DAMN, this album starts off heavy as fuck. Talking about the first time a baby experiences fear. That is the coldest way I’ve ever heard a record start, and it proves just how deep these two men are willing to go to stay true to the ‘concept’ of the record. Let’s get into it!
This is the brand-new EP/Album by 6th Man artists MC Xcel and Producer Shade Cobain. We have a chilling batch of seven tracks that is committed so strongly to the narrative of Dark Arts that it’s terrifying.
If you had told me last year that Xcel would be going down this route, I would have laughed in your face, but now that it’s here, it’s absolutely amazing and eerie at the same time.
Figured I should start with Xcel because not only has he had an incredible year so far but has kept evolving with every drop, and this serves as his ‘sinister side’ coming out to say hello. He’s fed up with that civil shit, and he’s here for war.
Alongside his venomous spirit, he showcases his evolved darker rhythm, his sharp and bloody wordplay, his forbidden pen game, and a flow that sounds possessed by Lucifer himself.
He only needs six bars across six seconds and six songs to convince the non-believers that he really is the calamity come to life, and he’s taking everyone with him!
He has so many different sides of him on this record, whether you’re talking about that spoken word intro or ‘Dr. Loomis’ talking or being the devil’s reject himself, he’s the bad omen on that 1, 2 shit so twisted people call him Jason.
The one time he does have a feature, it’s something who might possibly be more devoid of happiness than even him, and that’s The Bad Seed himself, a forbidden spoiled fruit that has experienced enough of life to finally become the villain and aim that verbal shotgun at the same audience that pretends to show him ‘love’ will soon understand very well the feeling of ‘hate’ in the first degree.
Remember all the times these cats asked for support? Remember when they took your words at face value and became optimistic and hopeful that the same mouths who promised a helping hand would deliver? Then remember how your words landed on empty intentions and your life went on and you completely forgot about the promise made?
They didn’t forget. And now just like a ghoul, they rise fuelled by vengeance and selfish greed to make sure they get there’s ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. Xcel is a beast you didn’t see coming but will now be the one to destroy your favourite rappers while you sit there helpless! That’s the 6th man shit.
Can we please talk about the year Shade has had? The level of quality he’s brought down on the culture in just the last half year alone? He’s shown to everyone why he’s not only a 6th man soldier but honestly one of the best beat makers out there now.
Across this project he (just like Xcel) steps to his dark side and unleashes a set of sounds no mortal was meant to hear in this hip hop shit but instrumentals that will consume you with so much fear and energy that you’ll be twitching your neck like one of those Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ zombies!
Every beat on this project is heavy, horror-based and filled with so much intensity that I guarantee most of you won’t be able to listen to this at night (I know I won’t) because of its levels of violent intentions and sinister atmospheres!
He’s always had chemistry with Xcel but now it feels like a devil’s contract signed in blood and they are now bound to each other in exchange for the dopest hip hop music you’ve heard in your life!
He’s no longer a mortal man, he’s a vessel for the dark one himself and he’s honouring his wishes by manipulating his normally ‘bright, cinematic and beautifully crafted beats’ to ‘depraved, murderous and homicidal’ influences with the goal of turning as many souls to the great one as possible using these beats as the penetration of the soul.
This record ain’t for the weak of heart. If you ain’t ready to challenge Lucifer himself, STAY THE FUCK AWAY!
You’ve been warned. You are no longer listening to Xcel and Shade, this is evil incarnate. 6th man is not liable for what’s about to happen. RUN
https://xcel777.bandcamp.com/album/the-dark-arts
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 