Artist: Divine C.U.T.S.
Album: I Don’t Just Cut Hair
Articulation: King Acklin
Starting an album off with an Interlude as Track #1 and then Intro as Track #2 seems a bit odd to me, but then again, maybe it’s a G move. Louisville, KY’s own J. Alexander or now known in this rapping space as Divine, or Divine C.U.T.S. definitely appears to be an OG in the Louisville rap game. Divine has been mixing around in this rap sh*t since the 80s and was even a part of rap group in the early 90s Y.G.B. (Young Gifted and Black). Aside from music, Divine has made quite the name for himself delivering top notch fades and more as a master barber/business owner. So here we are past the midway part of 2019 when Divine has a divine (no pun intended) idea to drop his album entitled “I Don’t Just Cut Hair” for our listening ears to digest. Ok, we’re interested!
Living in a World is a smooth cut about gun violence and changes needed to the system, even calling out the Mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer to do more instead of just offering up prayers. I agree with this here as it’s so on point with what’s happening in our city right now. What is There to Talk About gives us another R&B hook and this one is a catchy bop as Divine spits about him being an Average Joe and him not fooling with all the usual “rappity rapper” stuff like drugs, guns, women, money etc.… Now wait, I initially wanted to knock the album thus far but after listening again, you can’t deny Divine’s ability to pain the pictures with these rhymes because I can visualize all he’s talking about.
I can’t skip over Hands Up as Divine and So Sincere (another Dope Louisville artist) gives us some bars to just ride to. Pay attention to Sincere giving us his best T.I. impression on this one (LOL). I Like My Bourbon is something I need to play as I pour myself some bourbon. This is another solid cut as well. Divine kind of loses me for a few songs until I run across Playing with the Clippers. I knew this was a banger as soon as it came on. “I play with the Clippers not the NBA” sings out as Divine raps. This is definitely far and away the best cut on the album. The self-proclaimed “Kanye West of barbering” lets you know as the song ends that this is brash barbering over here. Divine loses steam again, just a bit as he dives into a little Spanish bag with Celebrate featuring Bando Bolo and the dance track, Dance Around the World. I believe these tracks stray a little too far away from where Divine C.U.T.S. is at his strongest. The Outro with the band though kills the Living in a World rendition and closes us on out.
The Louisville veteran, Divine C.U.T.S. gives us a mix bag of material on this project. To me, it would have been better by dropping about 4 or 5 songs as a focused EP, This would have boosted the overall feel of the project. That being said, if he’s really been away from dropping music for 16 yrs. I’m assuming he had a lot to say and get off his chest. Still you have to admire the gumption it took for an artist to come back from that long of a hiatus and still drop some songs just as good as the young boys today. That proves, despite a few knicks here and there on the album Divine C.U.T.S. won't stop and can't be faded. Bottom line and question of the day; is It Dope Tho? The answer, this album is solid... Listen now and thank me later... #DopeTho #YouWelcome
Dope Tho Rating: 5
Key Dope:
What is There to Talk About
Playing with the Clippers
Hands Up
Dope Tho Rating System
1-3 = Nope Tho
4-6 = Decent
7-9 = Dope
10 = Dope Tho Official