Popular singles are rare in the music industry. But having one can rocket an artist instantly to superstardom.

An album that contains songs just as memorable as that initial single is also a rarity.

Remember the chart-topping track “This Is Why I’m Hot” by MIMS?

His first album was a decent first effort, but nobody remembers anything but the single. His subject matter lacked any real depth, and it sounded as though his career may suffer from death by hubris.

Many artists try to recapture audiences based on their initial appeal. They seldom try to take advantage of the momentum they make.

Luckily this time around, MIMS seems to have acquired the desire to be something more than the cliché rapper.

With this in mind, the new album, Guilt, is more memorable than his original single, though this may not be reflected in radio play.

First off it sounds as though MIMS has put more thought into his career as a rapper and has placed less emphasis on using the genre as a get-rich-quick method.

His lyrics have more meaning, his instrumentals are stronger and he is aware that his genre is interwoven with genres such as rock.

“Rock ‘n Rollin” uses band names like Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Evanescence and Nine Inch Nails in the lyrics, which isn’t too much of a common occurence.

Guilt also has its shortcomings. Despite the strength of the lyrics, Guilt is filled with unutilized potential.

The words that MIMS uses tell a powerful story, but the way in which he attracts the listener needs improvement. In a genre with such a diverse sense of vocabulary, it would be nice to see more colorful diction between points A and B.

MIMS latest work is definitely something worth listening to.

He is more mature as an artist and has put more effort into the composition of songs.

There is a catch, though. MIMS is still finding his strengths as a lyricist.

We can only hope that the messages in his music grow stronger as he finds better ways to vocally deliver them.