Holy fuck, this is so exciting for me. After just coming down from the high that was ‘Coolest Combo Ever’ by Al Divino X Estee Nack X Grubby Pawz, which shook the industry even doing so off streaming.
Now I get to experience yet another adrenaline shot in the form of the brand-new rare Al Divino EP! Let’s fucking get into it!
So, this project is seven tracks long and features production by:
-LEO SIERRA
-SUBFUSE
-WINO WILLY
-SOUL LA FLARE
-Al Divino
And features the MC RED AMANDALA, and when I say this project is batshit, I mean it. When I first played this, my jaw was dropped at what I was hearing, and I mean that in the best way possible. The very first track, ‘BOVAS’, features the most muddy, distorted, and experimental hip-hop track I’ve ever heard in my life.
It’s this noise-filled, twisted R&B/Soul woman vocal loop that’s been distorted beyond belief and includes these deranged synth notes in and out, and these eerie keys to make truly one of the most beautifully bizarre songs I’ve witnessed in my lifetime.
This is some Death Grips on acid shit. Every time I think Al can’t surprise me with his new drops, I’m always proven wrong!
From there, the album continues its chaotic structures with equally grimy and sporadic instrumentation, combined with his trademark brand of genre-pushing soundscapes and demented atmosphere that will challenge any and all fans of the culture.
His roster of producers understand his vision and expectations of grand sonic hysteria, crafting scores that define the very tip of the spectrums for what can be classified as ‘hip-hop’. It’s this brand of ruthless, unforgiving, and completely uncompromising music that makes Al Divino (and company) such a force to be reckoned with in the underground. Love him or hate him, you won’t be able to ignore him!
Onto the MC side of things, this is the part I feel he’s a tad bit more toned down than with Estee. I suppose with his insane release schedule (as this EP is only one of dozens) already out this year alone, not including CCE, so with that much on your plate, you can’t be straining your vocal chords in every drop; that would be unhealthy! But regardless, he hasn’t lost his lyrical magic, his ability to manipulate the beat (even ones as crazy as these) to his will and advantage to formulate the best possible verse.
His relentless wordplay and vicious style of delivery, it’s all still there and very much alive, just toned down a notch!
Of course, there’s the singular feature ‘RED AMANDALA’, who has absolutely no problem matching the notorious aura and cadence of Al and does a solid verse in his end!
Also, the fact the EP ends on that fantastically unpredictable, less than one-minute beat by Al himself was icing on the cake.
This whole record, the whole 12 minutes, was a wild run from start to finish, a true shot of adrenaline that I can honestly say no other artists besides Estee are administering! Buy this EP today!
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 