First of all, I want to shoutout the artwork! As someone who calls himself ‘The Serpent Tongue’, this shit is DOPE AS FUCK!
Now, this is an MC that I became very familiar with over his album ‘Welfare Island’, one of the dopest albums of the year, no doubt! Since then, he’s been on the radar, and he’s continued to surprise me with his EP’s or features; he’s one that doesn’t miss, and on this last offering of the year, he’s here to flip the underground one more time before he enters the new year! So let’s talk about it!
This is the brand-new album by MC KnowItAll and producer Nick Wilford, and together they drop a solid ten tracks with the likes of
– Patty Honcho
– Cande Genaro
– BlaQ Chidori
– Earn Dinero
– WEX! the Master
And as I always do with his projects, I want to talk about KnowItAll’s lyricism first. His skills on the mic are what always stand out to me most on his projects (as dope as the production is), but his pen game is just next-level extraordinary!
To me, he has the same vibe as artists such as
– Earl Sweatshirt
– Illogic
– R.A.P Ferreira
– Billy Woods
Real lyricists and poets. He may not share their same styles or flows, but he has the same integrity of an author. One who takes pride in his verses, in the content and context of his bars, and making sure each line represents a potent idea, message, or phrase that will make the listener think and ponder said words.
Every verse feels like a well-written chapter more than it does your average set of bars. He approaches the game with a linguistic mentality, not a rapper’s, and it’s in that aspect that I love. Just like those names I listed above, you can hear the difference whenever he’s on a verse with someone else.
You can hear the other names RAPPING and KnowItAll PUBLISHING a new written portion of his overall sonic novel that he’s trying to finish. I don’t know if everyone else can hear the difference, but I definitely can, and I love every second of it, as someone who is a massive literature fan, when I hear this in others, it makes me geek up!
He has a mature sense of flow, exquisite vocabulary, and a performance that’s soaked in experience, emotion, and a sense of balance between dope bars and worthwhile literature! A
I have to admit, I love the features on this project as well. They provide a refreshing contrast to the style of KnowItAll, which adds extra energy and synchronisation to an already solid record! Each artist rocks a solid verse and ties the atmosphere of the album nicely!
Speaking of atmosphere, we have the work of Nick Wilford! A man I only have experience with today but one I will not forget! This man, across the ten tracks and 25 minutes, runs a sonic gauntlet of a variety of different instrumentals and influences that not only provide a unique listening experience but showcase the strength and technique of the man and the immersive nature of the beats!
For example, we have tracks like -Sola Dosis! On this track, you can find arguably the most ambient track we have here! You’ve got those heavy, aesthetic keys that sound like they are echoing in and out in the most intimate way possible! On top of that, we have those light piano keys, light jazz-style drums, and those beautiful bass notes that bring this whole track together!
This is the kind of beat I could listen to for days and never get sick of! Reminds me of a solid ASMR instrumental!
We have tracks like -Exit Anytime. On this track, we have a more upbeat and soul-based song with a lively collection of layers that is soothing to the body and brain!
For example, you have that gorgeous vocal harmony that’s looped in that classic underground hip-hop style!
On top of that, you have those string progressions in the background that feel alive in their pattern as if Nick literally breathed life into the chords! Not to mention those plucked bass strings that fade in and out in the most extraordinary way towards the end and more light jazz drums!
Or even the track -Something Changed, which to me has the more traditional hip-hop feel tracks on the album!
You’ve got the combination of those synth style strings that are looping at the forefront! As well as these light/delicate piano keys and (as what seems to be a theme on this record) is more methodically paced drum patterns! Which is a decision I fuck with heavy as it adds a level of ambiance to the record!
Not many artists I can say sync with KnowItAll perfectly but this man is one of them! Together they dropped one of the most incredible, interesting and immaculate projects I’ve heard not only all month but all year! Definitely one you don’t want to sleep on!
https://open.spotify.com/album/5glXdwV5woT08ihLywURAB?si=ZzoWZjhvSgSZrZHAP4mxvw
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 