After spending weeks of reviewing grimy Coke wave (not that I don’t enjoy it) but it’s always a pleasant surprise to cover something different every once in a while and today is that day where the styles switch up! So let’s talk about it!
This is the brand new album by MC Alma16 and Producer Nick Wilford the latter I’ve had some experience with and so I know his credibility behind the beats but the unknown card here is Alma a man who sounds like a genuine person but how does his performances go? Let me tell you
It’s actually dope! What makes his stand out to me is his laid back and mellow personality and tone on the beat. He’s the type that doesn’t have to shout or act wild to get his point across! I want to picture a -Mac Miller or J Cole type. Supreme lyricists who let their words and penmanship talk for them!
Across this 8 track score we hear this man use his pen to glide across the instrumentals like a verbal bird flying through grass on a sunny day. The type of artist who can uplift the room with his verses!
I loved his sensible, thoughtful and insightful bars on this one. A mix between introspective pen game and life poetry talking about his situations, his feelings, how he sees the world and the culture itself. There is some light brash bars sprinkled in throughout but for the most part it’s intellectually fascinating verses that you don’t hear everyday!
Of course he’s not alone on this project as he brings with him
-Weston Slutz
-Brocko
-Lil Derik
-The Nait Sirk
-AreWhy
And as a collective they have not only great chemistry with Alma but help elevate the specific tracks they are on and bring a new found energy to the tracks that weren’t there before! Definitely smart choices adding those names to the mix!
As I said at the start, I’m familiar with Nick and what’s he’s capable of so I wasn’t surprised at all when I found out he made another home run of fresh sounds, atmospheric scores and a vibe almost as soothing as Alma’s vocal performances!
Across the 18 minutes we hear a combination of influences from
-Soul
-Funk
-Ambient
-Art Rap
-Jazz
And it’s done in the most beautiful execution. For example
The intro track -All In how it utilises those swift vocal harmonies, light Jazz horns, methodically charged strings and the grooviest drum patterns you’ll hear all year! Although only a few layers to speak of becuase it’s crafted masterfully it sounds deeper then it really is!
There’s the track -Die Trying which has a combination of those lively piano keys in two different layers. One is a more loop layer the other is an organic free lance solo type! Then there’s those subtle strings and more infectious drums!
I love how there’s two different styles of piano on this song it gives it a more fresh sonic perspective!
There’s the track -Pray which is probably the most traditional hip hop beat formula on the whole album! It has these amazing vocal elements that sound organic! That’s meet with some sharp chord progressions, thick bass and rhythmic drums! The entire song feels like a boom bap equivalent track with a bit of gospel organ inspiration!
These two definitely make a solid chemistry. This is the kind of album that you’d want to listen to when you’re having a fucked day and just want to relax! If you don’t believe me, click the link below and try for yourself!
https://open.spotify.com/album/2HVE3kiAH8ZESC8x2CfM2c?si=Og7Szk1DTBO5n7t9ssRxkw
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 