Femdot - Not for Sale
Not for Sale is a rich and rooted 8-track album by Femdot. It was released on November 9th, 2021 and it runs for 24 minutes and 45 seconds. It begins with “Not for Sale” which is a serene composition of vocal samples and melodies, with beautiful vocals from Alex Banin, which then breaks into a snapping, deliberate flow which leads the energy of the track in a direction that is dope and energetic. This brings us to “Digits”, which is a very funky, hard-hitting, and diverse track with a range of samples, sounds, flows, musical elements, and wise bars which cover his past in depth. It also has a brilliant vocal piece from theMIND on the back end. Then it transitions, very smoothly, into “Sacrilegious / Pray Pt 1.” which is a very deep and introspective track where he is reflecting on many of the blessings that he has come across, and how he got them, as well as contemplating many issues that trouble him and society. The depth at which he goes into certain topics such as religion on this track is astounding, it is an inner monologue that begs many questions which are important to him and other people. It goes into a certain place that is hard to reach mentally and emotionally, and it is magnificent.
Following this is “Funds/broke[n]interlude”. It is more lighthearted and sweet, yet still somber, as he is expressing his love for someone, and his many wishes to give to them, yet also how he cannot afford to fulfill them due to his shortcomings both personally and financially. It ends on a note of controlled emotional chaos and turmoil which attacks him on a deep, personal level. It also has a very wonderful and relevant sample, which goes into how important freedom is. After that is “Unleaded/love Calls”, which is a romantic, vibrant track that sees him, along with Gousse, talking about how he wishes to provide and care for a prospective love interest of his. Next is “Back on Road” which is a lyrical exposition on the project, where he establishes a superior level of flow and delivery, with which he creates scenes of effortless success and fun. It has a very nice, rooted chorus where he is paying respect to his soul, hometown, and folks, as well as a great line where he says that he would be 40 feet tall if he stood on the people that he proved wrong. The track ends on a sample where he is explaining that he is talking his shit not from a place of arrogance, but from a standpoint that he has been through so much and made it to the point he is at, and he deserves to.
Next up is “Bussin”, which is a funky, dope track with a range of instruments and samples that combine to create a palette of sounds that are pleasing and grounded. On the track he goes into a number of topics regarding him and his friends, and how he will stand for and with them. Following that is “Mueen / Pray Pt 2.” which is the eighth and final track. It covers a very wide range of topics in a way that is absolutely profound. He is literally using the beat as a canvas and painting a ton of specific scenes that are extremely relatable, using his own experiences and vulnerability as a brush, and his flow and delivery as the paint. The track closes with a sample that talks about money, and how it oftentimes becomes a means of enslaving us. Overall, the album is a super solid, sonically stacked, substantial set of songs (say that five times fast).
