The Rhode Island rapper Sun Zoo checks in with his second online album titled Can’t See The Forest. Like his first effort, it’s an engaging blend of beat and verse. Sun Zoo’s lyrics are poetic sagas about reality, a little pessimistic but not without hope. The title track is a good example of his ability to mix social comment into his own personal dramas. If anyone tells you hip hop is simplistic, direct them to the heady “Aldous Huxley”. “Jane’s Story” paints a devastating portrait of the ravages of Alzheimer’s. The hard driving “Pirate” is a right-on indictment of both the major music corporations and the listening public that doesn’t support independent music. In fact, this second album has a stronger social consciousness without losing the steady beats and mellow melodies that makes it so enjoyable. Other favorite tracks of mine include “Victims”, “Not For Sale”, and a nice hip hop instrumental called “Do You Mean It”. The last track “Peace” brings it all together in a longing for meaning in tribulation with wistful lyrics like “Think of trees, Can I be where the leaves go?” I don’t know why big record labels aren’t breaking down Sun Zoo’s doors. But for now we can be grateful that he is telling us as he sees it with these honest and riveting indie hip hop gems.

The album is available as separate tracks or full album zip in 320kbps MP3.

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