There’s something to be appreciated by an artist who does everything from the rapping and the producing! I remember as a kid, young adult, I tried my hand at both and failed miserably. So to assume anyone can do both? Is a talent I’m always respectfully jealous of! This man defines the talent aspect of the culture with this album! So let’s talk about it!
This is the brand-new album by MC and producer -Klive Kraven (dope name), and he alone drops 10 tracks, no features, nothing but him in his own hand-made environment! I fucking love that.
The first thing I’ve noticed is the heavy theatrical effects this album has. From cinematic vocal snippets to gruesome retellings of such crimes asVlad the Impaler (who is directly related to the royal family), but let’s skip that bombshell for another conversation!
As someone who is obsessed with serial killer novels and audibles, the interludes of this album really got me hyped! It’s like I’m listening to an alternative universe version of ‘Hamilton’ if it wasn’t ass.
The production aspect helps strengthen that basis as well with a lot of haunting influences from dark choir vocals, sharp synths, eerie piano chords, merciless drums, and the odd use of a chorus singer who provides such a strong performance that it’s scary.
He’s pretty much bringing to life a haunted house turned underground hip hop. Which I’ll tell you isn’t easy to balance; it goes from fun and conceptual to tacky and cringy super quick! But thankfully, he doesn’t have that problem (at least to me).
And the fact he has the lyrical ability to stay within the borders of the concept. He’s not going too overboard with the performances; in my opinion, his trademark rapping as opposed to over-the-top kicking and screaming, shouting, or trying to be crazy for the sake of the subject matter would have ruined this album completely.
He’s still using incredible penmanship, managing his flows and wordplay as well as his tone and using his extensive vocabulary and charisma to help push in the narrative of the dark, horrorcore topics and in doing so he’s elevating the album!
Again, I must emphasise how happy I am there’s no features (besides the chorus work) and various spoken words. It means he’s confident in his own abilities to take such a dynamic theme and ring it for everything it’s worth and that’s bald yet it paid off well for him!
Utilising his own strong verses, his deep beats, his in-depth descriptions and choices of interludes, he’s in control of everything and I can’t lie this was fucking fun to listen to!
Obviously not everyone will have the same taste as me and you might find this album too much or cringe due to its topics and that’s fine. But you can’t deny this man’s skill as an MC or beat maker! Regardless of the concept, those aspects are fire! He’s got a masterful knowledge of both techniques and that’s what should be remembered most! But hey, if you want to try something different, try it out below!
https://youtu.be/sNWp7c_t-fY?si=QFnhYG0tFHcM01o8
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 