One of the leaders of the “Ghetto Games” free speech “battle” last year and winner of the “Ghetto Games” annual award, rapper Burlax (real name Olaf Aleksandrs Skulte) released an album with seven compositions. In addition to himself, three guest artists have also participated in the recordings – singers Krisy (Kristiāna Skudrupa) and Samanta Balcere, as well as rapper Brālēns (Edgars Klindžāns) of the hip-hop association “Avangards”. The sound engineer and producer of “Avangarda” Jezup (Jázeps Žogla) took care of the recording and processing of the songs.
“”Soul Exploration” is a musical project, through which I try to tell my listeners that I am on the way to the best version of myself. You have to work hard to get there. I try to send the message to the listener that I am exactly the same person as them. I also have personality issues, but I’m smart enough to admit it and try to improve myself. I wake up every morning to be a better and better version of myself – a better son to my mom, a better older brother, a better spouse to my woman, a better musician to my listeners,” explains Burlax. While writing this album, he has gained an interesting insight – the more you blame yourself for what is happening around you and not someone else, the stronger your personality becomes.
About the creator of the album himself. Burlax is a 20-year-old rapper from Jelgava. More widely known after participating in the free speech “battles” organized by the “Ghetto Games”, where he participated two years in a row and in the summer of 2022 won and remained undefeated in three out of four free speech competitions.
At the end of last year, the rapper also won the “Ghetto Games” annual award in the nomination “Discovery of the year in free speech”. Burlax has so far released two studio albums – “Winter Blues” (2021) and “It Must Happen” (2022). He has worked with such artists as DJ Krii, Steps, Packman, xantikvariāts, etc. “He has gained people’s sympathy with his sharp attitude and the sincerity expressed in his lyrics,” informs his team.
PAR. The title track is brilliant (a bit reminiscent of Gacho and/or Mesa’s work)! That alone makes the whole album worth listening to. But there are also other good pieces here, such as “Melancholia” and “Treasures”. The lyrics make you want to listen, which is especially true of the mentioned “Melancholia”. Overall – a good album.
AGAINST. The album includes a dozen compositions, including an intro, an outro, and three skits (which are rather incomprehensible), but it still feels like there are too many. It’s no wonder – if you release an album every year, then you don’t get that much good sound material at all… Maybe it’s better to work hard, collect the best that you have in your arsenal, and release one super record instead of three mediocre ones?
