(Ars Moriendi)

It’s always a special occasion whenever this producer drops a record. In the past few years, he’s had one of the most compelling production discographies in a period. Working with a massive who’s who in the culture, and now he’s back with yet another artist to highlight! With that in mind, let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new collaboration album between Producer Vinyl Villain and MC Salam MC, and together they drop a solid 10-track project with the likes of 

– O’Rejinal

– BJ Baller

– DJ Slipwax

– Rogue Butterfly

– Mr. SOB

– REKS

– Mort Beasy

– Estee Nack

I can’t believe there are still so many names I haven’t heard of yet this deep into my underground discovery! It goes to show just how large the scene really is. 

Something I always forget or underestimate is how versatile Vinyl is as a producer! I’m always surprised all over again with every new drop because I’m expecting a certain sound and then get blown away by him utilising something completely different! (And I feel this could be his most versatile yet.)

Across this tape, we hear Vinyl incorporating a wide range of influences that include everything from Classical to Boom Bap to Soul to Funk to Jazz and everything in between. Depending on the track, you could get a brand-new vibe! Let’s take that opening track for example – Infinite on this one, we hear an old-school ‘classical’ tune with that movie snippet interlude that blends into this beautifully crafted mix of orchestral meets Boom Bap! 

You’ve got those surreal chord progressions that loop around the track in two different tones (from the main one to the eventual slightly higher pitch-toned)

There’s also that light drum work that helps provide a sonic skeleton to the whole song! 

There’s the track – Restoration (Christ Like) which switches up the atmosphere with a more Funk X Jazz blend! You’ve got those prominent Jazz horns that angelically run throughout the track alongside those funky plucked bass strings and rhythmic piano keys that glisten ever so gently across the beat!

All this combined with those minimal drums, and you’ve got one of those 80’s inspired club vibe tracks that you’d walk into with a bottle of Hennessy, a pressed suit, and really for a fun night. 

Actually speaking of club vibes, we have the track -Enough (Epilogue), and man, this one had me dancing on the spot while writing this shit. It was so fucking infectious! 

First of all, you have a classic P-Funk vibe with those plucked string progressions, those synth chords, those mesmerising drum patterns, as well as those light and gorgeously executed vocal harmonies! 

And man, that chorus? JESUS CHRIST, could you get more crisp than that? This whole track feels like a 1980’s fever dream. If we’re talking modern-day comparisons, this is right up Anderson Paak’s alley! 

When we discuss Salam MC, a man I don’t remember having experience with until now but one I can definitely see turning heads with his performance on this one! Across these 10 tracks, we see him put his blood and soul into every word, wear his heart on his sleeve as he goes in with some of the most inspirational and passionate performances I’ve heard in a minute!

I can definitely see why Vinyl chose to work with this man. He has a handful of qualities that make him stand out to me.

First of all, that passion I spoke about above. He isn’t just merely ‘rapping’; he’s literally putting pieces of himself and his soul into the lyrical fabrics of the album. You can hear it when he drops his bars and verses, the emotion behind his words, the emphasis he uses on his storytelling, the depth and clarity in his voice. He’s an author of the highest order across these tracks! 

Secondly, his technique. He’s a proper MC. The way he’s able to bend and manipulate the wordplay across the beats, his fluent flow, his sharp and precise lyricism combined with his profound vocabulary and pen game and he becomes a strong player in the underground! This is further proven with his chemistry with the features on the tracks. To me no more evident then his track with Estee Nack (arguably the best underground rapper alive) and the way Salam was not only able to match his energy but keep up with him as a verbal equal was phenomenal!

For a first time impression. Salam NAILED IT! He Brought exactly the right energy and atmosphere to support such grand production by Vinyl Villain. I loved the different array of names associated on the feature list and I have a strong feeling this one will take the culture by storm this year!