I can say with the utmost confidence that this artist has had one of the most exciting 2025 ventures, bar none. From when I first discovered him a few months back to now, he’s continued to improve and surprise me with his talent, and this new album feels like a confirmation of all his hard work and dedication to creating a project that’s an all-rounder. Let’s talk about it!
This is the brand-new project by MC AU with production from the likes of:
-067RED
-DJ KROOKED
-ERIC FRM SALEM
-DJ MELLO RASHEED
-SP1TON3
-SKETCHTURNER
-LUNAR
And features the MC work of -DB -VIC SOMAR -KING OSEAUN
And man, to say I was screaming over the production would be a huge understatement! This thing was up my alley in every way possible! I’m still buzzing over what I heard; this is the perfect example of jazz rap modernly incorporated into the new era, taking inspiration from the classics of acts like ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ and bringing their own twist and spin on it, and I couldn’t be more proud of what they accomplished on here!
Every track (in one way or another) has jazz fusions either at the forefront or subtly in the background, used as the main rhythm pattern or onset structure; there’s jazz consistently streaming through this record, and that honesty gave me goosebumps!
I love the fluency of this record and how every track incorporates relevance to the ones that came before and the ones after! Although
there’s a handful of producers on this record, they all seem to have a singular vision and mind over what this record should be and sound like, and to me, that kind of synchronicity is very important!
I normally have a tendency in my reviews to pinpoint a few songs I loved most, but I can’t do it on this, only because each track had me smiling ear to ear and making me more happy the more I listened, so I have to rate this whole record as one, as it’s all fucking phenomenal!
And if the production is that good, you all think AU is just gonna stay on his usual shit? Nah, this man has evolved once again and turned himself into one of the most slick-talking, smoothest spitters I’ve heard in a minute!
Picture a development between a ‘Q-Tip’ and a ‘Mac Miller’. You’ve got that insanely soothing delivery and rhythm that reminds me of the legend Q. That slick, never a worry in his voice cadence that has spent the last 3 decades+ rapping over similar jazz rap and helping put that style on the map!
On the other side, we have the Mac Miller side. The bragging, high-energy, irreverent nature in his lyricism and top-notch matter. Like how brash he was in the opening track and the vulgar lyrics! I see the flexing and in-your-face themes that Mac used to spit that he made work so fucking smoothly and without any falter!
When you combine these two influences, you get a spitter that’s equal parts confident and breathtaking in execution, and I absolutely love it!
What I love most about AU is that over the years, I’ve heard many different sides and attempts from him that showcase his various creative ideas and how he’s not bound to one idea. It’s in that mindset that he gets me excited for every new drop, and this is definitely his best one yet! The way he rocks the mic, his pen game, his natural charisma, and skill is godly!
Of course, with his frequent collaborations, he knocks them out of the park also! Strong chemistry and vibe, which makes a combined effort to make the songs as dope as possible!
If you haven’t checked this record out, you’re missing out! Make sure you go check it out now and, more importantly, go support and buy on Bandcamp below!
https://au205.bandcamp.com/album/learning-curve
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