ALBUM REVIEW: Outspoken by CONQUEST

Randy Bazile
Apr 13, 2023
3 min read

After a four-year hiatus from music due to a traumatic personal experience that he shares in “Outspoken,” CONQUEST returns to music with his 4th album. This is ‘QUEST’s most personal album to date. It tells the tale of a once confident man that crumbles into a heartbroken man.

It’s a heavy listen, so getcha weight up with me and walk through ‘QUEST 2005–2009 journey.

PRODUCTION

With the nature and concept of “Outspoken” (which we will cover later), the album’s production is primarily dark and intense. CONQUEST conveys his emotions through hard-rock, dark orchestral, and hip-hop. Later in the album, as it gets lighter, we have the Dreadlock Slimm that we know and love.

By now, you should know that CONQUEST’s albums are divided into acts. The first half contains consistent themes, and the second half is as well.

The first half is primarily dark. It opens with “33 (A Retrospective).” CONQUEST recaps the events in his life between 2005–2009 over a dark theatrical orchestra beat. You can feel the emotions with each bar he drops. It intensifies with “Intervention/Reinventation,” where he talks about a time when he wanted to *TRIGGER WARNING* commit suicide or self-harm. The emotional turmoil in this song was powerful!

The second half of the album starts lighter. It begins on the album’s banger “Gangst’!!!” produced by Sage.Muzik. It’s a dark alleyway-type beat with Brooklyn flavor while CONQUEST flexes his bars. It wouldn’t be a CONQUEST album if we didn’t have a song like this. You can’t forget about “Superfresh,” with production similar to songs like “The Fabulous Life” from “Exposé” & “E.G.O.” from “Confidence.”

CONQUEST taps into his rock-influenced track “AC/DC.” The concept of the name is based on the 70’s rock band of the same name as the song. The song stands for After Christ/Demons Conquered. Another crazy production by Sage.Muzik. ‘QUEST was war-ready in this song! Joint bangs!

LYRICS

One word to describe the lyrics of this album: heartfelt

“Outspoken” is CONQUEST at his lowest like never seen before. Despite the experience, he could bounce back more vital than ever, as in his later works.

Songs like “Clark Kent” & “Drift” speak of the lament and confusion in ‘QUEST’s head. Those songs spoke to me deeply. “Clark Kent” is a song that reminds us that we’re human. We can’t save everyone. “Drift” sees CONQUEST feeling alone in his trial. His lamenting singing over the hook of “Drift” hits hard!

‘QUEST describes the album's second half as “a prequel to a HAPPY ENDING.” It starts with “Godchaser,” where ‘QUEST accepts his divorce and moves on to his mission: to chase God. “Drift 2.0” sees ‘QUEST knowing that he’s not alone. He walks with God.

“AC/DC,” “Brash Delivery,” & “Tigerlily (I Got You)” are songs sequenced in the order of where CONQUEST was at during the time of this recording. “AC/DC” is a war-ready track where ‘QUEST proclaims: “After Christ, the Demon’s Conquered!” I would love to hear this song live. “Brash Delivery” follows up from “AC/DC” with an early southern-rap sound. He continues battling Satan in the first verse from where he left off. The second verse leads into the song “Tigerlily (I Got You).” It’s a love song that sees CONQUEST opening his heart again after his traumatic experience. Even though the relationship didn’t work out (as stated in the information of the music on Bandcamp), it’s a victory song because CONQUEST opened his heart to love again.

CONCEPT

“Outspoken” is a dark album. It’s a story told in a sequence of songs labeled as chapters. Each piece highlights the ups & downs that CONQUEST faced between 2005 and 2009. With production to exhibit the emotion of each song, CONQUEST takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions.

The “Outspoken” title track is a more in-depth and inner-personal version of “Godchaser.” CONQUEST is ready to move on from his former lover. He raps heartfelt lyrics that remesciences the times they had, the process of healing and forgiveness for her and himself. It’s a powerful song and a tear-jerker.

The final track, “Elevation: It’s Over,” ends the album on a powerful note. It’s a prelude to a more “radical” CONQUEST throughout his music career.

FINAL THOUGHTS

“Outspoken” was BOB DYLAN’S “BLOOD ON THE TRACKS,” MARVIN GAYE’S “HERE MY DEAR,” and KANYE WEST’S “808’S & HEARTBREAK” to CONQUEST’s catalog of music. Like the following artists, CONQUEST had a traumatic experience that birthed “Outspoken.” This was a rollercoaster of emotions. It successfully told the story of a broken man from the perspective of a Christian. 2009 saw CONQUEST bounce back with a new attitude in his walk with God and many more.

Download/Stream “Outspoken” on Bandcamp