Look who’s back! It’s one of my favourite newly discovered duos. These two, since the first time I listened to them, have taken over my algorithm and had me anticipating what was going to come next! With their unique chemistry and specific sound, they make music that’s exclusive to them and their own lane, and it’s one I find myself excited to travel time and time again! Let’s talk about it!
This is the brand-new record by MC ZELL and producer Dev Rogers, and together they drop a collection of 11 tracks, 24 minutes, and the likes of
-Chase Fetti to help elevate the record even further!
If we’re talking about the production on here, I’m surprised to say, but I don’t think I’ve heard Dev better. From someone who has outdone himself project after project, he’s not only proven himself again on this one but set the standard for a whole new record that reaches ‘masterpiece’ level of excellence in my opinion.
Obviously, going for a more ‘eerie’ and ‘surreal’ feel on this record, we have Dev showcase his techniques and talents by creating a record that feels ominous in execution and grand in design.
For example, we have tracks like ‘DIRTY SLUMS’ which has that mix of gritty boom-bap and subtle jazz influences with those drums and light, intricate piano keys that are shading sonic real estate with those muddy bass lines and looped instrumentation!
The kind of beat that can turn a simple ‘trick or treat’ to a ‘give me everything in your wallet and then some’.
There’s the beat ‘#49DO GODS BLEED’ which has me reminded of some ‘Gorr the God Butcher’ type vibes with that song title. Nonetheless, ironically, it’s one of the more soothing and relaxing beats on the whole record with more jazz-inspired (centre stage this time) free-form piano keys accompanied by some melodic and methodically paced drums that feels like a warm hot chocolate while watching the snow outside type shit! Absolutely loved the vibe on this one!
My favourite track by far is ‘#53 NEW JERSEY TO BALTIMORE’. That instrumental is absolutely insane. Those angelic and mesmerising female vocal harmonies, accompanied by those looping keys, reminded me of the Berserk soundtrack. It’s truly masterful and hypnotic at the same time. I remember listening to this, legitimately zoning out, going into my relaxing state listening to this song!
As I said above, Dev has definitely gone above and beyond for this record, and it shows!
Now onto ZELL! If ActionFigure973 is the most ‘Interesting Man In The World’, then ZELL would be ‘The most intense’ because this man wouldn’t know how to apply breaks on his flow if he tried; he’s just one speed! Ballistic.
As I’ve come to love and appreciate from this man, he returns with his no-nonsense, in-your-face, rough and rugged approach to the mic with intrusive thoughts, relentless wordplay, unlimited energy, and the aura of an army!
You can tell every word he says in your fucking bones. You can feel his seriousness and the vivid/gruesome pictures he’s painting for the audience with his verses and bars.
No matter if the beat is angelic or raw, he never switched his style up; he’s a one-style-fits-all juggernaut that runs through any and all instrumentals like a freight train on cocaine!
I feel on this record he’s his most aggressive and hostile. It honestly feels like he’s taking the beats hostage and manipulating them for all their worth while he lets his verbal venom trickle through the cracks and exterior of the production themselves! When a man who sounds like this in his default stage goes to spit on a Halloween-based album? You know you gotta run!
The track featuring Chase is also incredible as both men share similarly intensely crafted verses, and their synchronicity is undeniably strong and infectious to listen to!
Once again, another AMAZING drop by the two men who have captivated me and the underground since they paired up, and I can’t wait for their Christmas album. Man, ZELL rapping over Christmas hymns would be CRAZY!
https://open.spotify.com/album/3rRcvzVlsVDGfAaYnBv5qG?si=fqHb-iljQPWfjBjZCxd36A
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 