As I’m sitting here about to order myself a full English breakfast to satisfy my hunger, I’m pained. Pained because talking amongst my friends and artists in the game, I find few that share the same sentiment as me, which is that this artist right here is one of the most underrated and talented we have in the game right now!
He has dropped (this year alone) some of the most creative, inspiring, and artistic albums I’ve heard in 2025. His last one, especially featuring three fucking producers! Three who I fuck with heavily nonetheless!
Now we are back with his new focus, a record featuring one stunning producer, and across this project, we yet again see why he’s one of the best minds in the culture!
This is the brand-new album by MC mastermind Teller Bank$ and producer Ed Glorious, and together they drop a fresh batch of 16 tracks with
-Rent Moneyy as the sole feature, and this sets up the context for an album that I found interesting and showing yet ANOTHER SIDE of the man that I haven’t had the opportunity to see yet!
Across this one, it feels like he’s taken a more toned-down version (at least from his previous effort) and trying to convert a more melodic and delicate approach in his performances while maintaining his heavy topics, themes, and stories that leave an impression on you after each song.
That’s the thing about Teller. He always feels like an author and storyteller first, rapper second. I always feel like there’s something more to his meanings and lyricism that meets the eye as he has that creative mind, and that’s what makes such releases so interesting!
He still maintains his theatrical delivery, his ever-so-changing flow speeds and patterns, as well as his tendency to switch up his cadences and energy to fit the specific narrative of the tracks themselves!
He’s lyrically superior to most, he’s verbally slick, and he’s always showcasing his extraordinary personality and charisma on every single song he’s on, and this record is no different!
As far as the production goes, to suit his more mellowing voice and delivery, he’s got those vibrant, delicate, and ever-so-atmospheric instrumentation which has the effect of making you think introspectively about your life and the present day at hand!
From the jazz horns to the acoustic guitar strings, the light and subtle drum patterns, those chords in the background, and more. This record has all the elements that I love in hip hop and all its greatest influences!
In my opinion, the greatest standout tracks are as follows.
Firstly, we have that intro ‘4’ which was absolutely beautiful in execution. I loved those intricate instruments, the flow, and glorious rhythms that felt like walking through a field on a gorgeous autumn day! It was divine!
The other track I loved was ‘The Walrus’. I loved this track actually for the opposite reasons I loved the intro. Unlike the starter, this track had a wind of sadness to it, sombre vibrations with those low-key guitar strings in two different layers! Those very methodical drums and subtle bass.
This song kind of reminds me of the Kendrick track ‘I’ in its more serious and dragging feel to it, which had a certain dark magic behind it.
All the various sounds and influences serve a purpose and play like an elegant score. Each track has a purpose and reason to be there as they work on bringing perfect synchronicity with the unique performances by Teller! So I have to give a massive shoutout to Ed for his incredible work!
Another KILLER effort by Teller! The production is superb, and his creative spark remains undefeated! Go buy this on Bandcamp now!
https://tellerbanks.bandcamp.com/album/the-wolf-the-walrus
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