(INNER CITY BLUES 3)

NOW THIS IS THE ALBUM THE CULTURE SHOULD BE WAITING FOR! The album series that has been at the top of the list since last year! A series of incredible performances and even better production between two men who are at this point closer than brothers! So with that in mind, it’s time for the all-important third TRILOGY tape of 

INNER CITY BLUES 3

This is the third INNER CITY BLUES sequel by MC ZELL and Producer DEV RODGERS and together they drop a solid 13 tracks, 24 minutes and fuck me are they on their wave on this one, I mean on their last one they were golden but today they on that DIAMOND SHIT 

If we start with the production. We hear DEV infuse his most powerful and curated inspirations of 

-Jazz

-Soul

-Gospel

-Hip Hop

-Blues

And the way he masters all these elements is beyond exceptional. With this album it feels like you’re soaking in the instrumentation itself. You can FEEL like the Jazz horns running through your soul, you can feel the various plucked strings enter your body and give you the goosebumps! It sounds like each specific vocal harmony is a choir sitting in the room with you singing their loops as intimidating as you can expect the voices to be!

It ain’t just about music anymore, it’s the technique and masterclass provided by DEV. He’s structuring the songs in a way that it feels completely immersive, it feels atmospheric and clean. There’s not a single weak element to be found, no awkward transitions or amateur breaks or anything. 

Each beat is crafted with purpose and skill to which the entire album feels like a 24-minute score of the most beautifully executed instrumentation with DEV as the operator and conductor of said beats.

It’s impossible for me to choose a favourite beat, because that would be like asking me ‘which period of the sunshine did you like best’? The bright sun is always beautiful, and this album is consistently glorious and runs as fluently as ever! If you’re going to listen to this album, make sure you treat DEV with enough respect to listen as a whole! From track one to thirteen, experience and glory! 

As far as ZELL goes, he’s back on his aggressive fuck everyone mould (as he should be), except he’s somehow turned even more grim and vivid than I’ve heard him last.

It’s as if his lyricisms and its depth have increased 10x fold, and that’s what I noticed immediately from my first listen to my 4ths.

He’s using each song to describe either fictional experiences that could happen on the streets or in certain hoods or real-life events and situations he’s personally witnessed or gone through. Either way, the amount of context and detail he’s putting into these songs is insane!

It feels like he has a brand-new chip on his shoulder, one that’s ready to come unleashed and target everyone around him. Feeling more like a lone wolf than ever, with only DEV by his side, he’s showcasing why his dynamic performances paired with ruthless and pressuring verbal assault make for verses that match intensity no one can really contend with!

This speaks more to the fact there’s no features on this project! Just pure, animalistic storytelling with grand and ever-so-emotionally driven production to further compliment and emphasise ZELL’s work!

Trust me, you ain’t hearing another album like this period. Nah, fuck that! YOU AIN’T HEARING A TRILOGY LIKE THIS ONE PERIOD. These two men are setting a new precedent in the culture, and even if you’re late to it, I’d rather that than to sleep on two of the best artists going! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/563YdU1n5ONEo2dxlmMB4j?si=NUIUw7i1RQaGSQ9pKUlNTA