Highly Suspect MCID (Vinyl 2LP)

Highly Suspect's third album, MCID, is an adventurous new chapter for the Grammy-nominated trio spanning rock, hip hop and pop, and featuring guest appearances by Young Thug, Tee Grizzley, Gojira, and Conor Mason from Nothing But Thieves. MCID is based on inconceivable true life experiences (and perceptions) narrated by frontman, Johnny Stevens. In his own words, "The themes include self loathing, substance abuse, image issues, addressing my past and changing my future, with a sprinkle of anti Trump, false social media worship, heartbreak, hope, depression and suicide. There are also a few references to the pressures of fame and how I won't play into it."

MCID is packed with surprise major hip hop features, a collaboration with the metal band Gojira, some Swahili versus, and a lead single, "Sixteen," that is completely guitar free. The lyrics describe the true story of Stevens falling in love at sixteen years old, fostering a relationship for seven years, and feeling elated when she told him she was pregnant with their baby. The song describes his instant devastation the moment of the birth when he found out that the baby wasn't his, the baby was a different race. Though a wild story, the lyrics capture the gut wrenching feeling of first love lost, betrayal, and regret.

Other standout songs are Stevens' collaboration with Young Thug on "Tokyo Ghoul" and "Canals" which captures his frustration with the Trump presidency, saying that his rage feels like "someone took a crack pipe, lit it with a torch light, and threw it on a gas line - there is fire everywhere".