Well, with an intro like that, how can I not be drawn to this? This is a man who spent 2025 on one of the most proficient run-outs with over 20 projects. If I’m not mistaken, and it seems his drive is far from over, as he sets his sights on the year 2026 as his new playground! So with that in mind, let’s fucking go!
This is the brand-new album by MC Gustavo Louis and producer Ian Jones, and together they come through with eight tracks (one intro, one outro, and six songs) that all serve their purpose in delivering an experience you won’t forget!
I gotta say I found the production this time around rather interesting because it was a mixture of classic new wave, boom-bap, and old-school hip-hop mixed into one.
Some songs had a heavy jazz and soul influence, some just straight gritty underground music rap, others an experimental fusion of both. You can tell for this album they just wanted to keep things within a certain lane and lay emphasis on the sounds they have to make them sound as masterful as possible and more importantly memorable (and I feel that was accomplished here).
If I had to choose a favourite track from this score, it would have to be -FRIED CHICKEN WINGZ N FRIED RICE.
Firstly, I want to point out the wild combination this is. I’d never have those two things together, but regardless, this song stood out to me due to its haunting and sinister vibe to it with those distorted chord progressions, methodical drums, and subtle bass!
It’s quite the skeletal track, but it does everything it does have phenomenally!
Also, as I mentioned in the intro, can we discuss that fucking intro? An AI Martin Luther King speech? I don’t know how to feel about it except for the fact that it’s definitely creative!
As far as Gustavo goes, he sounds like he’s on the same wave as he was in 2025! That same passionate, hustle mentality with his bars. I’m taking that rhythmic flow, street poetry meets complex vocabulary elevated by his heavy charisma and one-of-a-kind personality and cadence that makes you recognise his music and voice ability.
Once again, whether you’re talking 8 tracks or 80, he never wastes any time. He’s just straight rhymes, one-liners, fun puns, explosive verbal imagery, and brash lines to make you all remember that he’s the man of this shit!
He’s as relentless and hungry as ever across this tape, and it adds to the replay value and ultimate atmosphere of the album!
In short, although this is short, it’s definitely one worth checking out! It’s produced well, the performances are killer, and the concept for this album is wild! Check it out below!
https://gustavolouis.bandcamp.com/album/mlkwtdr-co-staring-ian-jones
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 