(MicTronics)

I’ve always said it. Discovering new talent in my line of work is one of my favourite things, and especially when that someone has such a rich background and history of the hip hop genre under their belt that it proves their level of passion and conviction for the game. With that in mind, I present to you.

MICTRONICS

This is the brand-new record by Afro Latino MC Mic Mountain and producer Tronbeatz, and together they drop a stellar 10-track project with the likes of 

-CrDnlSn

-Thirstin Howl the 3rd

-The Bad Seed

And with this trio of characters to help elevate the record, we set the foundation for what is surely going to be remembered as one of December’s best efforts! 

If we start with the discussion on the MC work, I can safely say that Mic has one of the most interesting and memorable performances I’ve heard all year!

This man feels less like a traditional MC and more like an eccentric author who is utilising his hip hop poetry in a colourful and engaging way that very few people (if any) are able to replicate! 

From the very opening track, we hear his passion, his conviction, and most importantly, his individuality, where he spits bars sounding like the biggest hip hop fan you’ve ever heard who maintains his excitement and enthusiasm for the art that is converted into his delivery on the mic!

Across the album, he has a sort of free-lance flow where it’s not exactly traditional in execution (as in not uniform) but not exactly all over the place. He’s more of a Biz Markie meets Phife Dawg! He has the creative and explosive approach like Biz but the masterful technique and confidence of a Phife, and combined, you get a whole new monster! 

I was obsessed with his ability on the mic. His unique flow, his aura-filled pen game, his obvious learned and skilled verbal techniques, and his timing, setting up bars, one-liners, puns, storytelling— all of it! He’s mastered every aspect of his rap shit, and he’s here to flaunt it!

Of course, we can’t ignore the features on here. I’m only familiar with my main man, The Bad Seed, but the other two do a fantastic job at elevating their said tracks and improving the record rather than just being there for feature’s sake! 

Phenomenal chemistry between all three, and of course, Mic holds his own against those talented MC’s and maintains the energy of the overall record! Still, my favourite feature would have to be Seed! He’s a legend in this game and reinforces that on this one!

As far as the production goes. We hear Tron Beatz deliver in a big way! It wouldn’t be easy to create a soundscape for an artist as unpredictable and explosive as Mic Mountain, but Tron understood the assignment and delivered spectacularly on this record! 

First of all, the production has this interesting and intimate blend between late 80s and 90s old-school hip-hop feel mixed in with present-day boom-bap underground rawness that somehow come together for the perfect blend. 

For example, we have tracks like ‘Back In The Day Pt. 2’ which has an obvious old-school flavour with that ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ sample loop for the chorus that is accompanied by those heavy thudding drums, what sounds like distorted jazz horns, and then some light synth chords and some intricate cut and scratches as the song progresses!

There’s the song ‘Got That Motion’ which has a more delicate/ambient feel to it compared to the first track described, which reminds me more of the boom-bap influence!

We have those delicate piano chords, those plucked strings, as well as subtle drum patterns and these independent strings that run throughout the whole track in an almost free-will motion that gives this track an extra layer of energy! 

Another track I loved was ‘Broken Glass’ which I feel truly defined that boom-bap shit. I’d say the coldest song of the whole list. Nothing but heavy and minimal drums combined with sadistic bass lines and very subtle keys.

You can’t find a better instrumental for Seed to go off on and as I described above he absolutely nailed his part!

As we get to the chorus there is this almost avant- grade instrument section that sounds all over the place but in an infectious way! Almost like the way the Beatles ended the track ‘A Day In The Life’ pure artistic brilliance.

In closing. Everything from the memorable performances to the elevated production and the features chosen. No filler on this album just pure talent and atmosphere. You’d be hard pressed to find a record more authentic this whole year! Check it out for yourself below! 

https://micmountain.bandcamp.com/album/mictronics