Che Noir’s 2020 album, ‘As God Intended,’ paraded grisly, fervent portraits of betrayal that rode cleanly over concise hip-hop rhythms. Two years later, ‘Food For Thought’ has been fatally let down by thin production and half-baked beats. Noir’s writing is often compelling, her flow is always tight, but the tinny mastering dotted throughout (particularly on ‘Ladies Brunch’) resembles nothing so much as the crude prototype of a satisfying record. There are definite highlights in the second half, where Noir relinquishes ‘grinding’ platitudes and delves into her storylines, but this is nonetheless a disappointing release from a promising voice in Buffalo hip-hop.
16/30
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