‘Sober’ is a record that keeps it real. Not playing around with fake trends and opportunistic formulas, the album delves into its author’s personal struggles, yet manages to offer a fierce, uplifting livery to the keen listener. We could perhaps describe that as a duality: from one side, this is a bold hip-hop album; on the other, it’s also a sign of resilience and vulnerability, a way for Dairius Alexander to share his journey through sobriety with the world.
He does so by offering fourteen charming tracks, each one embracing a slightly different ethos. From boom-bap anthems to more nuanced and grainy episodes, there’s a place for everything in it, although there’s an overall nostalgic character that’s hard to overlook. We are big fans of that retro lusciousness, truly evoking a timeless, classic record.
Crucially, ‘Sober’ took a whopping four years to come to fruition, with producers Akeem J Wells and Spxlly rallying around Alexander to finish off the project in style. Speaking about the inspiration behind it, Dairius reiterates: “Sober is my trajectory point. Like where I’m at in life at the moment. It has its ups and downs. I check into this place (album) and become vulnerable. Letting the listeners know my struggles and achievements through sobriety. Structuring life through my music.”
Discover ‘Sober’ on Spotify:
