Heavy Crownz – Trench Baby Turned Farmer

I only have a dozen hip-hop artists that I like. By “I like,” I mean I care enough to have purchased their CD or LP. I am only deep into one hip-hop group: Minneapolis’ Atmosphere. The point is, I am not one of those “I like everything except rap” musicheads that are common amongst my boomer colleagues, but at the same time, I am pretty ignorant of the genre. Typically, the hip hop that hooks me includes:

• Music that is more than just a beat – where you can smell the soul and funk
• A story
• A flow* that I can understand, but has character
• Guests that contribute

On Heavy Crownz’s (HC) debut album, Trench Baby Turned Farmer (he has been in the game for over a decade, dropping over 10 projects during that time and rapping since he was 10), he meets all my criteria.

Full disclosure, I know HC (he is a friend of my son), and without that connection, I would never have checked out Trench Baby Turned Farmer. I have chatted with HC several times over the years, and as we old people say, “he is a nice young man.” I checked out his 2022 mixtape, Whole Lotta Seedz, and dug it. So I have been looking forward to his first proper album.

I have listened to Trench Baby Turned Farmer, and my hip-hop collection will be a baker’s dozen now – welcome Heavy Crownz!

The clever conceit of the album is that the protagonist is an urban kid (trench baby) who grows into an adult who understands life through the genius of plants (farmer). Trenches typically carry a negative connotation, as in “working in the trenches,” but HC is using it positively, like the trenches that a farmer plants seeds in. Trench Baby Turned Farmer is a concept album (a musical album whose tracks are unified by a single central narrative or theme, which can be lyrical, instrumental, or compositional) focused on this urban-kid-turned-farmer. The setting for this concept is HC’s beloved Chicago South Side neighborhood, Englewood. Per HC’s website:

“Trench Baby Turned Farmer is a living testimony of Heavy’s journey from survival to self-realization. A Chicago story to uplift Englewood, Heavy culminates pivotal memories with lessons of resilience to redefine what we call the trenches. At the intersection of concrete and soil, Heavy invites listeners to reflect on their own roots, struggles, and growth. This is a soundtrack that anyone can grow with – because even a Trench Baby can be a Farmer.“

HC’s flow is a nice, quiet storm growl – almost a whisper. It evokes both humility and confidence. He enunciates clearly (not all rappers do), which is relevant as HC has important things to say. Although I don’t know any of the guest rappers, I feel they are real contributors and not mere window dressing – they are additional characters in the drama. Musically, the beats are gorgeous. Generally, they are soulful and slow. Occasionally, things get funky and danceable. The music is a perfect partner for the vocals and the message. It is easy-going enough to play in the background, but deep enough to listen intently.

The album should be consumed as a whole (it is a concept album after all), but most tracks can be consumed individually. Here are the standout tracks for me:

The titular track, “TRENCH BABY TURNED FARMER,” is central in explaining the concept of the album.

“Ball Courts” (featuring Panamera P & Ju Jilla) was my intro to the album as the teaser single. It uses the basketball court as a metaphor to illustrate the neighborhood’s drama. Here is a video of the song:

“Same Conversations” (featuring JAAS) is my favorite track. The song has a great beat and a nice pop hook. It rocks like Kendrick’s “King Kunta” mellowed by Indica. The song expresses frustration in a relationship yet acknowledges that the love is still there. It has a sexy vibe.

“Time Travelin’” (featuring Rhymefest) has a nice jazzy sax. The song looks back at history, including the protagonist’s rural ancestors.

“A Son’s Dream” (featuring Lilla Sol) has a beautiful soul vibe. The protagonist is riffing on his relationship with his father. Lilla Sol (a sister duo) adds some gorgeous harmonies.

“This Is Why” (featuring The O’My’s) is a great ending to the album, as HC stated on his Instagram: “This song is for anyone pursuing thier purpose in life and keeping their ‘WHY’ at the center.” Here is the video for the song:

Concept albums can be ham-fisted, but when they work, it is deft. Trench Baby Turned Farmer is the kind of concept album that works. The album is not available in physical formats, but is on streaming services (24-bit/48 kHz on high-resolution services like Tidal).

Tracklist per HC’s website:

*Per Google AI: Hip hop flow is the rhythmic, melodic, and lyrical delivery of a rap verse, functioning as a vocal percussion instrument that interacts with the beat. It encompasses cadence, speed, rhyme schemes, and, most importantly, staying on-beat. A great flow involves manipulating syllables over a 4/4 time signature to create unique, catchy patterns