Thato Saul — ‘Members Only’ (Album Review)
Hailing from Atteridgevile, Thato Saul has seen a lot. Near-death experiences, disloyalty, hood politics and pain. Through it all, Thato has remained resilient and came in clutch in the fourth quarter of 2020 with the release of his debut studio album, Members Only. The album came nearly a year after his For God’s Sake project, which earned him consistent radio play, multiple playlist placements, and critical acclaim. The Pretoria emcee was prophetic on his breakout single “Praises”, proclaiming that the rap game will know his name in 2020. It is safe to say that his proclamation came to fruition. A series of singles were released during the rollout of the record, including the album’s title track “Members Only”. This is an album that had been in the works for a few years now, with its original release date slated for 2018. It’s here now, and it’s incredible.
The album cover shows Thato and his friends posing in front of a BMW 325i, or universally known in most hoods as a “Gusheshe.” The image perfectly encapsulates the first lines of his verse on the album’s opening record, “Still Livin’”.
“Me and the homies I’m talking days of our lives
I’m deep inside of the sea, do you see the waves of my dives
Hood politics having you dodging your own demise
Loose links sink ships, n****s even get killed by the lies
I’m from the Pheli side of town where n****s don’t throw in the towel”
Resilience is a recurring theme on the album’s intro as Thato details some of the near-death experiences that he and his people have survived. There is a noticeable intensity that is felt through his lyrics, with Saul breathing a sigh of relief at the end of the record, thankful that he and his people are still living through it all. A chilling introduction into life on the streets of Pheli. While the album opener celebrates the ones who are still around, the rest of the album sheds a light on those who are, unfortunately, no longer with us. “10K”, the second record on the album, introduces a shift in gears from a production standpoint as Beatshoven’s menacing beat has Saul operating in street anthem territory. He flows seamlessly in “Spitori” on this record, dropping slick quotable lines about how “10 tao ase selo”. This is easily a fan favourite.
The song wins you over immediately with its absurd production and Thato’s energetic delivery, but it’s him explaining how the words “rest in peace” have diminished his fervent approach to life that stands out to me. I mean, how could it not? The man has seen a lot. His ability to draw inspiration from some of his most painful experiences is what makes him incredibly authentic. The album’s fifth track, “Back to Back”, has him detailing how losing his friends has left him with a hardened heart. On “Pheli Politics & Passion”, he lists some of them by name. These aren’t hood tales. These aren’t Pheli fables. Just real-life stories. Real people. Speaking of “Pheli Politics & Passion”, the album’s lyrical magnum opus, Thato meticulously depicts his undying love for Pheli, along with all of the hood politics that come with it. The record also showcases his ear for beautiful instrumentation, as an outstanding guitar solo closes out the record, worthy of a standing ovation.
The album’s B-Sides further accentuate his engaging storytelling ability. He shifts from the street-related content to address infidelity on “Where There’s Smoke.” No lyric is wasted on this record as he speaks to the creeping done by him and his partner, tied up perfectly by the second verse’s final few bars:
“I checked her phone, the s**t that I saw made me fall right back in the stool
She hit me to the soul
She hit the bull in the eye, she hit my zone
I really see the smoke
What really matters though?
Her name is Thato Saul”
Saul’s language changes, elite song-making ability, versatility, and clever wordplay allow him to shoulder the lyrical burden all by himself on this album. The album’s lone feature comes courtesy of frequent collaborator, Tyson ST, who handles the hook duties on the album’s outro, “Trust Nothing”. His ability to keep the listener engaged with every verse is a superpower of his. He surely didn’t have to wait up until midnight on the 21st of December last year, as he already had his superpower in the tuck. His previous project, For God’s Sake, was also void of any features, but that did not limit him in any way. Two consecutive projects, spanning an hour and 14 minutes in total, and not once do you feel the need to listen to someone else rap. That’s tough.
On a lighter note, Saul might have secured himself a Nike deal with this album, as his affection for the shoe brand is on full display. “05 Timbaland, neke shyana mo Makgatho/ Ka 2020 Airmax 7 2 mfan o sleg ka dihlako.” Mean kick game. The voice messages sprinkled throughout the album also provide the record with street nuggets of wisdom, and moments of much-needed laughter. All in all, this is an album that sees Thato Saul exit the conversation as being one of the best rappers in Pretoria and sees him enter the conversation as being one of the best rappers in the country. This is an album that is Pheli to the core. Its authenticity cannot be replicated. Vivid storytelling coupled with competent hit-making. The production is clean, as the chemistry Saul shares with Zarro, Beatshoven & Feziekk shines throughout the project. With its release coming late in 2020, there is no doubt that the album will continue to be received well in 2021.
If you ask me, it hasn’t been a month since the album’s release. It may be premature, but we don’t have to wait five years to have this conversation. This album is well on its way to being a classic.
