A consistent presence in Toronto, RUSSELL! shows his versatility with his newest album

By Severina Chu

With the release of boy lonely, RUSSELL! is cementing his place in Toronto’s hip hop scene.

Photo: russellislovely on Instagram, album art by imsum.png

One word to describe RUSSELL!’s journey is growth. Russell Llantino started out by posting videos on YouTube while living in Brampton, ON. In the prime time of Internet scouting, he caught the attention of a record label and decided to turn music from a hobby into a career. Going by D-Pryde, it seemed like he had the potential to reach the top.

However, multiple setbacks would put a pause on his plans. With the death of his mother and a falling out with his record label, Llantino needed to recuperate. Deciding to switch aliases, RUSSELL! and a new era of music was born.

RUSSELL! has been putting out music consistently for the past few years, and boy lonely is the newest addition to his discography.

The album features a multitude of Canadian talent, including a feature from Vietnamese-Canadian hip hop artist Dao Kahn on “FISH & CHIPS,” and production by Toronto-based producer Kyle “K-beatZ” Abacan. A close friend of his, Abacan is one of RUSSELL’s main producers and has credits on many of his past projects. 

 Admittedly, the album has an underwhelming start. “OLÉ,” while easy listening, sounds generic and doesn’t leave you expecting much. However, give the rest of the album a chance and you’ll be pulled in by RUSSELL!’s versatility.

 “Respec & Protec,” the album’s second track, is loud and unapologetic. “Just mad violence and heavy snares while I talked my shit,” RUSSELL! said about the track on Twitter.

Followed by “Headtop,” “The Cook Up,” and “FISH & CHIPS,” RUSSELL!’s smooth flow over his hard beats are what we crave after that underwhelming intro.

By “LOVERBOY’S RETURN,” the album starts to switch its tone. A reference to his 2017 EP Loverboy this track introduces what makes RUSSELL! special. His ability to opt for a softer rap delivery and mix it with vocal melody makes for more relaxed energy, which is reflected in “’86 Buick” and “Roll Another One!” While both showcase RUSSELL!’s singing voice, the tracks also emphasize how naturally he can weave in a rap verse and showcase the more mellow side of hip hop.

The last two tracks of the album have a noticeably more vulnerable vibe. “Sucker” is reminiscent of the ever so popular lo-fi hip hop study playlists taking over social media. In fact, the lyric video for the track is seemingly a nod to the trend. “u won’t hear this anyway” ends the album on an emotional note, with RUSSELL! reflecting on his journey.

 RUSSELL! is starting 2020 off with a solid body of work. There’s been a growing presence of Southeast-Asian artists in hip hop, such as Filipino-Canadian duo Manila Grey and Indonesian rapper Rich Brian. Being of Filipino and Spanish descent, RUSSELL! is making a name for himself as he provides that much needed representation in Toronto.