Cydel Young chose the name CyHi The Prynce because he thought it conveyed a sense of royalty and self-worth. However, the road to CyHi’s coronation – 2017’s No Dope On Sundays – was long and winding. On this, his debut album, CyHi recounts this journey and celebrates the realization of over a decade’s worth of work. Alongside the revelry and reflection, though, CyHi sets aside several tracks to illuminate the album’s central theme: humanizing the gritty street life under which CyHi matured. On “Amen (Intro)” and “No Dope on Sundays,” CyHi uses the album’s opening tracks to lay out this mission. His previous life of drug deals and illicit late-night rendezvous is reframed by his use of a more religious parlance. This contrast of church and crime is nothing new to Hip-Hop. However, what differentiates CyHi is his unquestioned lyrical talents; the album is littered with the Atlantan’s signature wordplay and superb lyricism. The newly-minted Sony Music Entertainment talent hides polysemy in almost every bar. However, this dexterity is not a gimmick: his lyrical fluidity is used throughout the album to underline Black Pride (“Nu Africa”), homely courtship (“Looking For Love”), and startling mortality (“Closer”). Whether by brandishing his own lyrical sword or aligning with fellow royalty, Prynce stakes a compelling claim for Rap’s throne. Fans old and new look forward to his next crusade. STREAM: Apple Music, Spotify & TIDAL BUY DIGITAL: iTunes & Google Play