Beyond the Classroom: Defcee’s Passion for Teaching and Honesty Drives Other Blues

I came across this project via the New Jersey production duo Parallel Thought. They teamed up with the Chicago MC, Defcee, and the result is “Other Blues.” Filled with “everyman” bars and relatable lyrics, and guided by some great production, this is a solid project. Defcee takes us into his life and the city he loves.

Defcee is not just a rapper; he’s a teacher. It’s one of his defining traits—he mentions it often, and his passion for teaching seeps into his music. Defcee isn’t trying to pretend he’s someone he’s not or on a level within the game that he hasn’t reached. A realist and a common man, Defcee is going to be relatable for a lot of people out there. “Broke” has a classic loop as Defcee details his finances, and again, he’s not faking anything; my man is relatively broke. “And You Still Rap?” has Defcee reflecting on conversations and interactions with people from the past, who catch up and ask the titular question. And “66 to Navy Pier” is great; I wish there was another verse, but it’s fitting as is.

There’s some really good production from Parallel Thought here: classic samples, soulful beats, and music that varies but all fits the tone and mood of the project. I think my main criticism is that there are almost too many references to teaching. It’s understandable, but it can sometimes be a bit much. My other critique is that while he references his past life and the “old him,” we want to hear more about it—not just that you’ve moved past it. But I also understand that diving deep might interfere with his real-life teaching career, so I get it.

This is a really good project; Defcee and Parallel Thought truly came together with a one-track mind and made a cohesive, flowing work. Some of the content strays a bit from my daily listening, but it’s the type of content I generally want to see more of. I’d love to see the subject matter more spread out, though this did happen as the project progressed. Maybe even just a different sequencing would have had a different effect for me. But Defcee is skilled, and I want to hear more from him and Parallel Thought.

Standout Tracks: Broke, You Still Rap?, Ben Grimm, Beasts

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (7.5/10)