Man, let me tell you. Out of all the scenarios I played out that this record would sound this wasn’t one of them. Not only did I have the pleasure of discovering a new artist but one who presents one of the most compelling and smooth sounds I’ve heard in the rap game to date! Let’s talk about it!
So, this is the latest album by MC SenseLess which features the production by the likes of
-Jonathan Turner
-Pacer
-AricSoundsGood
-EBrown
-SWEET BEAN
-Nova
-Peter Vilardi
And features further names of
-Jeremiah X
-Metasota
And this is the first time in a while I’m reviewing a project where every name is unfamiliar and new to me which is always an exciting prospect!
Talking first about the production, which is the first thing that stood out to me. Because the sounds this record brings to the table are the sonic equivalent of a warm summer’s day next to the ocean! Beautiful in every single aspect.
I could feel any stress I had washing away as I started the record and the feeling only intensified the further I played it!
This soundscape is a combination of
-Art Rap
-Experimental
-Funk
-Jazz Rap
-Soul and more. Honestly this sounds like a combination of ‘Swimming’ Mac Miller Meets ‘Labour Days’ Aesop Rock. You’ve got those expressive and atmospheric productions with the lyrical tones and vocabulary you’d expect from a wordsmith of Aesop!
Some of my favourite beats on the tape are as follows.
You’ve got the track ‘Airplane’ second track in and it blew me away, in fact the opening track was fantastic but this one was so soothing it was impossible to ignore.
This instrumental consists of delicately arranged piano keys with groovy drum patterns and this bare combination is so fresh and in depth that I found myself going back to it more and more over other tracks!
Another track I can say the same for is ‘The Owww’. This track has a level of funkiness that most tracks in the game don’t. With a sporadic jazz influence, those fun and vibrant keyboard notes, and those one-two-step drums, this makes it the kind of track I’d expect to hear in a fancy club where suits are key.
That’s a quality I notice across most songs on here, using few layers to draw out the most power and flavour out of the instruments!
Although there’s a handful of producers on here, this thing sounds as fluent as if one producer handed it! It’s beyond cohesive and an absolute joy to listen to!
The same things can be said about the MC in question. As I mentioned before, he sounds like a combination of Mac and Aesop. I hear the same cadences going back and forth throughout the tracks!
On some tracks, I’m reminded of Mac’s infectious swagger, his unique pronouncement of certain words, his gangsta linguistic approach on the beats that were filled with endless charisma and passion!
Then on the other end, I heard that concrete and precise rhythm of the wordsmith that represented Aesop.
On some tracks, he focuses on ultimate wordplay, verbal dominance, and spitting some of the most complex, intricate, and technically sound bars I’ve heard in a minute! Hearing these two influences across the tracks over that vibrant production was truly a treat for the ears and the soul!
But what really brought it home for me was this man’s passion and convictions.
He has a velvety smooth flow, personality for days, and an aura that is absolutely infectious. He sounds like he’s having the time of his life in the studio, and that same energy can be heard and felt across the whole album!
Although I’ve never heard of them before, I feel the features do add an extra layer of chemistry and colour to the record that I enjoyed! They paired well with Sense and helped elevate the record!
I can’t recommend this record enough, from the fantastic performances to the incredible production. This thing is a MUST listen and definitely one of the strongest records of the month, if not the year!
https://open.spotify.com/album/5AGG8rzHzqlGYiYLQ25qRJ?si=qFJnXuTbSd2U-74pwJk__w
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 