As soon as I saw this available on Bandcamp, I had to tune in. This is a man who has gained respect over the cultural scene. A man who lets his natural talent and aura dictate the success he gets, and with that in mind and collaborating with two of my favourite producers, period, he’s showing why he’s the one to watch! Let’s talk about it!
This is the big, brand-new album by MC HYROGLYPHX with production from BONEWESO and True Cipher! And together, they come packed with the features:
-ROYALONE777
-RIGHTEOUS RULES
-INF
-BOOGZFTB
-360
-CODE9
-???
And I can’t stress this enough. This is the kind of shit that I mean when I say THE CULTURE! Artists who are putting out their own original sound. Using exciting and innovative ideas and production to create a new landscape of fresh instrumentals and some of the sickest bars you’ve heard all year!
Let’s start with the rapping aspect. What I love about this formula is the fact that on most of the tracks, he’s decided to pair himself up with the top talent of the underground right now. It feels like a mix of putting his brothers on and testing his own capitalised in one of the dopest presentations of brotherly competition we’ve seen yet! HRYO ain’t satisfied with that tame/safe shit; he’s trying to show and prove to the world why he’s the one, and this is the strongest statement he could have made!
I love the ruthless, sporting chemistry on this album! It feels like the features are putting that little bit extra emphasis on the performance for the sake of the album. Words are clearer, wordplay more crisp. Savage delivery and a personality so strong you can feel it through the phone!
As far as HYRO goes, he’s the man of the hour. He’s the one dropping the smoke with that fantastical word manipulation that makes you feel like you’re listening to a ghetto Dr Seus on cocaine. The way he can formulate his lyrics and combine all those words in a row makes for a listening experience I wasn’t prepared for! You get a taste of it on the opening track. His opening verse is god-tier level incredible!
The entire album is just him showcasing his immense power and talent in the MC role. Every verse is a mean mugging, goosebump experience as he comes in with precise flow, in-depth penmanship, and enough bars to shame your favourite rappers’ efforts! That’s again why I love his idea to have all those other MC’s rap with him. He proves he’s more than dope enough to rock the album solo, but he wants to put his brothers in the spotlight and go toe-to-toe with the greatest names going. Nothing but respect for him for that, and shoutout to all the guest MC’s it’s impossible to choose a favourite verse as they step up their game and dominate each song!
As I said earlier. This album is produced half by BONEWESO and half by TRUE CIPHER. Can you say ‘overkill’ out loud? Because that’s what this is! It’s two of the powerhouse names in the industry teaming up for sonic brilliance. Across this 12-track project, we hear some of the most cinematic and exciting production of all year. We can start with the intro track -HEADSPIN. On this track, you have those rhythmic jazz horns combined with those luscious bass lines and groovy drums that come together to create a minimal yet beautifully composed track that fits the intro vibe perfectly!
We have the track -GODS IN THE FLESH with those gorgeously strung chord progressions in that loop that’s combined with more bass and drum patterns that follow the intro track formula of minimal meets surreal! Those forefront chord progressions make this song feel mythical in a way. It’s a great and atmospheric track that helps HYRO go off on!
The song ZINGNOTE is quite a remarkable track as well, with those old-school classic opera vocal loops combined with those bouncy string notes and some of the heaviest bass I’ve heard yet! There’s also the occasional sharp string that goes on in the background!
Also, RIGHTEOUS’S high-energy verse helps bring the track together into a more masterful direction!
Even the second last track -CANT SEE ME, which ends on a lot more of a soulful note than I was expecting. With those beautiful vocal soulful chords that feel light and angelic! Combing some thick and groovy bass strings, skeletal drum beats, and some super light keys in the background and echoing strings in a second subtle layer!
Of course, the song comes with ??? And could you ask for a better closer to a track? He’s been on a year run most can only dream of.
It should have been a no-brainer to all when they saw TRUE X BONE come together to share the beats. But add in the various powerhouse features and HYRO’s abilities? It’s definitely a wrap. Click the link below and feel it for yourself!
https://hyroglyphx7.bandcamp.com/album/swords-by-the-sphinx
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