Dessa, “A Badly Broken Code”

Dessa, A Badly Broken Code
Doomtree

Like many spoken-word artists turned rappers, Dessa makes music that can’t be easily pegged as hip hop. Instead, A Badly Broken Code has a wintry, quiet tone reminiscent of mid-90s trip-hop, and she spends more time spinning free verse in a sing-song voice than flipping rhymes. (“Crew,” a tribute to her Doomtree crew, is a notable exception.) Her songs, mostly about friendships, romance and introspection can seem precious at times, but she has a wry sensibility that keeps them from becoming self-indulgent. A Badly Broken Code isn’t an album to listen to while washing the dishes, but if you have an hour to spare, Dessa can entertain you with a few personal stories.

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