Primed & Percolated: Reviewing Saba’s “C0FFEE!”

This album came out of nowhere. No promotion, no ads, nothing. Just a pre-save notification from Spotify just 24 hours before release. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, but I had an open mind given how much I’ve enjoyed Saba’s other projects.

“C0FFE!” cover. This is dope.

Speaking of other projects, my immediate reaction when diving into this is “I don’t think this album or ‘mixtape’ (depending on who you ask) is anything like his past releases.” The consensus among most viewers is that this is more of an “experimental” album than full body of work. That’s not to say it’s not great, but it’s definitely different and different is cool. It’s fun.

It’s everything you expect from Saba on production: drum breaks, piano, and much love for the gang. What is unusual is the pacing and his vocalization. The way Saba’s pitch changes on some of these songs is almost animated. At times it feels as though he’s not taking himself too serious. Take “ ‘don’t be long’ ” for example. It’s essentially a 2 minute spoken word poem detailing his life and day down to calls he’s received from his friends (I hope he did in fact call Noname back). This track, funnily enough, was one of my favorites from the album. This beat, his delivery, and the subject matter all come together to create what is ESSENTIALLY an interlude and that’s what most of this album feels like. One big wavy intermission.

I often compare Kaicrewsade to Saba given their similarities in sound and where they come from, but it almost feels like Saba went deep into his bag as if to say and show “hey, I do this shit too. I was the blueprint.”

Saba’s features also offer a nice touch especially Maxx Moor on “high tides.” This song feels like a “Bucket List” throwaway that he finally decided to release. There’s a backing track on this album that I can’t for the life of me make out what it’s saying or where it’s coming from, but it almost sounds like a voicemail left on an answering machine.

Anyone who’s followed Saba throughout his career knows he loves to use audio clips from the influences in his life, whether this be the voice of his late cousin Walter on “CARE FOR ME” or the various voicemails all over “Bucket List Project”, Saba isn’t one to shy away from showing love to all of the people who helped in raising him both as a budding Chicago youth and as an artist and I’ve always admired that about him.

Never forget where you came from. I sure as hell haven’t and neither has he.

Now, he said that this album was thrown together in just a matter of weeks and honestly, I can see that. Not because it’s not good, but simply because it’s not much happening on this album. It’s no insane wordplay, no face melting 808s or insane patterns on production. What you see, is what you get.

The album is called “C0FFEE!” and that’s exactly what it feels like. A smooth, warm cup of coffee with a bit of white chocolate creamer and 2 sugars. No pumpkin spice, no Vanilla Caramel Mocha or ice. Just something to sip on and hold you over till lunch. It’s not as thought provoking as the other two albums I just mentioned, but what does it matter? It doesn’t lack quality or inspiration and these ethereal beats are bound to make you wanna lay in the grass and cloud gaze. Good luck relaxing with all that caffeine though.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one. This marks two albums for Saba in the year of 2025 and we still have 2 months left, so don’t be surprised if you see him make an appearance on someone else’s stuff before year’s end. Westside Gunn DID just drop as I was typing this so expect a piece on that as well. In the meantime, put this on and form your own opinions.

If you ask me, easy 7.4 or 7.5. Might not knock you out your socks, but given the time it took and what was given to us, it’s impressive. I gotta respect the hustle. Definitely worth a listen in my opinion, no doubt.

Go and check it out.