Loyle Carner’s ‘hopefully !’ is a solid, but safe, addition to his discography

It feels harsh to still describe South London-born rapper Loyle Carner as underrated, especially after he has been Brit-nominated four times, as well as nominated twice for the Mercury prize. However, it still feels that Carner is yet to achieve the critical and commercial success that his work so far has deserved. His previous album, hugo, was one of my favourite albums of 2022; a contemplative concept album which took us through Carner’s process of forgiving his father, whilst also trying to figure out how to be a father himself. 

With a history of soul-searching, and ideas that normally coincide with the time of life Carner is going through, hopefully ! aims to further explore themes of childhood and the relationships we have with our parents. In a new style for Carner however, it features a much more light-hearted tone to his previous work, highlighting the positive outlook he developed since the birth of his son. 

Nevertheless, the album is unlikely to convince Carner critics that he has more to offer than reflective lyrics over a jazz influenced hip-hop instrumental. The album sticks to the usual instrumentation of guitars, keyboards, and drums with a few notable exceptions such as the soft wind chimes in ‘feel at home’, and some luscious synth work in ‘don’t fix it’. 

This is a reoccurring theme throughout the album; Carner is clearly enjoying himself and his music

He has seemed to have mastered this jazz-influenced hip-hop he has become known for. The minimalist production combined with slow bossa-nova certainly creates a chilled atmosphere, even if some songs such as ‘lyin’ perhaps get too close to bedroom pop that they start to lose the edge that Carner is accustomed to providing. 

One highlight of the album is Carner’s tribute to British writer Benjamin Zephaniah. Carner has often spoken about the influence Zephaniah’s poetry and music has had over him as a lyricist and musician. Following Zephaniah’s death in 2023, Carner posted on his Instagram: “the man that gave me my name. my hero. promise to take your words forwards. thank you for guiding the way,” and beautifully honours his hero through the song. 

By sampling Zephaniah’s poetry (in a similar way he did with John Agard on hugo) it provides a fitting tribute to one of the most important British writers of the modern age. In giving Zephaniah a literal voice on the song, it allows the power of his words to live on, and creates an emotional and touching tribute. The song itself combines a fusion of bossa-nova, hip-hop, and a sprinkling of jungle to create a powerful and fitting homage to his hero.

‘strangers’ is another raw performance from Carner, a mix of guitars, Wurlitzer piano, and soft vocals. At one point the vocals change to a roomier recording, adding a casual and effortless feel to the words, as if Carner has taken a step back and relaxed. This is a reoccurring theme throughout the album; Carner is clearly enjoying himself and his music. 

‘hopefully !’ feels more like a collection of ideas rather than one singular vision

The album finishes with arguably its best track, the emotional ‘about time’, which brings to the front Carner’s themes of family, parents, and the impact you have on your children. The song finishes with snippets of Carner’s son speaking, which mirrors the ending of hugo beautifully (which featured a conversation where Carner made amends with his father), and concludes the album perfectly. 

Sadly, ‘about time’ also highlights the flaws of the album, as it is this incredible ending that reminds you of the emotional journey of hugo, which hopefully ! never really lives up to. hugo was an assured piece of art which masterfully took you through Carner’s journey of forgiveness, whilst hopefully ! feels more like a collection of ideas rather than one singular vision. 

hopefully ! is better than a lot of albums being put out today, and it is a testament to Carner’s ability and consistency that it still manages to feel like a disappointment. Ultimately, hopefully ! is a solid addition to Carner’s discography, full of ideas around parenthood and growing up, yet its ideas never feel coherent enough to work together, leaving it unable to reach the heights of his previous work.

Recommended Songs: ‘about time’, ‘hopefully’ & ‘in my mind’

★★★★

Listen to hopefully ! here: