Saba’s debut album follows 2014’s ComfortZone and his 2015 foray into production, SpareChange!. It was inspired by the passing of his uncle, hence the title Bucket List Project. As Saba told Revolt: It just felt like it was the right thing to do. It’s just one of those things, you know, where you take people for granted. Like, my uncle had been locked up and he got out and I only saw him once. I kept saying that I was going to go see him, then he passed. And it’s just that feeling: felt like there was so much life left, so many more things I’m sure he wanted to do. And then it just got me thinking of all of the things that I want to do and what other people wanted to do. These series of thoughts followed. The passing of my uncle led me to making the Bucket List Project. Accordingly, the album explores dreams, goals, and aspirations. In a conversation with Vice, Saba talked about the concept behind the project: The Bucket List Project, for me it was just trying to do grand things that were all in that mindset that were like we can achieve it, you know? A lot of us, we raised to not believe a lot of stuff—and that’s kind of where I was with it. Repping Chicago’s West Side (and you can hear that on the album), Saba knows what it’s like to grow up in an area where aspirations are often futile. The project’s message is that anyone can achieve their goals. Via Pigeons & Planes: It’s the balance, but it’s the preparation and the fearlessness and all that, I think is what I hope to gain from Bucket List. Fearlessness for myself and for listeners. A lot of people want to do a lot of dope shit that they can do, and that they have access to do. Fresh off from co-producing half of Noname’s landmark Telefone, Saba continues many of its themes and largely involves the same key players. Notably, he unites a considerable amount of specifically Chicago-bred guest artists. Doing ultimate justice to the album’s title and concept, Saba includes audio recordings from fans, friends, and fellow artists—among them Chance the Rapper and Lupe Fiasco—in which they voice what’s on their personal bucket lists. The production here, which is characterized by neo soul elements and soft doo-wopian melodies and harmonies, in combination with sharp lyricism right out of the gate, showcases Saba’s versatility as an artist who’s homing in on his goals and aspirations.