Greene pastures

On the surface level, August Greene may seem like just another innocuously conscious hip-hop group, but the truth is a bit more complicated than that. The story behind these three great talents proves that this group was not just some chance encounter, but an inevitability.

Formed just this year, August Greene is comprised of legendary hip-hop emcee Common, prolific jazz pianist Robert Glasper, and the exceptional drummer/producer that is Karriem Riggins. Being the monumental performers that they are, August Greene needed little hype to get their name out there. Being featured in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix documentary, The 13th, was a strong source of buzz for the group.

The soulful yet attentive trio’s music coupled extremely well with DuVernay’s grim take on race relations and mass incarceration in America today. Released in 2016, The 13th was merely a tease of the musical collaboration that was still to come. And based on the accolades and recognition that their song, “Letter to the Free,” received, it was an extremely successful teaser at that. It seemed that the public was thirsting for more tracks from this trio. In short, after decades of individual collaboration and friendship, it was a no-brainer to form August Greene.

Luckily, this project is as much of a slam dunk as it seemed it would be. Common’s sharp-tongued poetry perfectly floats over Glasper’s dreamy piano interjections. Glasper’s minimalist approach here may seem counterintuitive but ends up enthralling the listener nonetheless. Common’s lyrics are also as thought-provoking and well-enunciated as ever, but Riggins’ smart drumming is the motor that makes this group stand out.

You can tell Riggins’ background as a producer really enhances his work behind the kit. While he is one of the most capable drummers in the industry, he always manages to perfectly enhance a track rather than overshadow it. Even on some of the most laid-back cuts on here, like “Let Go” and “Meditation,” he manages to find a perfect pocket in the groove. He also shines on more quick and involved cuts like the crowded song “No Apologies.”

Although it is easy to get caught up in the prowess of each individual member, August Greene is ultimately a group. Glasper, Riggins and Common all sacrifice parts of their individual identity to make something great. At times Glasper and Riggins simplify their skills in order to highlight the work of Common, and on the closing track “Swisha Suite,” Common returns the favor. He takes himself out of the mix for most of the track to shine the spotlight on the greatness of his comrades. This willingness to delegate makes August Greene a great collaboration. You can hear trust, maturity and poise in every track. And coming from these three, I would not expect this project to show anything less.