With his “self-bootlegged” effort, Radio Friendly, Bomani “D’mite” Armah proves to his fans and foes that he’s more than just a misunderstood satirist or “Mr. Read-A-Book”. Bomani can take his place in line as the best lyricist you never heard. For those raised on a steady diet of hip hop and positive self images, it is often difficult to reconcile the music we love from the genre that doesn’t often love us back. Bomani’s Radio Friendly bridges the gap between who we are and what we strive to become. Radio Friendly this can’t be dismissed as just “conscious” or “backpack”, that’s way too easy and the ride from beginning to end, disallows lazy listening. This isn’t a passive CD. This is sing along, this is “oh snap! What did he just say?”, this is the very definition of a head nod. From the go-go tinged, Give the Drummer Some and the bouncy, clever Love Me In The Morning to the straight hip hop fire of, Logic and Theory. This is an album full of every corner of hip hop imaginable. You want crunk? You got it. You want go-go? You got it. You want a song about a toddler’s game, Peek-A-Boo punctuated by children’s laughter, you have that over a beat so infectious and happy, it recalls more 80s pop tune than anything else. Radio Friendly is nuanced, introspective, thought provoking and just plain good music. It’s the music we love and the way we allow it to love us– like fully functioning, highly intoxicating, brilliantly performed and produced and lyrics that have you searching for the rewind function. This is Grown ass hip hop by a Grown Ass Man for grown ass people. You will not be disappointed.

---Bassey Ikpi