By the dawn of the 2020s, Che Noir had become one of the most talked-about emcees to emerge from Buffalo, New Yorks fertile hip-hop scene. Her initial albums and mixtapes revealed her as a confident, striking lyricist with an unflashy, no-nonsense flow who feels right at home rhyming over earthy production recalling raps golden era. Following the release of 2019s The Thrill of the Hunt 2, one of several Noir recordings produced by 38 Spesh, Detroit beatmaker Apollo Brown reached out and expressed his interest in working with her, and he gradually sent her batches of beats to write lyrics to. She flew out to Detroit when she was ready, and the album was recorded in a matter of days. Considering the short but unhurried time period it took for the record to come together, As God Intended is remarkably focused and direct, in addition to showcasing Noirs range of styles, techniques, and subject matter. On one hand, she gets deeply personal on songs like Daddys Girl, in which she reflects on how her father wasnt present while she was growing up, and how its affected the course of her life. The Gil Scott-Heron-sampling Winter examines relationship drama, while tracks like Follow the Wisdom (with a guest rap by Skyzoo) and Hustle Dont Give (featuring a weathered Black Thought of the Roots) detail lifes struggles while stressing the importance of remaining strong and refusing to give up. While the majority of Noirs lyrics are grounded in stark reality, her ability to craft a compelling fantasy narrative is evident on the grim but fascinating 12 Hours, which innocently starts out with a group of friends getting ready for a party before escalating into a murder scene over a simple but grave misunderstanding. On a lighter note, The Apple celebrates the natural beauty and magic of black women, and 94 is a fond reminiscence of the sounds Noir was raised on, recalling how Lauryn Hill, 2Pac, Foxy Brown, and others inspired her and shaped her understanding of music. The song ends with her assurance that someday shell be recognized in the same breath as her heroes. Throughout the album, Apollo Browns production is rich and emotion-heavy without upstaging Noirs austere poetics, masterfully supplying her verses with strong drums and heart-stirring textures and melodies. ~ Paul Simpson

Rovi