Token’s newest project was the perfect album to pull me out of a writer’s coma. I titled this website Introspection Section because I am fascinated with human self-reflection and its ability to manifest through art. Honesty, vulnerability, and reflection are intrinsic factors that I look for when consuming media. I want to be moved by raw human emotion in art. This applies whether it is music, film, or a book.
Token delivers this on his fourth studio album. The album is titled I’m Not Supposed to Be Here. It was released on June 14, 2025. A follow-up to 2022’s Pink Is Better, which was a huge leap for him sonically and featured some of his best work to date. This album is no different and builds upon his growing discography of quality music.
Token, a Massachusetts-based hip-hop artist, has been a prominent figure in the underground scene for the past decade. After releasing three mixtapes as an independent artist, 2022’s Pink Is Better was the debut release under his own label, Never Too Different, a testament to his growth and resilience.
The latest, I’m Not Supposed to Be Here,” is a visceral hour-long journey through humanity. Exploring the pitfalls of fame, the pain of grief and loss, and the ability to balance childhood trauma and the new problems of being famous and wealthy. Pushed early with singles like “Duck Hunter” and “Feral,” fans were primed and ready for a project full of bangers and undeniable rapping skills. Token delivers this promise on various tracks and blends impressive wordplay, cadence switches, and complex rhyme schemes that would make any “Backpack Rapper” giddy.
“She told me she got six bodies before me / I’m sure she does, let’s call it body dysmorphia / Fill hеr with kids like the cast of Euphoria / Bible on top and thе cash in the drawer ‘bove / I’m in her organs, so she call me Portland or Astoria,” – Token on “Duck hunter.”
The album starts with the title track, “I’m Not Supposed to be Here.” This track shifts away from his usual rapid-fire lyricism. It presents a melodic piano-laden beat that details powerful storytelling about past experiences and the album’s theme. That overarching theme being impostor syndrome and navigating the changing identity of a successful artist. Throughout the track Token details stories of rappers he grew up with who were better at rapping than he was. Better style, lyrics, and substance. But somehow, none of them made it out of their struggles. And Token now sits in a mansion with his success. A testament to the album title, “I am not even supposed to be here.”
This album does a beautiful job switching between ego-fueled braggadocio rap and thought-provoking reflection littered with honesty and pointed confessions. For hip-hop fans looking for that signature Token sound, songs like “Feral,” “Duck Hunter,” and “Jeep” showcase unbelievable production, witty lyrics, and the chaotic cadence of a machine gun with Tourette’s. These songs were strategically released as singles for this album. Which gave fans the formula they know and love from Token, but allowed him to not feel boxed in to make the whole album in that style.
Where the album truly shines is the storytelling and vulnerability on songs like “Friends,” Sarah’s Song,” and “I’m Your Boy.” Whether revealing unchecked childhood patterns or articulating the complexity of friendship and adulthood, Token digs deep on this album to pull some of his darkest skeletons into the light. Culminating in the album closer, “Diary #1: Karma,” a vicious reflection on a recent relationship that uses chaotic piano chords and the ever-increasing cadence of Token’s rapping to build a crescendo of emotion and pain. There is no need to spoil some of the big reveals in this album. Just know, there were multiple moments where mouths were agape and tracks were rewound.
As for features, Token secured a fantastic lineup to support this release. Tech N9ne is a clear inspiration for the young emcee. So, getting him on “Peter” and sparring back and forth with rapid explosion was a treat. Ren, a talented Welsh emcee, also appears on the album. Ren is easily one of the most skilled musicians in hip-hop and it was an exciting choice for Token to include him on this project. On “What Does Your Love Look Like,” Ren and Token trade bars on the substance of love and the relatable dialogue of a failing relationship. Nox Beatz, A New Hampshire-based producer, handles much of the production and provides a great tone and aesthetic to the album. He and Token have great chemistry and Token finds many unique pockets to flow in and out of.
“I grew up fast then, ’cause I gotta be a new Ren / Strong for my sis and my mom not a loose end / Confused but moving through the confusion / But all new love feels fake like Truman,” – Ren on “What Does Your Love Look Like.”
Overall, “I’m Not Supposed to Be Here” is an excellent addition to the Token discography. It captures what was so successful about the last release and improves upon every aspect. The album’s cohesive theme, more gut-wrenching stories, and better production bring this album together in ways many of his earlier releases lacked.
Introspection Section 
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