Ameer Vann Emmanuel Review

Ameer Vann opens Emmanuel with a verse that’s full of self-loathing. He reflects, contemplates suicide and blames his childhood. He even goes to the extreme of wishing someone to put a bullet in his face. As he asks for forgiveness, he inadvertently comes across as an adult who is repenting, blaming others and his past, instead of accepting his mistakes. The recurring and haunting synth beat accentuates Ameer’s discomforting lyrics.

“I am made up of mistakes, I’ll start goin’ down the list

I’m a product of my father, I’m a addict like my sister

I’m so sick, I need a doctor

Spent some time in institutions back at home with my mama

Had to run away to Houston

Had a girl, she was a goddess, I fucked up and had to lose her“

In May 2018, Ameer Vann was forced out of BROCKHAMPTON after sexual misconduct allegations were leveled by several women against him . As reported by Pitchfork, he has denied all allegations but accepted that he has been selfish and dismissive in his past relationships through twitter. (The twitter account through which he had apologized doesn’t seem to exist now.) His exit has affected not just his reputation but also his previous boy band.

BROCKHAMPTON showed their sadness and anger through their album GINGER. In the song ‘Dearly Departed’, Dom McLennon accused Ameer of setting up a robbery. “I kicked down the door inside a home I didn’t own just to save a friend’s life/ Little did I know, the one who pulled the strings was once on my side.” Dom also went on to add about Ameer, “Pass the weight off to your friends and never face the truth/ Because you never learned how to be a man.”

All the sexual conduct allegations and accusations by his former friends doesn’t show Ameer Vann in good light. Ameer ends Emmanuel with, “Screamin’, “Jesus, come and save me”/ I don’t know if I’ma make it, I just know that life ain’t easy.”

Ameer Vann is back to business in Emmanuel

It’s tough to wash away the past with music alone, but Ameer knows he has to move on and use his music to reassert that he is a talented rapper. He does exactly that in ‘Pop trunk,’ a song with pointed lyrics and a deadly beat.

“I ain’t no boy in a band, I am more than a man

I got the world in my palm, sittin’ right in my hand.”

Ameer sees the silver lining of not being in BROCKHAMPTON, a over-crowded boy band that makes it difficult for every member to express themselves and make a mark. I wrote about this in BROCKHAMPTON Ginger review. It’s difficult being a band/collective and make sure that everyone is getting the fame and recognition he/she deserves.

‘Glock 19’ and ‘Sunday Night’ are produced by Grammy-nominated Cool & Dre, while ‘Los Angeles’ and ‘Plastic’ are produced by Hit-Boy. All these four tracks set off Ameer on a path to regain his confidence as a gifted rapper. In ‘Los Angeles,’ Ameer raps about how he brought his demons from Houston and lost his innocence in Los Angeles. He ends the album on a high with ‘Plastic’ by declaring: “Niggas only hate when you do right/ Everything changed, got a new life/ I see things in a new light.”

It’s too early to tell if Ameer Vann’s Emmanuel EP will be remembered as Ameer Emmanuel Vann’s redemption project. But it does put the focus back on his rapping ability and gives him another shot at having a successful career. Overall, he packs a punch in Emmanuel and is back to business in style.

Musicjo.com Rating: 8/10

Ameer Vann Emanuel EP – Tracklist

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