You’d be hard-pressed to find a more consistent pair of producers this month. They’ve had April on lock. From the groundbreaking Estee album to this! They’re here to take over the year with possibly the dopest back-to-back we’ve heard yet! Let’s talk about it.
This is the brand-new album by Producers -ODABEATSMITH & 7TONEZ AKA TrueCipher and MC -Sean links for ten tracks, just shy of half an hour with the likes of
-El Brown
-Le Zeppo
And with just this duo to fair, we are presented with a strong experience that has exquisite performances from both the MC and beat makers!
Let’s start with the production aspect. I feel like compared to the Estee album, this one feels more traditional and glistening. It feels like a homage paid to the old school mixed with techniques from the modern day to create the perfect hybrid of nostalgic sounds and highlight the power of the present.
I kid you not, these are the types of instrumentals I could hear the late -2Pac rapping on! They are full of life, colourful, and melodic in execution.
From tracks such as -Batting a 1000, where have that mellow/Jazz influence with those gorgeous horns that sound like Miles Davis is in the studio with them doing a freelancing solo! That’s combined with some Herbie Hancock-style piano keys and Buddy Rich-inspired drum beats! Everything about this track had me mentally on a whole new plane of existence!
We can discuss the track -Doing My Dance, which, as the name suggests, is the type of track you could legitimately dance to! It’s reminiscent of the 1960s swing scene with more groovy horns, tasteful bass, and methodically charged drums with some subtle glistening piano keys going off in the background!
The kind of dance tune you wouldn’t be allowed to attend without an expensive suit and a modest lady on your arm!
What about the track -Solidified? This one feels like the true grimy boom bap I’ve come to expect from the duo! With those sharp and distorted string progressions combined with those hypnotic drums and subtle keys that add an extra eerie level of ambiance to the overall song!
As far as the MC work goes, Sean has come a long way to prove himself as one of the most premium lyricists and performers in the underground, and in my opinion, this album with True Cipher of all people makes a huge statement towards that claim as he goes above and beyond in this album!
From the moment this album starts, we hear his limitless charisma infused with his gritty, raw, and rugged vocals that make each bar he spits feel dangerous and must-listen!
From his rich personality to his crisp and brash lyricism combined with his fluent flow, he has the makings of a top artist in today’s landscape! I love how he just cuts all the shit, no nonsense, and just spits his bars. He knows he’s the shit and that his words and cadence are enough and that he doesn’t have to rely on bullshit trends or over-the-top ideas to get him over when he has the actual talent to match!
Same can be said for the two features he brought with him on this one. Both men are solid lyricists in their own right and prove they can match chemistry with Sean and enhance the songs they are on! Great work by both!
Overall, another home run by True Cipher and a ridiculously good effort by Sean! I hope this isn’t the last time we hear these two together, and I guarantee this will be an album you can’t put down! Try it out below.
https://open.spotify.com/album/76T7DmOwFWopvyBstasBP5?si=G9BSXaW8QUiFRFkVmcLVkA
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 