Dave – The Boy Who Played the Harp (Album Review)

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Dave is a generational talent, and this has never been as evident as in his newest album, which dropped last month. I resisted giving ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’ an instant review when it first dropped, as I felt it deserved for me to live with it for a while before I gave my take. Like so many artists, his music needs several listens to resonate fully, catch the best bars, and decide on the best tracks.

This is the British rapper’s third album, and it is my favourite Dave project to date. The internet is flooded with praise for this project; therefore, I am simply adding to the conversation. I hope many of you agree with the aspects of the record that spoke to me the most, and if you haven’t listened, I hope my review encourages you to press play.

Album Background

In short, this young man is the face of UK rap. I come to that bold conclusion due to his widespread respect from both the industry and the general public. In the UK, his name is synonymous as one of Britain’s finest homegrown talents. This Londoner is technically gifted and possesses supreme storytelling talent.

Dave has been missing from the music scene for some time, and his fans were fed up waiting. Although his collaborative EP with friend Central Cee, ‘Split Decision’, somewhat sated fans’ appetite for a long-overdue project in 2023. However, his third solo effort felt overdue. One aspect of this meteoric rise that I admire is his ability to deliver consistently quality releases. His Mercury Prize-winning debut ‘PSYCHODRAMA’ (2019) set the precedent, and he disproved the alleged ‘sophomore slump’ with the moving  ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’ album in 2021. 

Dave’s critics claim he’s overly ‘woke’ or overly inward-looking. I wholeheartedly disagree. Granted, this new record is his most insightful and hyper-self-aware work yet, but it’s also a decent showcase of their rapping skill more generally. This album is not without its witty moments and crazy bars. Let’s just bypass the Clermont twins reference. My jaw hit the floor.

His Approach to Music

Rightfully so, this rapper gets plenty of industry respect whilst managing to stay humble. His fans have a deeper connection with this artist due to his honesty. Unlike other rappers who boast a superhuman quality, Dave feels like one of us – in the best possible way. You get a sense across all his albums that he feels he’s been bestowed this gift, and he’s just trying to figure out what to do with it. He’s your average kid with exceptional talent, and he knows he can use his gift for good or for evil. 

Perhaps the music hits me differently because we’re the same age, but he seems to be struggling with what everyone struggles with in their 20s. He touches on relationships and settling down, aligning your values to your work, and his uncertainty about the future. 

Favourite Tracks

There’s much fan discourse online breaking down each track one by one; however, I think fans should listen to this front to back and uncover which track resonates with them personally. In short, ‘The Boy That Played The Harp‘ will sit differently with every listener, and there’s something beautiful about that.

The following tracks are the joints that grabbed me from the get-go – it’s not to say the others aren’t good, but the following are my favourites.

175 Months

The second cut into the album got my attention immediately with incredible production courtesy of Dave himself. He then launches into this confessional record in his beloved conversational style of rapping. He revealed on the vinyl edition of the album that this song title takes its name from the length of time since his grandmother passed. Knowing this now and giving it another listen, it resonates even deeper.

It feels like he’s talking to his grandmother, his guardian angel, directly. He is also conversing with God, trying to make sense of his pain, such as the loss of friends. “I’m just prayin’ that my purpose can justify my pain.“, he raps. This prayer is at the heart of this project, and is a concept he keeps returning to.

Chapter 16 FT. Kano

On first listen, this song took me a moment to find my bearings. It was a slow realisation that the ‘you’ Dave is referring to in his opening verse is Kano, his hero. This record is a verbal passing of the baton, as the two greats chop it up over dinner. Production-wise, the atmospheric setup with the clinking of the cutlery sets the scene perfectly. These details make this track a true centrepiece of the album. 

This record connects old-school with new-school, and will warm the hearts of any UK rap fan. Kano’s legendary voice, even down to how he says his ‘oohs’ in his bars, gives me goosebumps. Here, the ‘Top Boy‘ talent steps into the role of the master, passing on his wisdom. “But my generation got the classic writers / Your gen’, that’s mostly your pen, you’re the rap Messiah.” How much pressure must Dave feel upon hearing that? No wonder he’s stressed out!

The pair has a brotherly energy that results in fun listening. He’s teasing him about his love life and how to juggle family and fame. Kano is saying to Dave, don’t mess this up, as it’s your time now. It’s both a heavy responsibility and the greatest compliment you could receive as an MC. Oh, and shout out to Dave for that Max Verstappen bar. A light one, but the F1 fan in me got excited.

Selfish FT. James Blake

Firstly, major praise for James Blake. His fingerprints are all over this album as he was involved behind the scenes. The soundscape and the intimacy Dave managed to cultivate with this album are a mainstay in Blake’s work. The Enfield musician is the perfect backdrop to the Streatham rapper’s ruminating thought patterns. In a series of ‘what ifs’, Dave uses ‘Selfish‘ to explore his deepest, darkest fears.

It’s heartening to know Dave’s fears aren’t too dissimilar to the fears we all face. All the money, fame, and notoriety can’t shield him from life’s uncertainties. In some cases, his success has multiplied them. He portrays himself once again as both the villain and the victor, a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde. Furthermore, he exposes his flaws by admitting that he criticises the choices people make but doesn’t take his own advice. What’s more, his regrets, traumas, and suffocation from living his life under the microscope of social media have taken their toll. As James Blake puts it in this melancholic track, “I manage the symptoms forever.“

My 27th Birthday 

This is my favourite track on the record. I knew it was going to be special from the moment I saw the track listing. His birthday series is becoming legendary, with some of his best bars coming from these records over the years. It reminds me of the ‘time and place’ records Drake is so fond of.

The lyricist had a lot to get off his chest, and he does so in just over 7 minutes. In this song, Dave lays out his self-destructive tendencies, painting a picture of him sitting in his fancy apartment with immense stress. We may assume that during his hiatus, he was living the high life, but in reality, he’s been plagued by the feeling that he’s losing his love of music. The spiritual feeling that music used to bring him is fading as it becomes his job and a means to an end for a luxurious lifestyle.

Dave makes it clear that he felt he owed a project to his fans, whilst acknowledging the reality of the fast-moving music scene. His voice is needed desperately, but he recognises that if he holds off dropping music for too long, he could be left behind. He makes decisions that don’t always sit with his values, which can resonate with everybody.

For people who feel a bit broken, his words will feel like a lighthouse. “How do I explain that I don’t wanna heal ’cause my identity is pain?” This bar made me ponder how a lot of rappers must feel when you go from street life to cruise ships in Monaco. You’ve made your money off of ‘selling’ your struggle, but what can you rap about when you’re no longer living that life?

I was surprised to hear him speak openly about his addiction difficulties. However, in typical Dave fashion, just as you’re taken aback by his admittance, he adds the bars “I got withdrawal symptoms but they happen at ATMs / Next two years I’ll be lookin’ at eighty M’s.“. He can be both profound and playful. These birthday tracks play like a marker of where he is in his life, a diary entry. They are truly something special.

Fairchild FT. Nicole Blakk

Finally, ‘Fairchild‘ is a track I can’t avoid mentioning. Upon first listen, I was stunned by his choice to tackle the sensitive theme of sexual abuse. Utilising the voice of Nicole Blakk to paint the picture of the reality for young women was powerful. Sexual assault, rape, violence, manipulation, and gaslighting are everyday concerns for women today – as much as it pains me to say it. I admire him speaking on a sexist culture that he profits from, that he’s been guilty of exploiting, and which hurts him to admit. I want every young man to hear this track.

Conclusion

Overall, I love the intimacy of ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp‘. I particularly relished how much of an insight we get into Dave’s state of mind here. I appreciate his self-awareness and how he remains authentic. In essence, that is what really separates this artist from his contemporaries – he never pretends to be something he’s not.

The radio-ready tracks on the album are leaning towards ‘Raindance‘ featuring Tems, and ‘No Weapons‘ by Jim Legxacy, which I showed love to here. Both are amazing tracks, but I encourage everyone to give this record a listen from front to back, which is how it was designed to be enjoyed.

I think Dave is unfairly labelled a ‘woke’ rapper at times, which could put off many from giving him a chance. Whilst he is more introspective than most, he can flex braggadocios bars and witty one-liners too. A lot of artists are supremely talented, but few can refine their gift as well as Dave can. In summary, he’s the perfect mix of street, rough, and ragged realness with a devastatingly brutal backstory, and an insightful poet. 

Rating: 10/10

Dave is on Instagram, X, and TikTok. Stream the album below or buy it, and check out more album reviews here.

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