somewhere between regret and resolve. UraelB’s voice floats over a smooth, melancholic beat, this time laced with R&B undertones that make the entire song feel like a late-night confession. It’s not just about looking back; it’s about realizing that everything behind you is still shaping the road ahead.
NOSTALGIA isn’t just an EP. Rather, it’s a mission statement. UraelB isn’t interested in chasing trends, watering down his sound, or playing the industry game. He’s here to build something lasting, something that matters. Every bar, every beat, every carefully layered moment is proof that he’s not just rapping: he’s documenting. This isn’t just about where he’s been; it’s about where he’s going, and if NOSTALGIA is only a piece of Respect The Real Vol. II, then the full project might just be essential listening.
Your inner child: the one who dreamed big, and your present self: the one still fighting for those dreams? They will thank you for pressing play.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for publications in the US and former lead writer of Atop The Treehouse. Reviews music, film and TV shows for media aggregators.
