Logic returns with his third album “Everybody.” The Maryland rapper/singer/producer released a concept album that’s about unity for every man, woman and child regardless of race, religion, color, or sexual orientation.

            The cover art alone had me astonished as it is a painting by Sam Spratt that features 80 people who either worked on the album or inspired Logic — from his music producer 6ix to rapper J. Cole and film director Quentin Tarantino. To truly understand the album is to know the concept or as Logic calls it the plot. It is an “audio-cinematic experience,” essentially a movie for your ears which was previously done on his second album “The Incredible True Story.”

            A black man named Atom (voiced by Big Von) dies in a car accident then meets with God (voiced by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson) not in Heaven or Hell, but in a waiting room. Atom finds out he is being reincarnated — apparently he is every human being who’s ever existed — and until he’s lived as every human in existence he is free to go whereever after.  

            With that plot synopsis, Logic is rapping from one of the perspectives Atom has lived in during the 21st century, including Logic’s on some songs.

            After being a fan of his albums Under Pressure and The Incredible True Story (which I implore people listen to before this record), I anticipated Logic’s third release with moderate expectations — and once again Logic amazed me.

            On the first single and title track “Everybody,” Logic raps for the first time on his albums about his race and upbringing with the racism he faced from his peers. Since he is biracial, having a black father and white mother, Logic’s skin is more white than black. He was called by white folks — including his mother a “ni**er” — and by black kids a “cracker.” The message in the song is to not focus negatively on skin color since we’re all born equally, just because his skin is white and he’s half black doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be ashamed to be both.

            The second single “Black SpiderMan (feat. Damian Lemar Hudson)” Logic campaigns for black actor Donald Glover to play Spider-Man in a film and fights for the breaking of stereotypes. He’s proud to be biracial and raps, “I just want to be free, not a slave to the stereotype.” It’s an incredible song that makes me smile every time I hear Hudson sing while he plays piano, with a choir singing, horns blaring and an orchestra playing. It’s a song that I feel is both song of the year and music video of the year.

            The final single “1-800-273-2855 (feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid)” highlights the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is an emotional single that almost made me cry. In the first verse Logic raps and sings as someone who wants to die. In the second verse he’s a person working for the hotline. And in the final verse he is Logic in no longer wanting to die. It is an anthem for those struggling with suicidal urges to make it another day.

            Different topics are discussed from religion on “Confess (feat. Killer Mike)” where Logic raps as a colored man who doesn’t believe in God to “Killing Spree (feat. Ansel Elgort)” where he raps as someone who feels social media brainwashes people. Then he tackles politics on “America (feat. Black Thought, Chuck D, Big Lenbo and No I.D.)” where the rappers discuss the controversies this country faces in 2017 from contaminated water in Flint, Michigan to Donald Trump to the murders of black people. Each song has deep messages that are accompanied by the production standards that are the best I have heard from Logic musically.

            The final song “AfricAryaN (feat. Neil deGrasse Tyson)” is another favorite. According to Rolling Stone, Logic was told as a kid “You’re so white you’re in the Aryan nation,” “if you’re black go back to Africa,” so he takes the two negatives and makes a positive. The song has a jazz instrumental, beautiful singing from John Lindahl, and God (Tyson) telling Atom in a speech to live life not worrying about the negativity of others. Fans of rapper J. Cole will be happy to know he has a part on this song.

            There’s not a song I hate, but I have some nitpicks. In the song “Take it Back” Logic raps again about the racism he faced from kids, identified as black, raps they had told him “Why you always talkin’ bout being black? Your skin too white.” I love the song when Logic raps for two minutes, then he tells his story growing up from a third person point of view for four minutes of the song. It would’ve been better if Logic rapped for the entire song but I completely understand why he told his story since he never has on an album.

            A con for the song “Anziety (feat. Lucy Rose)” : Rose sings as someone who has anxiety, Logic raps as the role of the illness. It is beautiful song about overcoming anxiety, and Logic raps for three minutes then speaks of being diagnosed with the mental illness in 2015 and tells listeners who have anxiety he will overcome it with them. It is a great speech, still wish he rapped.

            The first listen is hard to tell which perspective Logic is rapping from, but that’s what the mission statements are for in the album booklet that can be found on EverybodyAlbum.com.

            Logic creates an album that’s a strong effort. The title of the album shows he makes music for everybody. There’s never been an album like this where a rapper talks about certains topics all while spreading the message of peace, love and positivity. It’s sad he announced his next album “Ultra 85” will be his last — at least he now has a three great albums that make me happy every time I hear them.