Atlanta-based artist and producer Charles Luck approaches music as a space for curiosity, empathy, and fearless experimentation. Through his platform Black Astronaut Records, he has built a genre-fluid creative hub that resists easy categorization, operating somewhere between hip hop, pop, and alternative expression.
His latest project, ai12DIE, is his most expansive and ambitious statement yet — a 22-track conceptual LP centered on a self-aware musical AI navigating technology, identity, loneliness, and the fragile line between brilliance and invisibility. Conceptually bold and sonically diverse, the record plays like both a narrative experiment and a showcase of Luck’s versatility as a producer and songwriter.
The album opens with Beep Bop Beep, an explosive burst of energy driven by a razor-sharp beat and a vocal delivery that slips seamlessly into a glossy pop frame. It feels like an anthem in motion – as if a rapid-fire rap verse collided head-on with a 2000s pop-punk hit. The momentum is immediate and infectious, setting the tone with confidence and punch.
The following track, Underwear, begins with a gentle, almost folky atmosphere before shifting into a confident and compelling rap performance. That contrast between softness and swagger becomes one of the album’s recurring strengths. In the first half of the record, No Name stands out as well – initially unfolding like a restrained ballad before thick layers of bass synths gradually transform it into something denser and more intense, eventually pivoting from melodic singing into full rap mode.
One of my personal highlights is The Dust God, built around a delicate, beautifully textured guitar riff that pairs unexpectedly well with a trap beat and a sharply delivered, melodically catchy rap flow. For those craving something more dance-driven, Statement delivers club-ready energy that transports you straight into a summer-night atmosphere, pulsing with movement and confidence.
That said, I find myself most drawn to the more acoustic-leaning moments, such as The Juices or Funk Opera, which balances tenderness with a fully realized, uplifting chorus. Life Goes So Fast carries a radio-ready ballad vibe reminiscent of Nickelback in its emotional build-up, before expanding into something closer to an Imagine Dragons-style crescendo. Meanwhile, high-energy cuts like Sugar Pushers, the more aggressive Chakra Flow, and Maze tap into the spirit of big, arena-sized pop anthems without losing their edge. From the second half of the album, Gems of Genesis deserves special mention – echoing the bubblegum pop-punk energy of the opener while radiating optimism and warmth.
Across its 22 tracks, ai12DIE never settles into one lane for too long, instead embracing contrast and constant motion. It’s a bold, sometimes unpredictable, but consistently engaging listen that rewards patience and repeat plays.
This album was discovered via Submit Hub
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