After Y.N.X.716’s last album ‘The Poison Store’, which made it to my top 3 ‘Best produced albums of 2024’ list last year, I had him on direct tunnel vision for future projects, and now that time is here, and you best believe this is like early Christmas to me, so the new EP is here. Let’s talk about it!
This time around, we have 5 new tracks, with one feature being regular collaborator and ‘Dusty Souls’ member ‘Aaqil Ali’, and the entire album was produced by ‘Geminisoundz’ and fuck does he pull off another masterclass on this one.
From the very first track ‘Winter Poetry’, we get this amazing jazz-inspired track with those luscious, strong notes being played over a thudding drum and light clicks in the background. This sounds like if John Coltrane was revived in the modern era, mixing his skills with hip hop. Absolutely perfect start.
Then the track ‘Mind Flurries’, which has a stronger hip hop flavour but still contains this smooth and tranquil note playing that sounds like what you feel walking through a forest on a sunny day with no clouds to be seen. If that aura could be translated into music, this is what it would sound like. Again, incredible.
Track three ‘Wind Song’, which actually contains the sound of wind breezing through the track alongside what sounds like medieval chords playing in the background. This is one of those beats you could play to just sit back and think about life and the universe itself. This is definitely a one-of-a-kind instrumental!
Track four ‘The 7’ has this relaxing, damn near folk-inspired instrumentation. Listening to this beat makes me think about what the 1400s would feel like or imagining living in the Skyrim world with nothing but communities, nature, and the wild as your everyday companions. This is some kind of shit you’d listen to while lighting one up to travel dimensions!
The final track ‘Forbidden Fruit’ with the feature included is definitely the most hip-hop beat (in the traditional sense) out of the five. With these light vocal harmonies in the background over this crisp and light instrumental. Of course, Aaqil spits another perfect verse over this song, and Y.N.X doesn’t miss a step either. This is one of those duos that will forever stand the test of time, and I haven’t heard them fuck up yet.
As far as the rapping goes, as expected, Y.N.X brings his trademark technique to the table. His flow and rhythm are flawless, and his timing with his bars is as good as anyone going in the game right now.
His penmanship is second to none, and with every verse he spits, he’s getting better and better. At the rate he’s on now, whether that be solo or with ‘Dusty Souls,’ he might go down as one of the best discographies the game has ever had, and I put my life on that!
The Verdict? Once again, a masterclass of production, rapping, and wordplay. It always feels like a theatrical experience whenever he releases a new project, and this one doesn’t disappoint! Make sure you check it out now!
https://ynx716.bandcamp.com/album/winter-poetry-ep
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