The Higher Brothers’ new album 5 Stars almost lives up to expectations and holds a branch between Asia and the U.S. The 4 member group of Chengdu rappers are part of a new Asian wave with the mission of closing the gap between the East and West. They certainly achieve this, as all their songs artfully mix Chinese and English slang with tracks packed with impressive features, from popular American rappers to 88Rising’s own signed artists. The album starts off strong with the upbeat “16 Hours.” It makes the album’s beginning sound like the Higher Brothers are coming over from China to spread their music to the West. It’s the perfect length and shows how far the groups’ English has come.
The pacing of the album is a little weird as the next song, “Open It Up” is a nod to old-school rap, a heavy influence on the Higher Brothers. It has a slower tempo and seems to be in a more minor key. The hype ramps back up and reaches a peak with “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” one of the biggest connections to Chinese culture. They originally released it on Chinese New Year, as the name is a Chinese saying meaning “Wishing you a prosperous year.” It’s a song that needs time to grow on you, as the beats can be a bit overwhelming.
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My favorite track is “Need Me Now” ft. Guapdad 4000, a lesser known American rapper. It’s a cute track, with a heavy and clean bass that doesn’t steal the show and cover their voices. It’s mostly in English and features DZ Know, the Higher Brother rapper most often related to Biggie Smalls. It’s nice that he got so much exposure, especially on this track, but I would have loved to hear more from Psy.P and Melo throughout- as MasiWei is generally the main rapper.
The rising Asian culture wave is exciting to watch, with the label 88Rising at the forefront, and the Higher Brothers an important part. Their sound has been evolving and getting better, especially their English flow, but it would sound amazing if they continue to use Chinese lyrics and a heavy Chinese influence in their music.
Rating: 4/5
Favorite Songs: 16 Hours, Sunshine, Need Me Now, Diamond