Album Review: 360 – Utopia
3 min read
Aussie rapper 360 has experienced two different worlds over the past few years; he was rock bottom at some point, but his 4xPlatinum certified sophomore album Falling & Flying changed his life and career forever. Behind the ARIA awards, the string of certified singles released from his previous effort and the sold out shows Australia wide is an artist who is still finding inner peace. 60’s new album Utopia is a darker insight to his imagination, personal dilemmas and world issues; he has also drawn from many influences from rappers past and present to reinvent himself once again.
360 is living the life he dreams, Still Rap is an attack on the people around him who recommend a career change despite his success, 360 gladly gives out the reality checks. You can hear his pop influence flowing through You and I, the chorus has a memorable hook and the lyrics reflect his achievement of becoming sober; second single Live It Up proves another strong collaboration between 360 and best mate PEZ, it’s a catchy number and aims to inspire you to live life to the fullest. Man On The Moon is like a continuation of Still Rap, but touches on personal issues regarding what people say about 360 online and about how the positivity will always reign over the negativity, particularly when he receives posts from young people who look up to him. Purple Waterfall, one of two tracks on the album featuring Silverchair’s Daniel Johns, is described by 360 as his favourite and most international sounding track on Utopia and is pretty much written about being on the influence of drugs; there definitely is something a little different about the track as compared to 60’s other tracks, Daniel John’s contribution was slight but effective. Gosling returns to sing the chorus on third single Price of Fame, the song touches on the pros and cons of fame since 360 went from being avoidable to irresistible; PEZ contributes once again for Must Come Down, an ode to becoming addicted to sobriety.
360 admits he was talking crap on Speed Limit, so an over analysation isn’t really necessary, it does have a good beat going for it though; however, the going gets deep when The Living End’s Chris Cheney teams up with 360 on Early Warning, touching on drug addiction and how it affects the lives of those surrounding it. Sixavelli was the leading single from Utopia and features English rapper Lunar C, again it is a different sound for the rapper who is particularly proud of his use of metaphors throughout the track. Eddie Jones (feat. Miracle) was written and produced for the purpose of creating an Aussie hip-hop track unlike any other, with the “banging beat” and how 60 kills it lyrically; he revolutionises his sound once again by singing the first two verses of Spiral Down before rapping the third, just because he wanted to prove he could, but the track is written about a close friend to him going through addiction. By All Means is described by 360 as a haunting/eerie kind of a song packed with metaphors that only those close to him will understand, which makes it another personal song backed by a good beat; It’s All About To End features Daniel Johns again and is a dark approach about 360’s lack of understanding towards particular practises in religion, touching on acceptance of homosexuality and what’s really waiting for us on the other side.
Utopia is a demonstration of an Australian rap artist who is willing and ready to reinvent himself at the drop of a hat; the album has a more darker and edgier concept than its predecessor, and 360 isn’t afraid to lay his opinions and demons on the line for the world to hear. The big guns were brought in to produce the album, and there were some great collaborations; however, 360 could have broadened his horizons just a little to refrain from recycling duets on the one album, Gosling was forgivable as she featured on Falling & Flying. That’s not to say the songs weren’t up to scratch, it would have been refreshing to hear from capable others in the industry. Overall, the album has given life to its own unique sound; Utopia gives us a more personal outlook on 360 the artist, the rapper and the human being.
