After an impressive showing from his last album ‘PowerWolf’, a record I had as a favourite album of September last year, I was anticipating what this man was going to do next as he’s always striving for better and more creative outlets!
What I came to find was something that even surprised me! An album so out there and original that we have to talk about it! So let’s!
This is the brand-new album by MC Lukey Cage, who also does the production on the record! It consists of eight tracks, 29 minutes, and the likes of
-Mr. Muthafuckin’ Exquire
-Ben N. Grimm, and with these two names in place, we have the set-up for an album that is sure to surprise!
So, right off the bat, I love the technical and cinematic feel this album has! It feels less like a rap album and more like a sonic series of eight mini episodes.
There are so many elements involved. From hard rock influences (THE ABYSS -ROLL CALL) with those strung strings and drum patterns! Or that introduction track that feels like Marvel’s Bishop going through time and space to show us past events as he speeds through timelines to get to the current present!
Hell, we can point at that rock and roll comic feel of track 3 -SINESTRO & SCARECROW, which in name alone has a clear inspiration to the comic books!
This one has that fun, fast-paced, and theatrical atmosphere with another leaning towards rock music, then it does hip hop! (I love that vocal harmony that runs throughout the entire track!)
Track 5 -SEX MUSIC (LET’S DO IT) I found this a more tongue-in-cheek song considering it starts off with ‘this isn’t a song about sex’ then proceeds to be the most explicit and sexual song on the whole album!
Plus the instrumental? It feels like a mix of an 80’s action film montage moment and Cyberpunk soundtrack score! It’s like a hit of adrenaline straight to the face!
It also is completely appropriate to have the legendary -Mr Muthafuckin Exquire on the track as he’s become notorious for this type of content!
In my opinion, the most interesting take on the album is 3 DRIBBLES. I think I can see the approach he’s trying for. It reminds me of a skit Lil Wayne did years ago on one of his mixtapes where he talks about ‘believing in himself, even though there are other dope people in the game, but he has to believe in himself!’
But I mean, hell, I can imagine this song and its lyrical content rubbing some people the wrong way, but if they can see the real message behind what he’s trying to say, then it should be clear what he’s really trying for, but hey, I’m just a spectator and a journalist, and from my perspective, this is definitely the most outspoken I’ve heard in a while.
That’s the thing. Lyrically, he’s on a whole different side to himself. He’s improving his performance, his charisma is more intense, his intentions are sharper and more clear. His energy is Stella and more deviant than I’ve ever heard him.
The whole album ‘up until that one song’ he was flying higher than ever! His flows were faster, his lyricism more vivid, his conceptuality more in depth, and his vision more grand in scale than he’s ever attempted.
I do feel like he’s a mad genius in thinking. The type of artist that can’t be contained in the normal hip-hop lane. He’s always trying to do something new and different! Hell, I talked to a lot of cats about his last joint ‘PowerWolf’; some hated it, some loved it! I feel his originality can be too much for people to handle at times, but that’s the exact quality I look for in any musician, hip-hop or otherwise!
I have no doubt (if not for that one song alone) that this album will ruffle some feathers. Do I think this is a good album? Yes. I think the grandeur of the record speaks for itself, and he did a good job at making a memorable record, but at the same time, I can see some people who aren’t looking for such extreme ideas not digging it, but that’s their loss!
I’ll leave the link below, and as a pro freedom of speech-minded person, I’ll let you decide on how you feel! Comment your thoughts and shoutout to Lukey for yet another standout album!
https://open.spotify.com/album/5uFQpkd1tpK60tJrUNu9YN?si=ZflDUSFlT1OhS3xB9WZzyA
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