If a day comes by where I’m not excited to cover a Circa97 project, then that will be the day I retire as a journalist. But as long as I have my wits with me, let’s talk about the new project!
This is the latest collaboration project by legendary producer Circa97 and dope upcoming underground sensation Jalen Frazier, and together they come with 7 new tracks with 21 minutes of music!
Across this project, the features are only DJ Heavy and Reek Osama, both giants in the rap shit and both bring tons to the aura of the record! Circa on this project brings his trademark ice-cold, raw, and crisp production, featuring gritty tunes and infectious loops.
At this point in his career, I feel he’s mastered the formula of ‘Underground Raw Boom Bap’ and just keeps evolving with every project he releases.
I love his use of distorted soul loop samples, the way he slows them down, distorts the voice, and adds them to a skeletal Boom beat, making the track that much more satisfying, and there are quite a few tracks on here that feature that style, and I love it.
Also, I love the fact that Circa made sure that 99% of this album that Jalen worked solo on to prove to the world his abilities as an MC, and once again, that technique paid off perfectly.
Now, speaking of the man of the hour, Jalen Frazier, the man I only discovered as of this album but one I can safely say has impressed me to the point of guaranteeing keeping him on my watch list for future releases regardless of who he works with!
He has a certain aggression to his tone, a sense of danger, lethal wordplay, infectious flow, and precision with his penmanship.
I feel it was the best move having him not only prove himself solo across the album but on the one track he does have to stand alongside someone, it’s the underground titan himself, ‘Reek Osama,’ definitely a man who will out-rap you into the ground if you’re not prepared to stand your own on the mic, but once again, Jalen surprised me by keeping his own and rapping just as well as Osama and making for a dope duo track!
All in all, Circa97 with another AOTY contender for 2025, and Jalen makes a well-deserved impact in the game!
https://open.spotify.com/album/7kxKc2sb8Ubxv0nxGOT61w?si=RTPFeeKvT3WKo2f8Pyia2Q
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