Raz Fresco & Nicholas Craven Continue Representing the Connection Between Toronto & Montréal with “Boulangerie II” (Album Review)
Pretty sure this is the 19th studio LP from Toronto, Ontario, Canada emcee/producer Raz Fresco. Someone I’ve been familiar with since my high school years at this point whether it be some of his features or his own extensive discography including the Magneto Was Right mixtape series, the Futurewave-produced Gorgeous Polo Sportsmen album, the Nicholas Craven-produced Boulangerie album, the Cake beat tapes, the Gia…À La Carte collab EP with Estee Nack, the Cookin’ Soul produced Bakin’ Soul, the Daniel Son collab effort Northside & the DJ Muggs-produced The Eternal Now. Coming offStadium Lo Champions & the self-produced Y = Self however, Craven’s back behind the boards for a Boulangerie sequel over a week after Priscilla Kelly ended Gisele Shaw’s inaugural reign as MLP Canadian Women’s Champion.
“Blueberry” opens up with this 91 second intro where Craven’s chopping up a soul sample & Raz’s talking about now being his time whereas “Don’t Belong” takes a more drumless approach pulling hallmark cards for a couple minutes. “The Best of Me” further embraces a chipmunk soul vibe instrumentally talking about providing the strongest version of himself as be possibly could prior to “Yesterday” featuring Blu & Cavalier soulfully finding the trio pursuing the cause of all evil.
Meanwhile on “L’ouvre”, we have Fresco over a jazzier beat with some secondary influences of chipmunk soul going within to get the truth just before “New Flavours” comes through with a vibraphone-inflicted stoner’s anthem. “Tip of My Mind” reached the midway point soulfully talking about someone who’s become a shell of their former self while “Things We Do” featuring Estee Nack gets the 2nd half of Boulangerie II going recapturing what made Gia…À La Carte so distinct.
“Golden Brown” compares his prestige to that of WWE Hall of Famer & former SMW Heavyweight Champion Jake “The Snake” Roberts leading into “Checkmate” hooks up some strings to talk about leaving bread spread across the table on some mobster type shit. “Mr. Bean” featuring Jimmie D & The 6th Letter links up so they can bring it hardcore over a synth instrumental while “Offerings” treads the chipmunks soul waters once again letting the world see how it goes around his parts.
Jimmie D & Mike Shabb both appear for the drumless “Old Port Party”, which I’d place above over “Mr. Bean” because of the way they aggressively set out to even the score while “Frogs in the Water” jazzily talks about everyone being in a different maze looking for the exit “More Colour Money” featuring Boldy James finishes Boulangerie II with 1 last chipmunk soul track where he & Boldy can discuss going from underbosses to overlords.
The original Boulangerie ranks amongst the most drumless, jazzy & lyrically abstract material Raz Fresco has recorded & this sequel 4 & a half years later dethrones Y = Self by a hair to become my new favorite album of the 2 he’s dropped in 2026. Nicholas Craven’s drumless production feels more soulful despite him still incorporating elements of jazz rap, there’s more consistency from the guests & it’s another outstanding representation of the authentic artistic exchange between Toronto & Montreal.
Score: 9/10
