I feel honoured that I’ve been able to be chosen to review an album for its anniversary! I feel like a proud parent seeing something grow up! Weird explanation I know, but that’s how I feel regardless. Let’s get into this!
This is the 2024 collaboration album between MC’s Sabio Dub and BECK, while Sabio remains on the production! 10 tracks, 31 minutes, and the likes of
-Primo Jab
-Miskeen Haleem
-Johnny Storm
-Unorthodocks
Man, why is it that Sabio’s production is so fucking smooth? I know I’ve dubbed him ‘Sunshine Rap’, but he sounds like he’s been touched by Jack Kahuna Lagun, the legendary surf guru from SpongeBob! It’s flooded with aura, vibes, atmosphere, lo-fi excellence, and jazz-filled soundscapes that soothe your brain unlike anyone else I’ve come across!
He’s taking that ‘Mellow/Art Rap’ subgenre to a whole new dimension. From those shining keys to the drowning synth pop influences. The manipulated notes and ambient noises of birds in the sky and beautiful vocal loops, even sticky guitar strings, and what sounds like wave sounds accompanied by subtle drums!
I mean, what do you even say to that? Every track feels like the real-life definition of ‘Bliss’ and ‘Harmony’, like the actual feelings came to life and turned into audio form just for this album. This type of production is the closest music to reggae I can think of without it actually being reggae. As far as I’m concerned, Sabio is Bob Marley’s spirit reincarnated, and I’m standing on that statement! Anyone who disagrees obviously hasn’t actually listened to the music itself!
As far as the MC work goes, you already know he’s good for it! One of the most chill and optimistic voices in the rap game today! The way he flows is exactly how the production sounds! He’s equally smooth, introspective, and larger than life on his bars!
He’s always dropping positivity on his records. Either talking about life or weed or experiences he’s had, he’s just always with his head up, never stooping to that hardcore, gritty, trendy shit (and I hope he never does).
He’s this time accompanied by BECK, and as I reviewed him recently, I already know these two work together amazingly! Both similar but different at the same time. Both have an incredible pen game, soothing flow, and enlightened bars and verses that go against the common ‘trendy’ narrative of extreme boom bap!
The features on this album are some of my favourite MC’s so to see them on a record with them is awesome! Primo Jab and Unorthodocks specifically, my guys!
Happy one-year anniversary to this modern-day classic! Happiness in a jar, relaxation trapped inside a WAV file. Listen to this one once, and I guarantee you, stress gone!!
https://open.spotify.com/album/7MtvIdw3so0twjnE0CMPYY?si=eCNp_I9-RNONhGlLlK-JPQ
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