By Jamil Oakford/ managing editor

If listeners take their hip-hop with a dosage of truth and a strong message, Andy Mineo’s Uncomfortable is the perfect album.

The album starts with a subdued, slow beat, something to bring in listeners. But much like the title track states, the bass drop comes in heavy and creates a way for lyrics that hit harder than his 808 drum samples.

“If you wanna live a comfortable life, make sure you never love nobody. Be selfish and never sacrifice,” he raps on the title track. And, really, those lyrics set up the entire album for a series of strong lyrics.

For his sophomore release, Mineo sounds far more polished than a lot of mainstream rappers.

Distinction between one song and another isn’t always a feature attributed to a hip-hop album, but Mineo champions it. Jazzy piano chords, bongo drums, guitar-picking and smooth vocals from featured artists make an album that’s certainly memorable.

The strongest song on the album is “Desperados.” In this song, Mineo tackles the topic of staying true to himself and being grateful about the blessings he’s been given.

Mineo flexes a decent flow throughout the album and highlights his faith in God and the importance of self-reflection.

At times, lines get awkward because he doesn’t use explicit language. “Desperados” has an awkward moment where he says, “How many beats do I got to poop on to prove I’m not a fluke?” It’s just a weird bump on an otherwise lyrically smooth song. This hiccup occurs a couple of times, but the instances are brief.

Other notable tracks are “Strange Motions” (featuring Willow Stephens), “Rat Race” (featuring Jon Bellion), “Make Me a Believer” (featuring Mac Powell) and “Hear My Heart.”

Uncomfortable is a valiant effort that pays off for Mineo, and it’s worth a few listens to catch all the messages he packs into each track.

On tour in October, Mineo will perform Oct. 4 in Texas Hall at the University of Texas at Arlington.