I want to firstly say, merry Christmas to everyone! It’s been quite a crazy year and I’m blessed to make a whole range of friends and business partners, and one of them is none other than this man (and his produce for that matter), and with that in mind, let’s talk about it!
This is the brand-new record by the team of Gustavo Louis and Producer YFI, and together they drop a strong seven-track project, and this one we hear the duo come back with a mellow and more surreal offering towards the end of the year, and it’s this sound that I appreciate to hear for the Christmas week!
Starting with YFI, I’m excited to hear that he’s taking things at a methodical pace. I’m talking about those lightly layered, minimal sounds and purely atmospheric instrumentals that are sure to set your Christmas mood right!
For example, we have the track -Ayatollah, one of the smoothest examples of production by him here! You’ve got those angelic vocal harmonies that are paired with those slowed-down drums, plucked strings, and light piano keys that come together for a song that runs through your body in a fluent motion!
If we’re talking about the track -Sheik Boots! Which has a more gritty boom-bap flavour (while still maintaining the slower-paced rhythm), you’ve got those glistening/scattering piano keys. Sharp synth string loops, and some more plucked bass strings!
This sounds like it was inspired by a WSG-type beat!
We can even talk about the song -Bad Man, which is quite a more traditional take on a hip-hop song with those infectious jazz horns that consist of chord progression as well as that light, delicate bass to bring the track together in one of the more powerful cuts we’ve got! Absolutely unreal effort!
That’s the thing about YFI, no matter what track or project, he’s always able to make something incredible, and it’s in his dedication and passion for the game that he can keep impressing us time and time again!
A lot of that can be said about Gustavo as well. This man has made at least 20 projects this year alone (not even including these yet), and his persistence, conviction, and passion haven’t gone unnoticed!
As one of my most improved MC’s of the year, he continues that streak with his ridiculous rhyme schemes, unrivalled charisma, and engaging bars that keep you coming back for more!
Across this tape, he’s heard combining his street poetry with his pop culture wrestling references hand in hand to create a type of fusion between the two that I enjoyed thoroughly! Of course, as any wrestling fan would tell you, there’s the album cover and name of ‘The Iron Sheikh’, and although I found the beats to be predominantly more on the softer side, Gustavo himself still rocks his high-energy, insane performances with his sharp wordplay, innovative pen game, and aura to match!
Rocking this album with no features, proving once again that he doesn’t need anyone else but himself to make an album pop and entertaining enough to warrant the listeners’ full attention as he lets his original, creative approach to the MC game speak for itself!
Although this is only 16 minutes in length, I’d regard it as one of my late yet favourite Gustavo records he’s dropped this year! The chemistry with YFI was bloody amazing, as well as the rhymes he brought to the table!
Go check it out below!
https://open.spotify.com/album/2p95mfawo1p5vQLUBW0MWA?si=Sgqm7Uk0Tc2ZmpXZU-qWWw
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 