The exuvia-in Latin exuvia-is the remnant of an exoskeleton after an arthropod molts, says Wikipedia. Simply put, it is what is left of an insect when it molts, and if you think about it, it is exactly what is left of us when we go out for a run: we never come back the same. Neither mentally nor physically.
We leave home and start a journey.
This is precisely where Caparezza’s new album starts, which, indeed, is titled Exuvia. Not surprisingly, in the last track of Prisoner 709 (the previous album). Capa did not appear: he had in fact symbolically escaped from prison. And just of the album from four years ago, this is the continuation.
Exuvia is a work in motion, peregrination and exploration – between different genres, quotations and self-quotations – in which Caparezza represents without too many metaphors his transition to adulthood, to maturity. A passage in which we can all recognize ourselves.
The result is a very valuable concept album that you can listen to with different levels of consciousness: from the superficial catchiness of the songs to the analysis of the lyrics and quotations that – I admit – even I could not perceive all of them on the first listen.
Extreme care
First and foremost, Caparezza must be credited with extreme care in the making of his latest work: 19 tracks (including skits) that compose a linear and wonderfully colorful story.
First of all, for the work he did in writing the texts whose complexity you perceive clearly.
On this aspect I would like to dwell for a moment. In fact, Caparezza’s expressed concepts and vocabulary are very broad, and it is precisely this that turns his work into a real undertaking.
In the current Italian rap scene-where concepts, tone and production, are flat and quite monotonous-marketing and simplicity and superficiality of content seem to dominate. Instead, so many elements are brought together in Exuvia that the album is transformed into a wonderful 10,000-piece puzzle that doesn’t give a damn about being liked at all costs because it is, quite simply, an expression of an idea, a narrative, an authentic story. And, for that very reason, they like it.
The cure, I said earlier. I invite you to follow the texts carefully-even read them to follow them better-and appreciate the composition and production: everything is perfect.
You may or may not like Exuvia, but Caparezza must be credited with unquestionable attention and care for every detail.
Now all you have to do is slip on your headphones, get it going, and follow Exuvia’s flow; step by step.
Oh, and if you wonder who “Marco” mentioned in The Choice is, that’s him. Happy listening!