As the music business evolves, musicians have to find new ways to adapt. It used to be that an artist would go into a studio and record an album. Not to say that albums are passe, but music fans have gravitated away from listening to albums. One artist who has adapted to the new style is producer Boca 45. His approach with the new album Donuts 2020 has been to release one 45 every other month culminating in the release of a full-length album at the end of the year.
The new album features guest appearances from Hannah Williams and Swaby from The Heavy, among others. Of the new album, Boca 45 said, “Five 45 singles were manufactured every other month from February and sold via my channels and each one sold out in super quick time, so the 2020 LP is the perfect way to hear the full set together in its entirety.”
One of the noteworthy tracks on this album is “Powerful” featuring Hannah Williams. Now, if you know anything about Hannah Williams, you know to expect soulful vocals, which she delivers. This one feels like a song on the soundtrack of a blaxploitation film – right down to the lyrics that make this feel like a protest song. “You may be powerful, but that doesn’t make you right.”
There is a definite Pharcyde vibe as you move through this album. You wouldn’t be wrong to call it a hip-hop album, but there are also has some pretty heavy funk and soul vibes throughout the album. With the guitar riff, “Blow Your Mind” is another one that would fit in a blaxploitation soundtrack. However, there is some serious scratching going on in this song as well as a riff that sounds like some kind of country funk.
A strong 70s vibe is featured throughout this album. Between the guitar and the beat in “Hot Wheels (The Chase)”, the song sounds like the theme to a 70s cop show or movie.
Is this an album filled with very talented people making very good music? Absolutely. However, the real accomplishment of this is that Boca 45 has managed to make a party album in a year when people have neither had the ability nor been in the mood to party. Every one of these songs is a club-ready smash that is made to get people moving. It’s almost like Boca 45 has created the musical antidote to 2020.
