It’s time for now to jump to 2020 with the 4th volume of this incredible tape series. These volumes are very underrated in the underground, and the more I cover them, the more I’m able to see the impact and the influence these had on what the sound would be in the years to come.
So, this one, as has been the norm in the last 3 volumes, features Estee Nack and is produced mainly by Mr Rose, as well as
-JuneLyfe
-El Maryacho
And features the likes of
-Crucial The Guillotine
-Al Divino
-Condenine
-Weapon ESP
-???
-C Wellz
Right off the bat, I fucking love this production. As has been trademarked by Mr Rose, he tends to favour those smooth, soulful, and crisp loops/samples that feature immaculate production and sounds that are so masterfully executed that each part of your body feels the instrumentation.
Unlike projects like the third volume, for example, where it felt like a more mixture of Grime and Harmonic.
This one just feels like a cinematically melodic vibe with traces of tough boom bap that’s sprinkled throughout the album, but I do feel the use of those luscious keys, long-lasting chords that create such a magnificent atmosphere that has a twisted ambient feel to it, like a darker equivalent of an ASMR Rap experience, and I fucking love it because it suits every name involved!
Speaking of the names involved. It’s exciting reviewing this one because it features my main man from 6th Man, Weapon ESP! To hear him in an Estee album is crazy, and he absolutely killed his verse.
As does every feature on this project; that’s the thing people don’t speak on enough: the level of quality Estee & Al bring out in their guests. They make it mandatory that if you’re going to appear on an album of theirs, you better come correct and spit properly, and none of that wake shit, otherwise, you can forget about it.
It’s this level of quality control that makes every release an anticipated one due to this factor, and of course, when speaking on the two men themselves, of course, they don’t miss.
Al with his savage and chaotic nature, and Estee with his infinite charisma, and when they both drop their original rap style and flow, then it’s a wrap; no one can contend with that, and they consistently prove why they don’t know how to take an L!
One again, another fire volume. It really is ridiculous their consistency and release schedule. Even Al in the current day is dropping projects after projects this year on his website! Two of the greatest, no doubt, with Mr Rose hitting it outta the park as well!
https://open.spotify.com/album/27WjIys23nsjSH9Nnw6U34?si=4s81S8ZxRwSe70xWEsVFlg
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 