(MELLOLORIAN)

This is a very special event in the culture’s history. We have these two men, twins who have decided to take a chance on their own self-worth and talent by releasing a project solely to the customer, completely void of streaming. I’ve talked to a lot of friends and associates who hate this new format due to its lack of accessibility; others don’t have a problem getting the content straight from the artist and cutting out the middleman.

Regardless of how you feel, to me it’s clear that these two believed in their quality and their content enough to proceed in this manner, and I can’t help but respect the approach! So with that in mind, let’s talk about one of the most talked-about records in 2026 so far. Let’s go!

This is the brand-new project by twins ‘The Mellos’ and produced by legendary beatmaker ‘R$NZ’, and together they dropped a solid 11-track offering that’s bound to make you feel a certain way!

Right off the bat, I love how raw this album feels. I’ve heard (and covered) their music before, but it’s always an experience to see what they’ll come up with one record to the next, and especially with a producer of this caliber on the instrumentals, I went into this optimistic and left godsmacked! 

Across this tape, we are gifted with a series of stripped-back, skeletal, and gritty pieces of instrumentation that are both surreal, powerful, and atmospheric!

From  your methodically charged Acid Jazz fusions to your down-to-earth splashy boom

bap variations, this album has some of the most compelling and memorable beats I’ve heard all year! 

From those well-timed synth chords, to the plucked strings, incredibly mesmerising Jazz Horns, delicate keys in the background, in-your-face drum patterns, and more. This album is focused on entering your soul with the intimacy of the music itself; none of that nonsense flashy/overcomplicated shit, just pure and raw songs that can be felt throughout your whole body and are laced with feelings of grandeur, passion, and a hustler’s ambition.

Although this record is just over 17 minutes, the amount of depth, detail, and intensity they pack into these songs is ridiculous. It feels like you’re listening to a film score in its mastery and sharpness. R$NZ does such a phenomenal job at using the few layers per track and elevating them to new levels of excellence! I can’t begin to explain how fluent these instrumentals feel; it’s something you’ll have to hear on your own to understand the hype!

Speaking of understanding hype, we have the twins themselves. They and this whole album remind me of what Nipsey Hussle did with his ‘Crenshaw’ album, how he apparently charged $100 per tape, and people paid it! That’s the same level of respect and dedication these two are on, and it’s fucking incredible to hear!

From the opening track till the end, they leave you speechless at not only their unbeatable chemistry but their varied performances! They know how to switch up their styles better than I’ve heard it! 

At one moment, they can be fast-paced, all over the place in that classic ‘splash’ style utilised by artists like ‘Al Divino & Estee Nack’ but done with their own spin!

Then you blink, and they could become more methodically paced, taking time to deliver each bar, drop some of the most vivid sentences you’ve heard that instantly teleport you to the scene they are setting up!

In other songs, they are just on their trademark brash shit, just flexing their talent in our faces with a more traditional bar structure going back and forth, showcasing that famous chemistry.

There’s no lane they can’t take over and pull off with ease, and this album is an example of that! Not everyone could pull off such natural and organic flows across such masterful production, but these guys make it look easy. From a combination of compelling street poetry to insightful and introspective lyricism, these guys are lyrical titans who increase the value of anything they work on!

Look, there’s going to be a handful out there who feel $50 is too much for an album, that will complain it’s not on streaming or knock when certain artists utilise this system and that’s fine it just means this is not for you!

But for those who are on the fence and interested please understand what we have here are two men who have proven time and time again they have that IT factor of quality and the ability to make dope, memorable music and so this album is worth every dollar.

The production is soundtrack level of detailed, the performances are intimate and filled with conviction and passion that you’d be hard pressed to find on any new Spotify artist. So why not give it a chance? $50 today, years of replay value and memories! 

If you’re interested in the album, DM Smellos on IG and take the leap! Trust me, you won’t regret it!