What are the odds that as soon as I give this man his props on my latest review, he has this banger ready to go? Damn. He really is one of the most slept-on rappers, but hey, that’s fuel for a killer of his stature, so go on, culture, keep turning your head because one day he’ll do it for you and turn your lights off permanently!
We’re back with ANOTHER EP by MC extraordinaire Concept, with producer/rapper Basik, who together come through with another hot project that’s sure to leave you mean-mugging the world as a result!
5 tracks
– Savage Mode
– People’s Champ
– Maya Code
– Like This
– Money There
Each of these tracks has its own flavour and cadence to them that’s unique to them! For example,
‘Savage Mode’, as expected, has one of the most ‘savage’ feels on the whole EP. You’ve got that muddy killer trap atmosphere. Those long and lower register synth chords that vibe in your brain like a penetrating shot to the head!
Accompanied by those droning drums and the subtle plucked strings, this has BANGER written all over it!
Or the track ‘People’s Champ’, which just like Dwayne himself has that smooth confidence behind it but strong enough to hit you with a rock bottom you won’t get up from!
We have those soulful, ambient notes that go off lightly in the background combined with those delicate keys and funk-style drums slicker than The Rock’s 2000s promos.
This is an instrumental that won’t need ‘The People’s Elbow’ to hit you down for 3 counts! It’s smooth enough to do it on its own!
We can even look at ‘Maya’s Code’ (my personal favourite track). This one has an incredibly powerful intro with that spoken word that slowly transforms into that lo-fi art rap vibe.
This track has those deep and methodical chords that move in a boomerang motion, coming out and in and out again in various pitches to give that hypnotic effect!
The way the track feels, it makes me feel like I’m listening to the song underwater, the way the elements feel in my ears!
This track also has those incredibly zoning drums that co-operate with the notes to create a real out-of-this-world beat that will make your mind wonder!
The track ‘Like This’ I’d consider the ‘Goodfellas Turned Hip Hop’ track on the album. Not because of gangsta references or anything but the high-end, classical nature of the track! It just feels upper class.
You’ve got what sounds like those jazz horns going in the background, light drums, and that modern-day rap beat that acts as the skeleton to keep all those elements in tune and in place!
This feels methodical and surreal in execution. This song feels like a walk home in the rain as your mind is left contemplating life and the events of the day (like young Henry taking Tuddy from Paulie’s house to the payphone holding an umbrella to his head).
The final track ‘Money There’ is the exquisite jazz finale track and it’s fucking beautiful. This is how you close an album off!
You’ve got those gorgeous jazz notes that feel like someone is in the studio alongside them!
With those, we have this mid-2000s style hip-hop beat with what sounds like manipulated vocals that are made to sound synth-related that is off in the distance!
This track has that ‘outro’ feel to it. I love the fusion of jazz and rap and the way it’s produced you can tell the care Basik took into making this track not last too long or too short but ‘just right’ for the closer!
As far as the MC’s go, I can’t complain! Of course, you have a concept who outshines most rappers on any given night and today he’s showcasing his skills yet again!
He’s got that vivid imagery in his lyrics, his smooth and effortless flow tied in with his incredible pen game and lyricism!
He’s the kind of MC to take a one-hour car ride to the studio, thinking about the bars the whole way there, then jump into the studio with the confidence of a lion in the jungle, ready to take the crown!
He’s a thinking man’s artist. Someone who makes sure every bar or word has a reason to be there and even on a 5 track record he’s making sure his meanings and themes are all iron sealed and sure their purposes!
I love the passion and conviction he brings to the table and on that topic we have co MC Basik! Who not only provided those sick as beats but also lends a hand on the raps!
Both men share incredible chemistry, work off each other well. Both have their own set styles, sharp delivery and interesting and engaging verses to keep the listener focused and happy!
The good thing is, both men aren’t the same vibe (nothing worse then hearing features who are just a repeat of each other)
Thankfully Basik has his own confidence and enthusiasm approach to the verses that were equal parts introspective and raw!
This was one hell of an EP! Complied of sick beats and even sicker verses! Don’t forget to support these two and this EP!
https://open.spotify.com/album/6SMePMsV9SamDIyI47rni7?si=GGDwCc1CRbmrLjnqxFSu2g
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