Above all else, Big B’s most recent album, Good Times & Bad Advice is a raw and melodic depiction of real life. While some of the tracks have a catchy, yet disappointingly generic rhythm, most are actually quite striking. Las Vegas native Big B, also known as Bryan Mahoney sings and raps with heart about everything from screwing up in relationships, to politics, to just kickin it with a cold brew, surrounded by good company.

With songs on the album featuring Everlast, Scott Russo of Unwritten Law, Kaleo of Pepper, and more celebrity step-ins, it is no wonder why this album is an unlikely mix of sounds and styles from track one to track fifteen. Even so, each track seems to flow together seamlessly.

The album opens with quite possibly the weakest song of the bunch—Yesterday. Some would call it catchy, and they’d be correct. But there is only so much a person can take of the same verse over and over…and over again. But don’t be discouraged, because it gets better. Track two—Before I Leave This Place pays homage to that drive many Californians feel to make a name for themselves, and prove disbelievers wrong. Paired with Everlast’s recognizably unrefined sound and spirit, the song breathes longing, dedication, and tragic honesty.

Bypassing a couple songs without much lyrical substance, we arrive at track five—Good Times—possibly the paramount track on the album, and a perfect representation of its theme. With a sick beat and mellow guitars, this song is the epitome of kickin’ it in California. Big B paints a picture of the casual loves most West Coasters claim pro-status of: chillin’ with friends, enjoying a beer, and just catching up on old stories.

Live Your Life is a retaliation and a tribute to where Big B came from and who he has become. Smooth reggae vibes make it difficult for even the most rigid of awkward dancers not to bob their heads.

This is For likens Mr. Marley’s One Love, not in style but in representation. A dedication to equal love: “This is for all my gangstas in the hood/this is for the hooligans up to no good/this is for all my eses on the block/this is for all the thugs behind their bars and locks/this is for all the punkers in the pit/this is for anybody that ain’t takin shit/this is for all my gangstas in the hood/this is for anybody that’s misunderstood”.

The album concludes with more songs reeking good vibrations and noteworthy guitar rifts. Big B has made a name for himself in his ability to reach out to the world through sincere life experiences in a way that is audibly pleasing to lovers of various genres. Some songs may be slightly standard, but the select few have passion for plenty.