(Art Of War)

You know, I still remember back when I did my first quarter ‘Serpent Tongue Award Ceremony’ back before I decided to make it a monthly event due to the traffic I was getting.

In that first quarter, a comment that stuck with me was this man’s as he said something along the lines of ‘Damn, I’m going to have to do a lot more to make it to the second quarter.’ I remember reading that and thinking and hoping that he does meet that goal head-on and I can safely say (as it’s nearing close to what would be the second quarter) he has upped his game further and further! Couldn’t be more proud of his progression and so here we go!

This is the latest album by MC Artwork Kennedy. This man in 2025 alone has dropped some of the most interesting and original records such as:

-Need Money For Porsche 

-Auto Trigger

-Best Case Scenario 

And now he’s back yet again with this one which features production from the man himself! 

And features from the likes of: 

-Tha God Fahim

-Maze Overlay

-Jacob Matthew

-FlyG

-Villa Velli

-Jimmibones4president 

And across this 11-track, 34-minute project we get to hear yet another side of this man we haven’t seen yet. I’d call this album Artwork’s (Sho Gun) Era. 

What I mean by that is that he’s focused all his production efforts on creating a novelty, noble, grand and beautifully antiquated characterisation of elements such as: 

-Pride

-Discipline

-Training

-Work Ethic 

-The Sonic Art Of War and by using various samples and snippets of these lessons being taught or displayed to the audience it really captures that (Sho Gun) old-time Japan era of time where the instrumentation was equal parts divine and sturdy. Both gracious and feared, dominant and wise. 

Everyone’s seen a black-and-white Samurai movie where it’s shown the wise elder sitting beside a bamboo fountain that provides the endless stream of water and ambiance while talking to the young (eventual main character) pupil.

This is the vibe this album gives off, but in hip hop fusion. Of course, throughout the album, there are elements of rap and actual beats and instrumentals, but I found myself taken aback by the atmosphere created on this record that, in my passing memories after the album was finished, I would find myself reminiscing on the ambience over the hip hop side.

Take that how you will, but this is probably Artwork’s most introspective album to date from the production standpoint alone!

As elegant and beautiful as the production genuinely is, Artwork has defined to go all out on not only his own verses but with the association of names I truly believe suit him perfectly. Whether that be long-time friend and collaborator legendary Maze Overlay. 

Or if we are talking about the notorious Tha God Fahim. Or my most exciting feature to find in the ever-so-paced and consistent Here$ Johnny!  A pairing I knew would be fire the moment I saw the names on the song. Regardless, each track brings with it its own personality, drive, character, and flavour.

What’s also important for me on this album is the fact that there are five out of the eleven tracks that don’t feature anyone else! Which is proof that Artwork does value his own skills as an MC and the strength he can build and create on his own! Such an important quality I feel too many are throwing out the window or letting get blunt and replacing with overloads of features.

Of course, as a listener, features can be extremely exciting. Just as I was when reading the names on this list. But it’s done tastefully and with room for Artwork to breathe and improve ON HIS OWN, and the hard truth is, if you can’t or don’t believe you can hold an EP or album down with mostly your own efforts, then you’re just wasting the space of someone who can.

All in all, this could be his best album yet. From the cinematic production to the fantastic lyricism and handful of features, this thing is one you can’t be missing out on!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5ILZ1OvRsGRzDmQHB2MuNU?si=c6U_nNHGQYWdX3yD7j7JfA