The Oakland rap group released their sixth studio album on August 26th together with the Los Angeles producer Adrian Younge.

There Is Only Now is a concept album based on a true story: Souls of Mischief, along with manager Domino, fellow Bay Area rapper Saafir, and friend and Elektra A&R Dante Ross were leaving the Upper Room club in San Francisco when they were nearly robbed at gunpoint by a masked gunman. The unknown assailant fired shots at the crew as they escaped, nearly killing Domino in the process.

There Is Only Now takes the basic framework of the incident and tweaks the details for dramatic effect: After recording an episode of Rap City, the crew go out for a night on the town. After leaving the club, they are nearly killed by gunmen in a black Silverado, who then abduct Tajai and hold him for ransom. The group must then locate their kidnapped crew member and seek revenge on their assailants.

Ali Shaheed Muhammed, the famed DJ for A Tribe Called Quest, serves as the album’s narrator.

Tracklist:

K-NOW Intro (Ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad)
Time Stopped Womack’s Lament (Ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Busta Rhymes) Panic Struck K-NOW Interlude (Ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad) Another Part of You (Ft. William Hart) All You Got is Your Word There is Only Now (Ft. Snoop Dogg) Meet Womack K-NOW Interlude II (Ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad) Miriam Got a Mickey Stone Cold (Ft. Scarub) The Synopsis (Ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad) Ghetto Superhero
K-NOW Reprise (Ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad) Narrow Escape Finally Back The Last Act K-NOW Outro (Ft. Ali Shaheed Muhammad)

Discussion:

Where does this album rank in the group’s discography? How much did the addition of Adrian Younge’s production help the project stand out against their other releases?

How ‘tight’ is the story of the album? Were you aware of the concept as you were listening?