Man, I can’t believe it’s been just shy of five months ago since I last reviewed this producer. February with Reek Osama’s album was the last time we linked, and now I have the exciting opportunity to work again, and this time featuring a new artist! Let’s talk about it!
This is the latest collaboration project between MC Mar and Producer Work Scorsese, and presented by ‘The 17th Cipher’, and together they drop nine tracks featuring the likes of
-O Dawg
-Bub Rock
-Liym Capital
Now, right off the bat, the first thing I noticed that hit me in the face was that overwhelming soul sample-heavy production. This thing is lavish and moving as fuck!
I love how Work utilises those beautiful vocal harmonies, those rich synth chords, those light and effective drum patterns, and subtle bass lines!
I love how Work used the most bare bass and skeletal these sounds represent! Each song normally has a small handful of instruments and vocal harmonies to reinforce the ‘less is more’ practice, which has Work keep things refreshingly simple yet powerful in its simplicity and ‘minimalistic’ boom-bap vibe!
If I had to describe this vibe, it makes me think of the 90s East Coast Era. Variance on the actual beats, but the same formula applies, using just a few choices of instruments to create an atmospheric rhythm and effect that artists who try do too much could never do!
Work understands the importance of this (as he did with the Reek album) and is repeating that winning recipe on this album and makes sure each sound, instrument, and harmony has a chance to shine properly, and it’s fucking dope!
As far as Mar is concerned. This is an artist I’ve never heard of before, and yet with this one record, has impressed me enough to leave him on my radar permanently!
What impressed me about him is his smooth, laid-back flow and rhythm that kind of reminds me of Guru or Napoleon Da Legend. He ain’t worried about rushing or ruining his vibe with none of that dumb shit; he’s got that surreal vocal aesthetic that makes every word he spits feel like bars of gold!
His lyricism is street poetry mixed with introspective storytelling! His pen game is lethal, and his wordplay is intricate, creative, and ever so compelling!
I love the attention he grabs when he’s on the mic across these nine tracks; he truly reflects his supreme artistry in the way he presents words, the way he bends the beat to best apply his verses, the way he keeps his composure while still expressing strong narratives and insightful lyricism that makes the audience teleport into the situation he’s describing! Truly an artist’s artist!
I love the chemistry between these two men. From exquisite MC work to flawless production. You won’t find a pair stronger!
https://open.spotify.com/album/2R611xW3qlNQvNmLumINOr?si=TPIulDKVSiSsVe_4syJB0Q
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