Kofi Stone – “Nobody Cares ‘Till Everybody Does” (Album Review)
Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom emcee Kofi Stone finally making his official full-length studio debut. Coming up battle rapping in the schoolyards as an adolescent, he would eventually put out his debut single “Stories in Pyjamas” in the summer of 2017 looking back at the lives of individuals close to him & his challenges growing up in an inner-city community. However, he’s been building up hype for Nobody Cares ‘Till Everybody Does coming off a few teasers.
“Diamonds in the Water” was a tight lo-fi opener talking about his desire to be set free even if nothing’s ever as it seems whereas “Frozen Hearts” speaks of cartwheeling when his life got turned upside down. “Dirty Airforces” talks about feeling exhausted from running around his city over a boom bap instrumental produced by Talos until the lead single “Same Old” discusses him getting fed up with a 9-5 being the reason why he began pursuing music full-time on top of a piano-driven Joe Corfield beat.
We get some more lo-fi vibes “After Hours” talking about his desires of having a conversation with a woman he’s been falling for just before the 3rd & final single “Talk About Us” assures the women being addressed that he’ll be here waiting for her if she ever changes his mind. “A Beautiful Tragedy” talks about needing an interval where he & his ex can be spiritual since they’re both acting like imbeciles while “It’s Ok to Cry” featuring Loyle Carner links up to express comfort in vulnerability.
The drumless title track talks about his career upbringings in Birmingham to get the 2nd half of Nobody Cares ‘Till Everybody Does going while “Busker Flow” likens his streams of consciousness to that of Lupe Fiasco or Black Star & Brother Ali in the middle of taking it back to his street-performing days over a soulful Pitch 92 instrumental. “Hugh” reunites with Joe Corfield for a tribute to his childhood friend of the same name while “Lost to the Streets” talks about his crimes catching up to him & hoping his son doesn’t suffer the same fate.
“Rodney Place” wraps up the final act of the LP painting imagery of a broken home growing up in the street located in the Southwark borough of London for the 2nd single while the enraging “Stepfather” resentfully airs out his grievances towards Kofi’s father Tony for walking out when he was only 11 after Christmas of 2007, expressing the hatred he’ll always hold against him for hurting his mother. “Karma” spends the remaining minutes of the album suggesting to play safely because karma does in fact have its way of coming back around.
Returning to his roots whilst venturing into new territory, Nobody Cares ‘Till Everybody Does takes inspiration from the biblical story of King David mirroring Kofi Sfone’s commitment to self-exploration & redemption resulting in an exciting debut. The consciously honest lyricism reveals what he’s always been capable of from the perspective of a storyteller with High Focus Records in-house producers Talos alongside Joe Corfield & Pitch 92 all supplying the strongest jazzy yet lo-fi boom bap production of the bunch.
Score: 8/10
