(HIM)

Man, what a year it’s been for this producer! This man is truly HIM with a handful of albums and EP’s that have stood above the rest and remained some of the illest examples of what 2025 has brought to the table, and now he’s back with a small little snippet with more undoubtedly on the way! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand new EP by MC Navi and Super Producer Vinyl Villain, and together they drop a three-track that was reportedly recorded, mixed, and produced in less than 24 hours, which is fucking insane! 

So, we start with track 1 ‘EMOTION’ that has what sounds like alternative RnB meets jazz. It’s heavy in ambience, surreal, and engulfing the atmosphere around it! 

You’ve got those light vocal harmonies in the background, that subtle bass, intricate keys, and those soul-style drums with an effortlessly soothing singing chorus that takes over the body! Absolutely marvellous!

On the MC side of things, Navi showcases a rather nonchalant demeanour and attitude on the mic. He’s unbothered, confident, and crisp with his deliveries, vibing with the beat in total harmony.

He raps methodically and with precision and one of the most relaxing flows you could find! Great way to start the EP off!

On track 2 ‘COASTAL CRUISES’ we follow that same soulful route with those angelic piano keys, jazz horns that come through to the end of the track that takes your heart away! It’s so fucking beautiful!

The drums on this track are a lot more hearty and powerful compared to the opening track, which I fuck with!

Also noticed that on each track, towards the end, there’s a small ‘pause’ moment on the songs. I mean, it was made in less than a day, but it is interesting! The first track had that wrestling promo to cover it, but this track doesn’t. I’m sure there’s a reason for it, but it’s just something I noticed!

Once again, Navi kills it on this beat! Chemistry is at its most finely tuned. He comes in with his trademark melodic rhythm that is equal parts graceful and killer! Because he has the skills of a dominant MC, he just uses his power in a more subtle and gentle way. 

Like how you’d expect an ‘Earl Sweatshirt’ or ‘Open Mike Eagle’ or even ‘Quelle Chris’ to rap. These are some of the most important and impressive rappers in our culture, but they don’t have to shout to show their brilliance.

The same can be said here; his vocabulary is strong, his verse structures are potent and on point, and his charisma is exceptional! No complaints to be made!

On the third and final track, ‘A BETTER LIFE’, we start off with this speech that quality transforms into a beat that feels more jazz-inspired than the other two! Because right off the bat, we have those high-pitched jazz horns mixed with those elegant chords and strings to capture the gorgeous essence of soul and harmony into one short closer track!

It really is impressive this was done in under two minutes, let alone under 24 hours. It goes to show you just how strong of a producer Vinyl is! Across the board, but especially this year, he’s been killing it on all fronts!

Navi closes his section off with a verse that feels a tad bit more energetic and powerful than the other tracks! He carries with him a certain bit of swagger and determination behind his verse that is perfectly suited for the outro song.

He’s bold, hard-hitting, and deadly with the pen game, giving us a quick burst reminder just how deadly he can be on the track one more time before leaving while showing a small glimpse of his potential! 

For an EP that can’t be more than eight minutes all up, this thing slaps. It’s angelic, masterfully crafted, and executed with passion and love for the game! It would be a shame to skip on this one!

https://therealvinylvillain.bandcamp.com/album/him