Original Article by The After Hours Review
Alex Turner, aka “Blaque Alex”, released “The Utopian Hypnosis” a few weeks back. This six track EP is what Long Island Hip Hop needed! Alex comes at you with raw, hard hitting lyrics that are filled with emotion. He’s a natural born story teller and the way he conveys this in his writing and vocal delivery is nothing short of amazing. Get ready to become a life long fan of Blaque Alex!
Alex shared the meaning and inspiration behind “The Utopian Hypnosis” with us. “Thematically it’s a very dynamic concept. The main idea of the album is an observation of the things we crave and/or need most to have the good life. A recipe for utopia, if you will. Our desire for these things puts us in something of a hypnosis due to how intense and obsessive those desires are. It’s what we live for. Now, the story in each track is dictated from a 1st person perspective. From my POV they’re serve as confessions in that regard. I think of the album an a sort of “AA” meeting with each track being a different character making honest confessions about which aspect of this utopian equation they desire most or struggle with. As a second observation, the album is about me. I wrote this while I was in rehab in 2018 for alcoholism and mental health grievances. The subjects covered are also things I’ve personally struggled with and believe. It’s a deep reflection on the things I value at my core and a warning about the things that left me spiritually bankrupt and in desperate need for intervention.”
“The Utopian Hypnosis” is a banger, but there are four tracks that really resonated with me; “Father, Father”, “White Black Boy”, “Sasha Grey”, and “Dreams and Ideas”. Blaque Alex starts off the EP with “Father, Father”, a song that he states is a “meditation of self determination”. This song hooks you right away with that boom-bap, 90’s style beat and flow. If the beat doesn’t get you, the lyrics and message behind the song will. Lines like “never been in to gold digging, I prefer soul digging” and “it’s time for some action, law of attraction, focused on the future and ignoring distractions” jump out right away. Alex recognizes the strength and power that every person has the capability of and challenges you to recognize that potential in yourself. To stay on the path that was meant for you, no matter how difficult it may be!
Alex continues this overall theme in the following track, “White Black Boy”. He refers to this track as a “recipe for self-esteem” and he couldn’t be more right! While the song specifically addresses past experiences that Alex has had in life, I think everyone can relate to the message. The message in my eyes, in simplest terms is, “be whoever the fuck you want to be and don’t care what people say”. Don’t believe me? Check out this verse: Alex spits, “Know what I hate? Mother fucker’s tell me who to date. Mother fucker’s telling me how to talk. Or telling me what to do with my face. You see there’s black people telling me I sound white, and white people saying I’m intimidating. Why can’t these mother fuckers ever get shit right? I’m a God’s son, no debating.”
Blaque Alex continues the EP with “Sasha Grey”. This song caught my attention because it starts with the strumming of a guitar. I feel that nowadays, you don’t hear many Hip Hop artists including pieces like guitar chords on their tracks. I LOVE that Alex doesn’t conform to the norms of Hip Hop, especially today’s Hip Hop. If he did, we’d be listening to shitty trap beats and mumbling! Alex ends the EP with my favorite track, “Dreams and Ideas”. It’s my favorite for two reasons; first off, the song itself is just absolute fire, and second, the message behind it is so important, now more than ever! Alex said “Dreams and Ideas” is about stoic mental health. This is such a vital issue to cover. There are SO MANY people who are suffering, who feel there is no escape or simply don’t have the resources to help themselves. This song will provide inspiration for those that truly need it!
Blaque Alex has turned me into a life long fan. I love that he was willing to wear his heart on his sleeve when writing these tracks. There was no holding back for him and it led to some incredible songs. I can already see the large amount of people this EP will help. It’s comforting for a fan to know that one of their favorite artists is a human being just like they are. Hats off to Blaque Alex for dropping a classic on Long Island!
