Is it just me, or is there a flood of ‘Samurai’-themed albums in 2025? I swear I’ve seen tons of them. Do I dare complain? Definitely not! A theme that can never get old and always seems to maintain quality when associated, and this album is no exception! Let’s talk about it!
This is the latest collaboration project between producer White Shadow and rapper Son Of Saturn, and together they release 7 songs with 25 minutes.
The features include only ‘Silkroad Gunmen’, and this thing has a trademark yet solid Boom Bap structure featuring raw and crisp instrumentals and a unique spiritual atmosphere with dope cut and scratching work and various foreign instruments that, when added to the songs, give them a ‘larger than life’ cinematic value to them.
Although there are only 7 songs, White Shadow does a masterful job making the whole project feel like a full hour with the vast amount of technique, variety, and detail in each individual song. Although, as I said, it is classic Boom Bap in skeleton, he adds so many keys, chords, and melodies that each track feels almost angelic in nature due to the incredible work and uncanny energy that radiates off the songs themselves.
I absolutely love the mindset behind this album: lay the foundation (Boom Bap), build upon it, and play god with the infinite possibilities of sound matches, vibes, and soundscapes to choose from, and the choices that were kept are some of the best and most compelling production I’ve heard all year, and I mean that!
For all the talk of the immaculate production, the man that’s accompanied alongside the beats was Son Of Saturn, and his skill level is just as masterful in his own right. The way he manipulates and manifests his words is beyond belief.
His verses, wordplay, lyricism, and flow are unmatched across this project. When you have the sounds as good as these, you need a man/woman who could not only match but outdo the production, and I couldn’t think of anyone else better qualified for the job.
I was left in a trance listening to this album, just stunned at how smooth and synchronised this duo was. It’s as if they spoke in telepathy, and they could reach each other’s thoughts and knew exactly what the other needed! I wouldn’t be surprised if this was all done in one take per song because of how effortless this all sounds!
Overall, a beyond brilliant addition to the year and one that will stay on my mind for the year to come!
https://open.spotify.com/album/1cuZaWVvHNf5bC2W60jWWn?si=25zND2IUQ6yYm-Bv3kRLIA
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