You know, I feel the word ‘underrated’ gets thrown around a lot. I know I’m guilty of saying it a lot in my reviews, and although I mean well, it’s definitely a term that is probably used in excess, but I feel it’s only appropriate to call this duo ‘underrated’. They have created music that hits on all cylinders, and I barely see them get mentioned next to other more prominent names, but I’m one man who is beyond excited to cover this new offering by easily one of the dopest pairings we have in the underground period!
This is the brand-new album by the pair of Mike Martinez & Jesus Borgia, and together they make ‘Jezus Martinez’. After their last project that I absolutely adored, they are back with a more evolved and bigger album that features a range of production from
-Will Taubin
-Mike Martinez
-2GR8
-Just Pete
-Chrome Rockwell
And MC’s such as
-SavSola
-FCITB
-Donny G
-D0mane
A lot of names that are new to me, which means more opportunities to discover brand-new talent and expand my knowledge of the culture, and this is one of those opportunities!
Now, I feel I want to talk about the production first. Because unlike the other project I covered by there’s, this one has more extensive names (as listed above), and I feel the need to highlight this not just because of the unique roster but how incredibly tight-knit and formulated they all turned out!
Each instrumental has its own personality and characteristics that make it stand out from the one before and after, but it still surprised me at the level of detail, depth, and diversity each song brought to the table!
For example, we have tracks like -Old Jigga by Just Pete, who showcases one of the more minimalistic offerings on the record. It features those delicate piano loops, rhythmic drum patterns, and some plucked bass that wraps the song up into a thin layer of instrumentation that is equal parts ‘skeletal’ and ‘larger than life’ in the same breath!
Not to mention the fantastic work of FCITB on the track!
We have the track -December To Remember which was produced by Mike Martinez which I feel has an almost wild western meets boom Bap feel to it! You’ve got those county inspired strings in that infectious pattern as well as that looping sharp chord, methodical drums that turn this track into a cinema score equivalent of booming production and quality! One of the highlights across the tape!
Or hell, the song right after that one -Lobster Bisque which was produced by -2GR8 and this one stood out to me due to it’s heavy Jazz horns on that groovy loop that are accompanied by some subtle drums and trademark funky drums that make this one of the more stand out songs due to that heavy, in your face Jazz signature that I fucking adored!
Of course, SavSola killing his verse!
That’s a trend across this album. They take the skill of all those producers and they create these minimum layers of tracks that utilise the ‘less is more’ practice and would rather create a song where each element speaks for itself, is mastered to perfect and with intricate, complex technique that shines!
There’s nothing wrong of course with songs with multiple layers stacked (if done well) but most of the time it’s ass. That’s why I’m beyond grateful and impressed that these talented individuals decided to go this route and create 12 pieces of art rather then messy songs for the sake of ‘layers’
Man, if I thought the verses on the last EP were then this has to be PHENOMENAL because they have just stepped up their game to a whole new fucking level on this one.
As much as I loved the production and certain tracks that I favoured, what kept me glued to this album was the performances of Mike & Jezus. I mean fucking hell they brought it and then some!
Every single track they out did each other as if they were a part of the most brutal game of brotherly competition I’ve ever seen on a record. I’m talking back to back, killer verse after spectacular verse!
Bars full of versatility, colour, charisma, sharp lyricism, smooth flows, text book executions, engaging rhythms, detailed dialogue, vivid imagery I mean between the two there was NOTHING they couldn’t and didn’t accomplish for themselves.
I felt like I was sitting a front row seat to an unofficial rap battle! Two men on each track going off at one another, but doing so together In unison? It is truly one of the most remarkable experiences of fusion and chemistry I’ve heard in a while (and that says a lot when you look at the landscape of the culture)
On top of all that greatness you have those various features that contribute to the power and maintaining that solid/sharp energy by the duo and helping to elevate said tracks to new heights and trying their hand at dropping dope verses also!
It just feels like a dog eat dog world of lyricism and performances! Who can out rap the other? Who can write the dopest verses, who can we get as features to match our killer instincts? It’s an environment I PRAY the culture adapts because it’s not only a blast to listen to for the audience but naturally brings out the best in everyone around them and that’s the true spirit of Hip-Hop!
I ain’t lying all, this is A MUST LISTEN ALBUM! It’s only on Bandcamp for now (with streaming debut coming 1/23) but I advise you all to check out the link, support the project and the artists and in doing so experience one of the most amazing and inspiring albums I’ve heard obviously this year but even compares to last year! Peep the link below NOW!
https://jezusmartinez.bandcamp.com/album/it-takes-a-village
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