(BALASHI)

Man, I will forever be grateful to discover all the new artists that I am. Today is one of those days, and I get the opportunity to discover two! So let’s get to it!

This is the latest collaboration project between MC/Producer Ice Fang and fellow MC Pinto. Together, they dropped five new tracks with thirteen minutes of content.

Now, right off the bat, if we are talking about production, this thing generates a fun, experimental wave that most albums (full-length or otherwise) haven’t locked in on in quite some time. There was a line in the second track that I feel summed up the aura of this album quite perfectly: ‘Man, these raps need less anger and more virtue.’

That right there says it all. Even with the production, instead of trying to sound ‘Street’ or ‘Gangsta’ or ‘Gritty/Grimy,’ these two have set it upon themselves to create a piece of art that’s unique, original, and just outright fun and memorable. 

There’s a lot of experimentation I hear on this record. Going back to that second track with that electronic-inspired beat with the multiple copy and pasting of the voice snippets to sound like techno glitches across this traditional hip-hop beat pattern made for one of my favourite beats of the year.

Or you can even look at the track ‘To Die,’ which features that hypnotic piano keys looping in the background with that subtle drum sound going off just out of the foreground that’s topped up with that oddly pitched vocal snippet that repeats over and over. 

See, this is the kind of creative sonic adventure most artists are too bland or too scared to take. These boys are running so far away from the box that it’s not even visible anymore! They are trying techniques and plays that set them apart from the rest of the game!

Honestly, the only album I could think of to try and compare this to would be the collaboration album between Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA, ‘SCARING THE HOES’. How, in the same breath, they focused on creativity and creating their own lane, then following the others, so because of that, I give them all the respect in the world! 

Now. Onto the MC work itself. As I mentioned above, these two men are rappers, and they have crafted some of the best chemistry I’ve heard this year! 

You can tell there’s organic and natural synchronicity among these two. They are both on the same wavelength, both have incredible energy, passion, and enthusiasm for the bars they are spitting, and both utilise the English language so well with how intricate they are with their pen game, lyricism, and wordplay!

There’s never a moment on this album where either of them feels awkward or lost on a track, a moment of overshadowing or hesitation by either man involved. Just pure, unadulterated alliance between the two to put out the best and most lethal bars/verses that they can, and I fucking love that!

Nothing worse than listening to a duo who don’t have the same aura or vibe. The strength of a collaboration can and does make or break a record. That’s why it’s so important for rappers or producers, whoever you are, to choose someone who you can actually link with mind, body, and soul. In this scenario, this is a showcase of that mentality gone 100% correct!

Overall. A fucking incredible collaboration! The production is refreshing and memorable, and the lyricism is thought-provoking, raw, and well executed! Can’t wait to see what they do next! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/00dEF4mNwtKunzWGeYjDPr?si=jiWErzrxRc-H_hEM4jhbsQ