Rory Allen Philip Ferreira has been making waves within the underground hip-hop scene since the early 2010’s. He has gone by many stage names, but the one that truly put him on the map was milo. His most notable records include his mixtape I Wish My Brother Rob Was Here and my personal favorite So The Flies Don’t Come. One could compare him to another underground rapper Open Mike Eagle for his plain delivery lifted up by his keen lyricism. His knack for insightful observations is among the best made better by his clever wordplay and rhymes that wraps many of his songs in a cryptic veil that must be dissected carefully. This lyricism separated him from the common label of “conscious hip-hop” and placed him more within the “abstract hip-hop” label. Last year he took on a new stage name, R.A.P. Ferreira, and now we have his first record under this pseudonym, Purple Moonlight Pages, which may be his most perplexing and grooviest studio album yet.

Some of his most abstract lyricism yet appears on Purple Moonlight Pages to the point that it is sometimes hard to fully grasp what he is attempting to convey. I’ve always seen this as a positive because it shows Ferreira’s skills not just as a rapper but also a poet. Nothing is spoon fed to the listeners and takes time to digest which makes this record and others from him retain interesting qualities overtime although I personally wish some lyrics were slightly more clear. One thing is clear though: Purple Moonlight Pages is a self-portrait of Ferreira as a person. He seems very thankful for those around him made clear on the opening track “Decorum” where he introduces those who have helped with the record whether directly or indirectly. He also discusses themes of family life and needing to help them out any way he can with lyrics like “I been busy keepin’ this home together, you know; A family just growin’ together; The hoverin’ scent of cool linens; While the loop demands the fools keep sinnin’; Myself included, shit” using laundry as a metaphor on “Laundry“. This also shows that whenever he references “family” he doesn’t only refer to those who are blood related but also those close enough to be considered such.

I love the honesty Ferreira has towards his observations of society and even himself off of Purple Moonlight Pages that is sometimes clearer than the the more cryptic lyricism. “Cycles” is a great example of which where he analyzes how everything functions in cycles and relating it to topics of art being used to address harsh situations in the world only for another to come around. “An Idea is a Work of Art” featuring Mike Ladd is another where both explain how the bravery to think certain ideas in itself is an unrecognized artform. That narrative fits Ferreira as a person and as an artist considering the abundance of references to philosophy and literature throughout his lyrics. He does this on “Pinball” featuring Open Mike Eagle where he recognizes that history shapes the present and future but history often is distorted overtime. His insightful lyricism really gets you thinking about the world in a more philosophical manner even when he’s talking about himself.

The lyrics are meant to be extremely abstract and can be said to have a very deep meaning or no meaning at all based on the interpretation one makes. It can become tiring at times though trying to keep along with what Ferreira is stating, but luckily his instrumentals help with retaining attention. Purple Moonlight Pages features some of his most digestible and enjoyable beats yet (especially the frontend of the record) venturing into jazz rap. The trumpets on tracks like “Pinball” and “Leaving Hell” are lively aside the groovier percussions. Samples are used effectively within the beats even when they’re something as random as the Mario jumping sound on “Absolutes“. A track like “MYTHICAL” can get pretty cluttered and overbearing taking away from Ferreira’s raps which makes me thankful for the many tracks that are more subtle and stripped back. “OMENS & TOTEMS” is a great example of which with its reverberating bassline accented by fluttering bells and light woodwinds. Only time a beat truly doesn’t connect with me off of the record is on “MASTERPLAN” which is too subtle with droning notes and vocal ramblings awkwardly aside them. That track is also too simple lyrically especially with its placement at the end of a record filled with abstract lyricism.

Like under any of his stage names, Purple Moonlight Pages is a great complex piece of music that deserves to be digested overtime to fully reveal all its meanings. Such complexity may turn off some from the album. Even so it’s definitely still worth a listen for the messages dealing with important topics revolving around the world today and will continue to happen overtime. Plus hearing about Ferreira as a person after all these years listening to his music gives further clarity to his other album. All of it being enveloped by really solid jazz instrumentals makes it a great hip-hop record to kick off the decade with.

Favorite Tracks: “GREENS”; “NONCIPHER”; “OMENS & TOTEMS”; “LAUNDRY”; “DUST UP”; “CYCLES”; “ABSOLUTES”; “NO STARVING ARTISTS”; “AN IDEA IS A WORK OF ART” ft. Mike Ladd; “PINBALL” ft. Open Mike Eagle; “RO TALK”

Rating: 8/10

Released: 03/06/2020

Label: Ruby Yacht

Genres: Abstract Hip-Hop, Jazz Rap

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RATING SCALE

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