Being behind bars has never stopped rappers from making music. But what Drakeo The Ruler (who has been incarcerated since 2018 on a murder charge) offers here, is quite out of the ordinary. From the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles, the Californian rapper had endless phone calls with his producer, JoogSZN, in which he rapped on top of instrumentals which JoogSZN had made him listen to in advance. And inevitably, his voice sounds like someone on the receiving end of a call, producing a rather unique and dark effect. Throughout the 19 tracks, Drakeo talks of fallen friends (R.I.P. Barney), prison (Social Media Can’t Help You) and the bleak tales that come along with it. With a very trap gang stand global aesthetic that occasionally develops elements of drill (Tell You The Truth), he manages to transform the obstacle of the telephone into an asset. On the other end of the line, JoogSZN places no effects on his voice so that the result is more street than ever, more pure. A success. © Brice Miclet/Qobuz