Brand new EP? Yes, please! Especially when that EP features arguably one of the dopest producers going right now, it becomes a must-listen! Alongside a brand-new MC I’ve yet to discover, this thing becomes an unopened gift I’m dying to unwrap!
This is the brand-new EP by MC Samuel Tafari and producer Hi-Q, where they dropped a fresh six tracks with 22 minutes of length to contend with, and let me tell you, this one is definitely one for the record books!
Starting with Samuel, although I’ve never heard of him prior, I fucked heavily with how he approached the vocals on this EP! Although only six tracks, he doesn’t waste any time in executing his bars with lethal efficiency, dope performances, and sharp lyricism that can rival all your favourites!
He had a certain aura about him that screamed ‘ruthless’ and ‘aggressive’; his style reminded me of the rare prime ‘Wiley’ era UK Drill!
Back when that art was about skill and charisma rather than mindless violence, lyrics, and gang talk. His verses were slick, his flow fluent, and his pen game absolutely ferocious!
Throughout the whole record, he keeps his raw and in-your-face raps on point and doesn’t fade away once!
He proves he’s the kind of MC that doesn’t need features to maintain his worth! He can hold down 22 minutes all by himself, and I feel that’s a worthy skill in and of itself!
Overall, for his part, he was entertaining, skilled, and vivid in his verses, one-liners, and storytelling! A great artist to feature alongside the man we will be talking about now!
Hi-Q. If this was Pokémon, he would have somehow evolved into a final form legendary shiny type! From the first time I discovered him (which might have actually been when I was still writing for Raw Side Hip Hop) at the very start of January.
Regardless, since then, he is most certainly a different beast entirely, releasing easily some of my favourite releases of 2025 and realising he hasn’t stopped yet!
Across this project, he utilises his more thoughtful, deep, and creative approach to his beats compared to other tapes. There’s a lot of classical, contemporary, and artsy material on this record that makes for more of an introspective listen than I’m used to (actually kind of reminds me of his earlier releases from January).
For example, we have the track ‘Knives Edge’ which consists of these plucked strings that almost sound ancient Arabic or historically Asian in execution.
On top of that, we have these heavy bass lines and drum patterns as well as this high-strung string going off in the background as well!
In the chorus area, I think I hear a flute sample going off as well in the background subtly, which adds a nice texture to the track!
There’s also the track ‘Scenic Route’ which definitely reminds me of some Egyptian sounds with the way those pitched keys going off in that rhythmic pattern with a more methodically paced drum this time around and also some more high-pitched flute sounds in the background again!
A very minimalist approach with the layers but bangs nonetheless!
Overall, this short EP packs more of a punch than Mike Tyson right out of jail! From the skilled MC to the powerhouse producer, you have a project you’re sure to remember for a while to come!
https://open.spotify.com/album/42pVEaUYImU1KfBJ7jEsEp?si=n7GEPuS0QIuSkx9A6GNq0g
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 