CD Review: Cam Bell’s Young King, Old Soul

Providence is a city rich with as much talent as there is history. Throughout the years, I’ve yet to meet anyone with as much knowledge and talent as the young king with an old soul, Cam Bells. Ask around and those who know will tell you the Prince of Providence is one-of-a-kind. After releasing his Providence C.O.L.D. project a few years ago, fans finally get a follow-up with Young King, Old Soul, and it was worth the wait.

Initially, the space Cam left in Young King, Old Soul set an underwhelming impression, but as I listened again, it became essential to the project. For every great verse he nonchalantly drops, there’s time for the fantastic Rhode Island-bred production to shine, as if it’s another artist featured on the song. The dynamic shapes the project so well and makes me feel crazy for thinking what I did initially. Not only is the music well-thought-out, but each transition moves me from one memory to another.

The Kris Fame-produced “Back In The Day” flashes me back to my days on Prairie Avenue enjoying the rewards of chasing down the ice cream truck with the homies. The GenrusHS-produced “Special” transports me to the late night remnants of countless summer cookouts with the family as the grill is shut off and the embers in the fire pit burn brighter. “The Other Side,” produced by John Scino, takes me to somber walks from the East Side of Providence through Downtown to the West End, especially with the chilling voice of the sole feature on the project, Avenue. To wrap it all up, MLA Format & 72 Dolphins produced “Crimetown,” which has me looking out the window on RIPTA rides thinking “this is the year we all succeed.”

Overall, although I selfishly wish Cam rapped more aggressively, Young King, Old Soul is a purposeful musical experience and has the potential to resonate on another level with those raised in Providence. If anyone deserves a crown with the Ocean State’s capital branded on it, it’s Cam Bells.

You can order a physical copy of “Young King, Old Soul” on his site (princeofpvd.com) or stream it on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal & Soundcloud.