Written by BVNC | July 18th, 2023 | Released May 12th, 2023
In a fast-paced world where everything and anything can go wrong, sometimes you have to reassure yourself that “Everything is Fine.” A.C. The Ruler is a man of dual lands, with one foot in Milwaukee and the other in Chicago, but keeping his trust in God. The narrative of his album holds true to its title. It’s all about your mindset and the people around you that will ensure “Everything is Fine.” The album plays like a whole art piece versus a collection of songs. The first track, “Of Course,” begins with a repetition of Amens. His religious influences shine throughout this album, and he often utilizes repetition to instill his message to himself and the listener. His flow in the verse is sharp and captivating as he showcases his talents as a professional wordsmith. In a social media video, he explains how “L” was his ‘connecting track’ for the album as he felt something was missing between tracks one and three. He gives insight into the fact he was on the “Blue Line” or “L” train in Chicago when he received this instrumental from his producer. Through repetition, he again plants the seeds in the listener’s mind that “Everything is Fine” at the beginning of this track. In the end, he features ‘Mama Ruler,’ and she advises on finding peace. A.C. continues his “Soul” series with his third installment on this project. The flow is infectious and puts the listener in a trance, reminding them that all things are possible through manifestation and willpower. There’s some solid wordplay on this from the feature Malo BRIGADE. “Batta” continues the album’s theme as A.C. starts in a slower tempo, and his lyrics dim-light lyrics, almost like he’s down in life with all his problems around him. Halfway through the track, the beat breaks down to a slowed and skewed bridge to the song’s second half, reinforcing that Everything is Fine if you have a suitable mind space and perspective. The layout of this song was well done, and ends with a sitcom-like outro to add a layer of comedy to the album. It’s a reminder that no matter where you are in life, things can turn around, and everyone benefits from the effects of a good laugh. The beat selection for this project is spot on and embedded in hip-hop roots, like the Jazzy style on “FOURWORD” and Chicago influenced beat on “Cuure.” This album has a lot of thought and effort, and I recommend everybody to listen to “Everything is Fine” on all platforms—message A.C. The Ruler on social media to tell him what you think of his album.