KTC Music Report: Dave shines on "The Boy Who Played the Harp," Gucci Mane gets deep on "Episodes"

The day is upon us.

We've covered Little Simz, Central Cee, Joy Crookes and AJ Tracey in the British music scene.

Now it is Dave's time to shine.

It's been four years since the lyrical mastermind released a studio album and fans have been itching for him to deliver music again.

Now he has in the form of "The Boy Who Played The Harp," a project based on his given name, David, and the story of King David in the Bible.

Besides that, we got some more West Coast goodness, an East Coast spitter stepped out on his own, and a trap veteran gets vulnerable.

Here is the Kick The Concrete Music Report:

Dave — "The Boy Who Played the Harp" Album

We have to start here.

Dave is one of the world's preeminent MCs because of his gift for storytelling and ear for melodies and vibey production. His latest album, "The Boy Who Played the Harp," comes four years after the critically-acclaimed "We're All Alone In This Together" and six years since his Mercury Award-winning debut, "Psychodrama."

"The Boy Who Played the Harp" is based off 1 Samuel 16 where David played the harp for King Saul to ease his mind from an evil spirit. In a similar vein, Dave uses his music to release his own heavy thoughts and help listeners process theirs.

"History" jumps into the emotive sense right away with an interpolation of Skepta's "Bullet From a Gun" as Dave declares how he'll be remembered for his impact following the footsteps of those who've gone before him. Then "175 Months" is literally a prayer to God that expresses remorse at not keeping in constant communication with the higher power, but asking for guidance and protection for his loved ones. The beat has several layers and rises and falls. Dave spits some incredible bars with, "I'm in church more worried about the service on my phone," "How I'm tryna pray for Congo with these diamonds on my neck,"and "I prayed for new shoes and I used them walked away from you."

Perhaps the project is exemplified in the line, "Made it out the drugs, sort the pen from the needles/I just found a different way to poison my people/You could say it's testimony that I'm tellin' in my story/But how we sellin' them the devil, still givin' God the glory?"

Throughout "The Boy Who Played the Harp," Dave is reflecting on hypocrisy, not only in the world, but in himself. There's noticeably no radio-ready single like "Location" or "Clash." If anything, Dave decries his past superficiality, materialism and objectifying of women, the last one is a point of regret on "Fairchild."

But even if there's not a song that fits on a Hot 100 chart sonically, the production, mostly done by Santan Dave himself, is still masterful. The album blends in gritty rock elements, Spanish guitars, and there is a harp on "My 27th Birthday." Dave's birthday tracks are known as his most personal and introspective and this one is no different as he ponders paranoia, heartbreak and feeling like he's not enough.

The features also help place this album in the elite category. Dave has James Blake not once, but twice. He goes back and forth in a wonderful way with Jim Legxacy on "No Weapons" and Tems offers an ethereal hook on the love song "Raindance." The standout is Kano on the gentle "Chapter 16," which is basically a dinner conversation of them going back and forth about what it means to be a rap star.

Dave didn't do anything dramatically different or experimental on "The Boy Who Plays the Harp." But by relying on his gifts for storytelling and vulnerably sharing his own internal battles, he stakes another flag in the music landscape that he's one of today's greats.

Hugh Augustine x D. Sanders — "Please Wait To Be Seated" Album

Fresh off his mega run on Party In My Living Room's "Relatives and Cousins, Vol. 1" album, Hugh Augustine is back with another collaborative project. This time, he partnered with producer D. Sanders for the fun yet thoughtful "Please Wait to be Seated" album.

The project is laced with soulful samples, thumping bass, effortless transitions and witty skits to keep listeners on their toes.

"Who R U?" is especially smooth, equally reflective and braggadocious. On "Regardless," Augustine expresses a fierce sense of motivation to find success financially and romantically while still feeling like a vibe.

"Talk To Me" is a woozy track that reflects on how hard it is to find love when the media doesn't celebrate Black relationships and Augustine doesn't have an example of a healthy union. The self-reflection is powerful and D. Sanders' groovy production is enticing.

This project runs very smoothly so that the listen feels like one sonic experience rather than individual chopped up songs. It's something to be applauded.

Dave East — "Karma 4" Album

Dave East has established himself as a certified spitter. He first made his splash on the rap scene when he signed to Nas' Mass Appeal in 2014, which led to a stint on Def Jam that included the hit "Handsome."

Now, Dave East releases his first independent album, "Karma 4." The latest installment of the series skits features an OG mobster type character that guides the narrative.

"Crazy" is just pure bars. The Harlem rapper details overcoming hardships with a reflection of what his life used to be like compared to the freedom he feels now. He raps, "Stealin out of Macy's/Polo fit like '06/Yves Saint Laurent with gold tips/Let's take a road trip."

Although East puts on a tough persona, he's actually great as a lover boy. "Stand On That" is his version of 50 Cent's classic "21 Questions." "Never Get Enough" with Jacquees is also velvety smooth.

And the guest features give him a run for his money. On"Runnin," Crunch Calhoun spits fire with a clever comparison to Mookie Betts. Keen Streets, who appears on "Customs," has one of the best bars on the album when he raps,"We treat 'em like quesadillas/You know, for that bread, we lay n*ggas flat." What?!

"My Dawgs" is a soulful conclusion with a piano-laced and violin-tinged beat from Young T and Froodough. East mourns the loss of Nipsey Hussle and other broken relationships in his life while addressing the responsibility of fatherhood.

The cover art is a black and white photo of Dave East in a straightjacket and pays tribute to a similar photo of Tupac. While the Harlem MC might not be in the same conversation of the all-time rap greats, "Karma 4" is further confirmation that, similar to the legend who made "Dear Mama" and "Ambitionz Az a Ridah," he is duality at it's finest.

Joey Fatts ft. Vince Staples — "Corporate Thuggin'" Single

While we anticipate the return of "The Vince Staples Show" on Netflix (Season 2 is dropping November 6!), the Long Beach artist continues to give us little music gems. See his features on Joy Crookes' and JID's albums.

Here, he shows his cousin Joey Fatts some love on the single "Corporate Thuggin'. The track is anchored by a cool soundscape by BLXST featuring soulful horns and a snappy drum pattern. The song is a stream of consciousness about Fatts' aspirations, community and pride on how far he has come in life.

Staples' verse is a little darker, relaying the realities of growing up in the hood. He addresses the mental toll his surroundings took on him, comparing his life to a broken fairy tale. He raps, "Trying to catch a body on foot, got nobody to whip us/Probably needed lobotomy bobbin and weavin, squabblin demons" and "When the clock strikes 12, the chariots turn to shells/Nobody's gonna post my bail/Just post me and wish me well."

Both of their flows are so smooth and the music video shows an easy summer day in California that is a whole vibe.

Gucci Mane — "Episodes" Album

Gucci Mane is still doing his thing! The Atlanta superstar's latest project is called "Episodes" and it is meant to be his most vulnerable project yet. He released it along with a book of the same name, "Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man," co-written by acclaimed music reporter and author Kathy Iandoli.

On "Episodes Intro," he reflects on his criminal past but how his music launched him on a different trajectory. His career includes rapping on Zaytoven beats. The producer made the infamous "So Icy" where Guwop collaborated with Young Jeezy and there's a tribute to that here on "Still So Icy." The new song opens with dizzying horns before Gucci Mane raps about his powerful presence over a snappy trap beat by Go Grizzly, Pooh Beatz, London Jae and Jambo.

The single "Psycho" is a standout as Gucci details how going to jail helped him reflect on how he didn't want to be trapped by the system and how getting off lean helped improve his life, but showed the true colors of some people in his circle. And through it all, he's been Gucci Mane who loves designer and the fast life, "It's hot as f*ck, why Gucci wearin' a Gucci raincoat?"

The few features help add dimension to the project. It's great to see OJ Da Juiceman on "Back Cooking." Sexyy Red is on "You Don't Love Me," which features a mechanical beat straight from a spy movie, and BossMan DLow's looming song "Hit" is on here where Gucci Mane has some clever wordplay, "Droptop Ferrari, so you know the top is off/She said she's scared of spiders, so I had to drop her off."

"Episodes" is a lengthy project at 23 songs with a runtime of more than an hour. But the album gives fans signature Gucci Mane bravado with a refreshing desire to speak on issues deeper than what meets the eye.