It’s never a bad day to get a new project from this producer. One who has impressed me with everything he’s made last year and this year respectively! One of the strongest producers we have right now, and it seems he’s back to further prove that case alongside a dope MC, and together they come with that fire!
This is the brand-new EP by MC Polo Baby Flako and Producer Mike Martinez, and together they drop five tracks with a total of 12 minutes respectively.
Right off the bat, I gotta discuss that production because GOD DAMN IS IT HYPNOTIC! Across these five, you get a vibe that has a variety of different sounds and influences, but somehow all come together for a smooth and fun experience that will leave an impression in your mind long after the project is done.
We have that opening track -IT’S ME (IT’S HIM) INTRO, which has a more classical vibe with those strung strings, those thudding drum patterns, as well as those mysterious vocal harmony loops that give this track a thrilling vibe to it, almost like you’re listening to a drama film turned instrumental!
You’ve got that second track -CHIA PETS, which right away switches up the energy from the previous one. This one is a lot darker and more serious with those synth chords on repeat, those heavily executed strings that have a haunting effect to them, what sounds like some tortured distorted vocal snippets scattered through the song, as well as those unsettling and undeniable heaviness of those drums and bass chords! Insane track all around!
Track 3 -IF YOU ONLY KNEW, once again, we get a vibe switch with this one being a more soulful and funk-based track with those mesmerising chord progressions in that infectious loop accompanied by those rhythmic drum beats and that fantastic vocal harmony! It’s used occasionally throughout the song, but it’s fucking gorgeous and added a nice overall texture to the song!
Track 4 – TIMELESS! We get an instrumental that’s now focused on the jazz side of things! (My favourite hip-hop fusion subgenre), so this track had me hyped!
You’ve got those beautifully executed jazz horns that loop around the whole track, those deliciously plucked strings as well as those more methodically designed drums that definitely have a more jazz orientation as they subtly go off in the background! (Probably my favourite beat of them all due to the jazz.)
The final track – HOLD IT DOWN, we see this album ends with a more atmospheric tune that has a lot of interesting elements.
From those delicate and scattered piano keys that take centre stage on the track! These are accompanied with some assertive bass strings and some more upfront drums! A rather strong sonic face for the finale, but it’s definitely a solid choice to close the record with!
As far as Polo Baby goes, for someone I’ve never heard of until now, I gotta say he impressed me with his work here today. He has a strong, confident, and charismatic style that he uses to conduct himself in a cool and collected manner with hints of crude and cryptic lyricism that is so crucial to the listener because it showcases his true talents as an MC!
He doesn’t just have one speed or a singular pattern of rapping; he tries his hand at a range of different tempos and styles depending on the track! One moment he can be brash and slick, and the next more personal and introspective in the way he delivers lines; it’s up to him how he feels to drop track to track, and I think it’s dope.
His chemistry with Mike was definitely stand-out! They had a good balance. The instrumentals felt tailor-made to him; the short and sweet formula of an EP helps A: focus the attention span of the listeners to appreciate both the raps and the production better and B: Helps eliminate any potential for fluff or filler, leaving only room for bangers like what we got on this project!
So, have you heard it yet? What are your thoughts on the duo? I personally had a blast, and once again, Mike has proven why he’s one of the premier producers!
https://open.spotify.com/album/5LlDnZdJFLGAWIgqwTlHJ4?si=YA3xhyt_S0GPYmKJcKkqNw
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