In anticipation of the second part to this record coming next month, I figured it’s only appropriate to go back, revisit, and relive the magic that was this incredible piece of art. Three years old at this point and still one of Estee’s strongest efforts due to the man he chose to do the production that made a sound unlike any other we’ve heard, Nack on! So let’s talk about it!
This is the September 2023 release by MC legend Estee Nack and iconic producer Mike Shabb, and this pair pull off a modern-day classic that features the likes of
-Stove God Cook$
-ANKHLEJOHN
-Rome Streetz
-Raz Fresco
-The6thLetter
-???
-Al Divino
Now, prior to the release of the news of Pt II coming soon, it was a minute since I last heard this one, and so you can imagine my reaction when I remembered that STOVE GOD was on the opening track! If that ain’t a sonic statement on the power of this album, then nothing is. It really tells me something about Estee’s mind in the making of this album as he decided to accompany himself with LITERALLY the strongest lyricist in the game, period.
One thing I’ve noticed is how Estee seems to control the quality standard for his projects. If you appear on his album, you are bound to drop a classic verse due to the level of respect each man has for the legend! He doesn’t invite mediocrity! Only verbal killers, and that describes each and every person on the feature list! Not only that, but each man had immaculate chemistry with Estee! Another skill of 100 this man has! The talent of creating immediate synchronicity with anyone he works with. That’s a sign of a true legend!
On this one, he wasn’t satisfied with rocking solo; he has nothing to prove to anyone anymore, and although he could have killed it alone, he wanted to bring his most deadly MC assassins to completely massacre the beats and showcase without a shadow of a doubt that the underground is the place where the real heart of hip hop lies!
Estee himself feels more relaxed and comfortable than I’ve heard him on a project.
A man who thrives in competition and chaos. I don’t know him personally, but based on his business mindset, his prolific discography, and contributions to the culture, he strikes me as a man who is truly in his element when he’s in situations like these! Surrounded by the greatest rappers to keep him on his toes, force him to stay on his absolute apex, and make sure no one outshines him on the tracks in that ‘steel sharpness steel’ brotherly competition! I love how he has a tad bit more methodically paced performances on this one.
He’s fusing himself with that truly atmospheric and lively production. Never a man to rush or stress, he’s just out there killing every bar, word, and verse like it was Destiny. Like on tracks -DOMINICANBEACHES, that intro, of the joking and laughing, which gives an example of the mood in the studio!
The thing with Estee is, he’ll never give us a subpar performance; it’s just not in his DNA. But from album to album, he’ll do his best to give the audience a different glimpse of his style, whether that be more melodic or conceptual or grimy or experimental!
He’s a man with an endless range of ideas, and on this one, it just feels like he’s in full verbal Tekken mode. Letting all his closest brethren grab a controller and see who wins!
Of course, we can’t talk about this album without talking about the second half being Mike! As I mentioned briefly above, each Estee album feels that little bit different, and that can be contributed to the production he chooses, and on this one, you’d be hard-pressed to find a man who creates a more harmonic and powerful instrumentals than Shabb!
What he does on this album is not just that the songs and instrumentation are good; it’s that they feel otherworldly! Dare I say animated in a sense because they feel fourth-dimensional but not in a chaotic -Al Divino type method but in a lucid and detached from everyday life kind of way!
See, he’s utilising elements that most producers use but he seems to put it all together differently. So many examples from tracks like
-BLACKBABIES let’s describe exactly what’s inside of it. You’ve got those funky and lively piano keys in that infectious loop that has a tint of free lance energy to it!
Some deep bass lines, light drum usage and this ambient style single vocal injection that you hear more at the start of the song that kind of reminds me of the vocals of the 1997 Berserk main Original theme!
See these elements aren’t exactly unique but somehow when Mike does it, it sounds like a beat that steps outside of Hip Hop and imprints on your brain! I can’t really describe how it works without you listening to it yourself!
Another example is -GODCIPHER PT. II it’s such simple instrumental but god does it feel heavenly. You’ve got those plucked strings, extraordinary Jazz Horns, delicate piano keys and this vocal harmony that sounds absolutely angelic. A loop that feels like it literally fell from heaven and fused itself on this track!
Once again, the elements aren’t exactly rare but it’s the kind of beat that will live in your head rent free for months! And the fact they use such a gorgeous beat for a Cipher track is wild to me!
Another track that intrigued me is -STREETCREATURES which features not only ridiculous verses by ??? And Divino who can never have a bad duo chemistry but this song consists of this truly Bizzare vocal harmony that sounds somehow both distorted and soulful at the same time! Also accompanied by some shorter normal vocal harmony’s to close the loop off!
That’s combined with some twisted chord progressions and super surreal drums! This is one of those tracks that keep you guessing the entire track duration!
This whole score sounds magnificent, theatrical and so well crafted and executed that it doesn’t even sound like it belongs in this plane of existence! That’s the effect Mike has when he’s on the beat and this soundtrack is the greatest proof of that!
If you haven’t heard the album yet then what have you been doing? I know it’s on streaming services now but I’m still going to link the bandcamp link down below so you can help support the project and the culture!
https://esteenack.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-tabernackle
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