I know I’m a few months late to this drop, but it occurred to me this is (so far) the only ‘Penlordz’ release I haven’t covered yet, so of course I can’t let any slip by me! Possibly my favourite hip hop click going right now, so let’s do it!
This is the latest release by Penlord Arsinel! With 11 new tracks and 25 minutes of run time. This time he’s featuring Fiqqouw on the beats, and my god, if this project isn’t SMOOTH.
From the intro track onwards, this project has some of the smoothest, soul-filled, and classical vibes rolled into hip hop that makes for one of the best listens I’ve heard all year.
Each beat has these warming and calming qualities to them. Sure, I love those grimy and hardcore vibe productions just as much as the next guy, but every now and then I also love hearing instrumentals that portray the softer side of rap, the same reason why I love groups like ‘A Tribe Called Quest.’ I love the gangsta shit, but I also love when other acts do something different, and this is one of those occasions.
From my many reviews of the Penlordz collective, each release has provided something unique and original to the table, and I feel on this occasion Fiqqouw brings that crisp, fresh, and refreshing production and mastery of the beats makes for a listening experience that provides a relaxing atmosphere and the kind of record where you can just sit back and appreciate the sounds and the vocal performances by the man himself.
That man being Penlord Arsinel. One of three in the collective (alongside Fam Ross and Audio Messiah), and as expected, they both feature on this project as they all do on each other’s over the years.
I can’t express enough how much I love that old school Wu-Tang mentality of just featuring on each other’s work. It’s something you see in Umbrella Collective records, but that’s about it. It’s a lost form of etiquette in the rap game that I miss so much.
Regardless, we have Arsinel, a man who’s always had the smoothest of flows, intriguing verses, and smart wordplay. He’s always had that energetic and passionate aura about him that makes his voice stand out no matter who you put him up against; he’s always the man.
Every time I hear his voice, I can’t describe how, but he just puts me in a state of bliss and thought-provoking mindset. Whenever he spits, I just sit and think about his verses and bars and what they might mean, any puns behind them, or anything worth remembering; he has the effect of a teacher to a student on the beat, and as someone who is passionate about learning, it hits me hard!
Once again, another dope drop by Arsinel and by the Penlordz. I’m not sure if anyone going right now has the same catalogue of quality as they do! If you ain’t checking out the Penlordz, then you ain’t respecting the culture, and it’s as simple as that!
https://open.spotify.com/album/752ptoENsih6yK16db5qsb?si=CL19x8i7TEqByPJgUq7wuw
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 