(Self-released, digital)
There are few mythic heroes more misunderstood than Superman. On paper, the last son of Krypton is a modern(ish) depiction of a god: He flies through the heavens, is all but invulnerable, can hear and see just about anything, and is built like a perfect Adonis. A common criticism of the character is how perfect he is, how powerful and remote — as opposed to say, Spider-Man, an anxiety-ridden teenager.
But his powers, even his looks, are not really the point of Superman. A refugee from a dying planet, Superman is a character who so loves humanity that he does everything he can to both protect and be a part of it — he aspires to be Clark Kent, a farm boy in love with his coworker.
It’s not an uncommon arc. Mythic heroes are often romanticized ideals, but their stories possess more nuance than is immediately apparent. That theme is central to Freddie Losambe’s April EP, Nevermore.
The South Burlington MC has always been one of the more literary rappers in the 802 hip-hop scene, more likely to reference Don Quixote (as he did on his 2022 LP, Estates of the Realm) than to drop bars ripping a rival or espousing his own abilities. A producer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and rapper, Losambe has an impressive tool kit, but his real weapon is an unfettered imagination. Losambe is a big thinker, and his records often reflect that.
Nevermore is no exception. The concept record tells five tales of five mythic heroes (in the loosest of terms) experiencing trauma and leaning on love. It kicks off with “The Rye,” an ode to Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.
“Catcher in the Rye / trying to save these lives / even though I can’t save mine,” Losambe raps, focusing on the novel’s theme of martyrdom. Caulfield is a character striving to protect others from the societal fabrications he sees all around him.
“Once and Future” shifts to Arthurian legend. Over a soft jazz backing track, Losambe tells of the love triangle of King Arthur Pendragon; his queen, Guinevere; and his mightiest warrior, Lancelot. “Dreams of life so simple that the sword never left the stone / a distant prayer for those who turned on me to repent and atone,” Losambe raps, laying out Arthur’s predicament as the king endeavors to forgive.
How love affects the lives of Nevermore‘s heroes is central to the EP. King David admits to self-loathing on “Beloved.” On the title track, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” narrator wonders whether love has driven him mad. And Jay Gatsby ponders the cost of his reinvention as a wealthy man in “Old Sport.”
The record’s concept is a fascinating exploration of how our heroes process trauma and how it affects their ability to love, while also serving as a reminder that we often overlook the true nature of our myths. While there are moments when Losambe is reaching to stay on theme, the sheer audacity of the EP’s creative conceit overpowers any flaws. Losambe remains by far the most cerebral rapper on the scene, capable of taking big swings and brave enough not to worry about where they land.
Nevermore is available at freddielosambe.bandcamp.com and on major streaming services.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2025.
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