Now, I’ll admit going into this I had no idea what to expect. Based on this man’s previous music and the kind of creative mind he is, I was ready for anything. Needless to say, I was given what I was expecting, which was the unexpected! Let’s talk about it!
So, this is the brand new project by MC Ric Da Shadow. MC and accompanying him are producers
-Someone
-Studio 53e
-Ginsing
-Ana Logiik
-Promotheus.
And -Eclypse on the feature!
And across this nine-track album we get so much interesting music! For example, that intro sounded like pure musical art. Kind of like ambient techno. Real subtle and beautiful with those foreign whistling sounds that just made the whole overture such a breathtaking way to start a record! Loved that intro.
From there we get deeper cuts of more hip
Hop sounds such as track 2 ‘Locked In’ which reminds me of a badass French movie with a bank robbery scene!
It has these amazing what sounds like short and sharp violin chords alongside subtle bass drums and this other harmonious chord that is subtly heard going off in the background like a horn or something but either way combined together and this becomes a fantastic official track to kick the record off!
The third track ‘Samurai Soul’ is a return to what the intro brought to the table with those beautifully ambient and atmospheric music! You’ve got those long and sharp strings, minimalistic drums and this time around we have this choir-style vocals that are subtle yet powerful!
It adds a new layer of depth and surrealism to the track that I absolutely love!
This whole track is probably my favourite on the whole album because it’s both gritty and cinematic which is my favourite combination!
Even if we look at the fourth track ‘Subterranean Art’ it is pretty much exactly what the song says. It has the sonic equivalent of a beat made in the depths of the oceans!
It’s very moody, eerie, and has a creepy vibe with those haunting piano keys and what sounded like a scream or muffled voice in the chorus? Almost like a man trapped in the bottom of the ocean, which is like my nightmare come to life! This whole track, although scary, is absolutely theatrical in execution!
These four are an example of how profound and powerful the producers are in making an album that sounds less like ‘music’ and more like ‘a living, walking, breathing painting’. Absolutely incredible!
Now, to the man who’s responsible for rapping over these incredible beats, we have Ric. This man goes absolutely HAMMER on these beats, and it’s definitely something you have to hear to experience!
He has a certain level of charisma and enthusiasm to him that makes all bars so fucking eccentric and infectious to listen to!
His level of flow, engaging wordplay, and vivid lyricism has him standing out from most in the pack right now! I love how he puts so much emphasis on his words and the way he pronounces them! He doesn’t just say words; he speaks them into existence with power and conviction!
Depending on the aura of each track, he has the amazing ability to match the tone and theatrical energy of the songs, which is absolutely insane! He can synchronise with the beats given and become the perfect vessel for the MC role!
He’s the kind of guy who’s more capable of holding down a record by himself, and for the most part he does exactly that!
Man, this album was absolutely phenomenal! From that production to the MC work. This is a MUST LISTEN for all to listen to this year!
https://dashadowmc.bandcamp.com/album/the-beat-hashashin










