Who would have thought an album of this calibre would be released this early in the month? It feels the more we go into the year, the better the quality of the drops become, and this one feels like the magnum opus! So let’s talk about it!
This is the latest collaboration project between heavyweight MC UFO Fev and powerhouse producer Vanderslice, and together they release 13 new tracks featuring the likes of:
-Nems
-Red Inf
-FLZY
And let me tell you, this thing sounds absolutely incredible! Starting with the production side of things because this thing is a combination of cinematic brilliance and grimy, muddy boom Bap vibes that features a variety of instruments and inspirations to create an original interpretation of the genre that only Vanderslice could pull off!
Throughout the album, you have various skits and voice snippets that make you feel like you’re listening to the hip-hop equivalent of a Martin Scorsese movie!
It’s like we are listening to Goodfellas: The Audiobook. But in rap form, it’s got conceptual elements of the streets and the life it comes with, but at the same time, we hear Vanderslice experiment with different elements from:
-Jazz
-Rock
– Piano-heavy sounds
-Soul
-Choir loop vocals
And the way he utilises all of this and constructs an album that’s so rich, in-depth, and powerful that the production actually tells its own story through its masterful arrangement and technique woven into each track. It’s truly a surreal moment everyone has to experience at least once!
Now, onto UFO Fev. This man has had one of the most consistent releases of the past few years! Whether that be his album produced by Fredro Starr or the earlier this year with Body Bag Ben and now working with the likes of Vanderslice? He’s on one hell of a roll, and this might be his best work yet!
What we see from Fev is his combination of introspective lyrics and reflection, and his down-to-earth, gritty, tough-guy rap that he’s most clearly earned and warranted. It’s like he’s battling between two sides of him as he navigates being the main character of his sonic Scorsese movie, and he ain’t about to turn to Ray Liotta shit; he’s here to speak knowledge and wisdom, and at some points, even warnings to people in the game and in the streets!
No more is this evident than the 3rd track, Dynamite, where he recruits the biggest bully in the industry with NEMS, and together they fully embrace that ‘fuck your life’ mentality, and it’s definitely an infectious track to vibe to!
Of course, UFO’s rap skills are well documented. He has powerful delivery, witty and lethal lyricism combined with a strong pen game that outdoes 95% of the industry!
There’s no way I can see this album not being on my list for May’s Album of the Month award show. This thing is perfect from start to finish! I can’t find a flaw in this one, and I hope we can see more collaborations from these two in the future!
https://vanderslice.bandcamp.com/album/pyramid-schemes
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