NF's 'Mansion' is an All Out Hip-Hop Assault of the Senses; Rapper's Album Delivers Intense Lyrics & Passionate Messages [REVIEW]

NF

Christian emcee NF (Nate Feuerstein), is gearing up to release his debut full length album on Capitol Records, Mansion, and in doing so has the whole hip-hop community anxiously waiting.

The album drops on March 31, and BREATHEcast had the opportunity to sample what is next after such a great EP. Read our review of his EP here.

Starting off ominously, NF's "Intro" throws the listener into the mood the young emcee is trying to set for the album. Hitting with a thunderous orchestral crash, NF comes in rapid fire and lays the groundwork for his hustle, passion, and effort to make it in the hip-hop industry.

"Mansion" has a beautifully sung hook by guest Fleurie. "My mind is a house covered in lyrics" is NF's descriptive and impressive first line of the song. The beat is haunting and hits powerfully. The rapper gets deep and talks about some of the psychological battles that go on in his head and "eat him alive."

"All I Have" is not new to fans, as it was a single off his debut EP. It opens up with a great beat, and fast verses. However, it is the chorus that ties the excellent bars together, "Don't tell me that this isn't real...it's all I have" he sings. The song is talking about finding life's calling through God. He worked as a struggling artist and wondered if he was wasting time and dreaming. As he continues on; his flow gets more incredible and his lyrics more vulnerable. He shares that pills took his mom, and admits, "I'm a Christian but I'm not perfect."

Next up is "Wait," which is a hip-hop ballad for NF to showcase more of his singing. After singing the verses, he comes in super strong on a very well layered and harmonized chorus. "Wait, wait, wait...Don't leave me" he sings as a call out for love.

"Wake Up" is another track from his EP, and it talks about living life sleeping, almost like a zombie having no purpose or motivation. "You spend your life in a dream you can't escape. You live your life in a coma you're never awake." The beat features a nice piano intro with soft sung vocals leading in. The verses hit fast, as this song is not devoid of passion.

"Face It" is a pretty balanced track that features a solid beat, great verses, and a bit of singing. He drops the fast flow in favor of a deliberately slower and more laid back tone. He does however, pick up the aggression at times, which mixes well into the background that has some sampled yelling. It is a pretty wild approach on the beat.

The hum of strings and spoken word start off "Motivated." NF provides a brief monologue about what drives him to music before exploding onto the track almost screaming out "I'm Motivated!" The verse is a throwback to punch line rap, as he ferociously yells out his bars line for line on the track while dropping witty quips. The music almost feels like the end of an epic video game or a huge battle in a movie. This song is straight up divide and conquer, and it effectively adds to the validity of NF as a versatile rapper.

"Notepad" brings the tempo and heaviness down as NF flows smoothly out of a spoken intro. In fact he rides the beat to this song so well as he unleashes a bit of swag. The subject matter compares his pen and paper to a "friend." It is a really cool metaphor in vain Common's "I Used to Love H.E.R." or KJ-52's the "5th Element."

"Turn The Music Up" is NF's first party/club song that is really meant to get crowd moving and hype for his shows. The song feels a bit in the Family Force 5 territory, and is perhaps the most fun and lighthearted song on the album. With that being said, NF does not take this track off, as he still provides a tight verse over a house/EDM beat.

The next song, "Paralyzed," starts off on a very somber tone. The soft piano coupled with NF's almost whispered singing brings out the beauty in this song. "Wait" was an R&B-ish ballad while this track falls more to a grand pop ballad with a guest rap verse, except he does both, and does so well. "I'm paralyzed, where are my feelings, I no longer feel things, I know I should..." The song is moving and incredibly powerful, especially the ending. NF lays down another fantastic rap verse and follows it with a huge multi-layered and full harmonic chorus.

"I'll Keep On" starts with the chorus on the song as sung by Jeremiah Carlson. The song has a cool worship/rap feel, which is pretty unique in the sense that a church could likely get away with the song being used during a Sunday service. NF is almost preaching as he gives his testimony as hymn-like hums fill the surroundings of the track.

Singer Britt Nicole brings in the last track "Can You Hold Me" with the accompaniment of piano and a few string chords. NF then joins in and makes the song a duet before rising into an epic singing crescendo over pulsing drums. The rapper then drops the singing and hits something in between rapping and singing. He then aggressively builds over the music and Nicole, culminating into an incredible flash of an ending that caps off the album perfectly.

NF
(Photo : Facebook: NF)

NF's Mansion hits the mark on all fronts as an album. On the hip-hop spectrum, he provides great lyrics and hooks, thought provoking fluid verses, and just enough sophistication in subject matter and beat selection. His guests do a great job providing chorus and background vocals. The balance of high to low, and overall dynamic diversity makes this album a must listen. Last year NF teased his fans with a five song EP, and now this year he drops a nearly perfect full length that will keep them busy for a while.

2014 was an incredible year for Christians in hip-hop with Lecrae's Anomaly, Trip Lee's Rise, and Andy Mineo's popularity hitting the mainstream. In 2015, NF is diving into the ocean of talent and looking to be the strongest predator in the water as he is armed to the gills with sharp lyrics, a gifted singing voice, and a focused message. To put it simply, NF's music is, "going to be a problem."