Chicago rapper and producer Tree’s latest mixtape, Sunday School II: When Church Lets Out, is a versatile selection of what he affectionately calls “Soul Trap.” A follow up to his 2012 mixtape, Sunday School. The theme of church continues on the new mixtape, as does the subject of childhood.

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It’s always nice when a mixtape feels like a story is being told, rather than just a hodgepodge of songs that have been stuck together without much thought.  Tree’s vocals are rough and gritty, he sounds like he’s been spitting bars for days on at end it’s so gravelly. The tape deals with real life problems, and there’s no exaggerated hyperbole here.

The King samples Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love With You, and is an emotional track that pulls on your heartstrings thanks to those high-pitched vocals. While on the flip side, So Bad documents the idea of knowing a girl who has everything, but at the same time wants nothing.

One of the standout cuts is No Faces featuring one of Detroit’s finest, Danny Brown. Tree’s drawling vocal hooks sit alongside Danny’s scatty, uneven delivery. Thanks to the dreamy horns, this one is a pleasure, typical of the vintage soulful sound of the Midwest. Next up, Busters takes shots at those who are not what they appear on the surface, while Tree boasts about remaining in a city that others left long ago; an interesting point to make as Chicago begins to dominate the rap scene once more.

Sunday School II is an impressive body of work, and definitely shows that Tree is a very capable rapper and producer, and his next piece of work is something to look out for.

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