Toronto Duo LOWERCASE & SELF Deliver a Soulful Masterpiece with LOWERSELF

For those not familiar, we have a weekly segment dubbed “Saturday Spotlight,” in which we highlight tracks from independent artists (follow us on X, formerly Twitter, if you don’t already). Recently, I came across the track “STAYING ALIVE” from the duo LOWERCASE and SELF, and I was immediately blown away. A dope beat coupled with top-tier lyricism and outside-the-box visuals led me down the rabbit hole of their latest release, LOWERSELF…and MAN, was I pleasantly surprised. Either I’ve been sleeping, or Toronto has one of the best-kept secrets on the continent with this duo. This project is a testament to that, packed with soulfulness, introspection, and incredible versatility from the pair.

For those of us who were occasionally dragged to Sunday service growing up, you’ll feel right at home. The production gives off an almost conceptual feel through the use of organs and soul samples without overdoing it or straying into preachy territory. This soulful backdrop is paired with sharp lyricism from both LOWERCASE and SELF, who effortlessly weave between hard-hitting bars and melodic moments throughout the 11-track offering. Tracks like “Flaws” and “Can’t Say” show the duo at their best—weaving tales over deep soul beats—while a song like “Butterfly” turns up the tempo, revival-style, all while staying locked into the theme of the project.

One of the first things that caught my attention was their chemistry. While both artists offer high-level lyricism and execution, SELF frequently leans into melodic territory, which elevates a project like this when paired with LOWERCASE’s slightly grittier style. “Highly Favored” is an excellent example, with SELF handling both his verses and the hook duties. That kind of versatility allows them to craft a featureless project where you never even notice the lack of guest appearances.

Overall, one of the greatest joys of reviewing music is not just finding dope rising artists, but being able to share their art with our audience, and this is one of those special occasions. I couldn’t recommend LOWERSELF enough, and both of these talented artists have definitely gained a new fan.

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (10/10)

Standout Tracks: Take Your Pick-All Good